Kathmandu, June 3: The meeting of the steering council and the first ministerial conference of environment ministers was held under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Malmo, Sweden, from May 29-31.

Nepal was represented at the meeting by a two-member delegation under the leadership of Minister of State for Population and Environment Shiva Raj Joshi.

The conference issued the Malmo Declaration and adopted various decisions especially in the areas of technology development, involvement of the private and business community and the role of the civil society.

According to the Ministry of Population and Environment, the conference agreed that rather than the expansion of the existing natural resources of the world for deriving maximum benefit out of them, emphasis should be given to the development of technology for marginal consumption.

The conference also arrived at the conclusion that the governments should take special initiatives for the participation and involvement of the business community as well as other private sector agencies in environmental conservation activities.

Likewise, the conference concurred that efforts should be made at the national and international level for making the role of the non-government organisations, journalists, consumer groups, local bodies and the civil society more effective.

Expressing Nepal’s support for the main concept of the Malmo declaration, Minister of State Joshi expressed the view that the declaration was very positive as regards the preservation and protection of the world’s environment.

He stressed the need for bilateral and multilateral financial and technical assistance for enhancing the multi-sectoral capability of least developed countries like Nepal in the implementation of the declaration. Minister of State Joshi returned home Friday after taking part in the conference.