Environmental Experts on Panel Look to 1992 Conference in Rio

Three panelists at a Kennedy School of Government discussion yesterday told a crowd of approximately 200 students that only a dramatic change in lifestyle will prevent environmental disaster.

The discussion dealt with international involvement in environmentalism and development, focusing particularly on the 1992 United Nations conference in Rio de Janeiro. It was the final event of a day-long symposium sponsored by the Kennedy School Energy and Environment Student Interest Group and the International Development Interest Group.

Panel members Fabio Feldmann, a member of Brazil's Congress, Claudine Schneider, former member of Congress from Rhode Island and Maurice Strong, secretary-general for the 1992 U.N. Conference on Environmentalism and Development, spoke and answered questions about the future of the environment for more than one hour.

"It's easy to go to Brazil and sign a biodiversity convention," Feldmann said. "But you will not be able to implement this unless you establish a new structure and society." Feldmann said that while the U.N. conference will not resolve all the threats to the environment, it may establish "new conceptions [and] new structures," for the future.

Schneider emphasized that the U.S., as well as developing countries, must take action to preserve the environment. "Hundreds of millions of people are destroying the resources on which their future depends because they see no other alternatives apparent to them," she said of the populations of the developing world. "The U.S. sees the need for involvement. The environment is connected to everything."

Schneider stressed the need for information and technology transfer between countries. "when we have good models, we should spread the word," she said. "We need a strategy that will rapidly multiply the successful programs."

On the domestic level, Schneider challenged audience members to communicate their commitment to the environment to the government. "You have to walk you talk," she said. "If you think it's a good thing to recycle, put your money where your mouth is. You are either part of the problem or part of the solution."

Strong, who will serve as secretary-general for the 1992 conference, said that two major goals of the conference will be to draft an "Earth Charter," a guideline of principles for relations between nations and the earth, and to establish an environmental agenda for the 21st Century.