The first Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), New Delhi 1.4.1998

The first Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) was held from April 1-3, 1998 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, India. Ministers and high ranking officials from nearly 100 countries met to exchange views on the policies and operations of GEF. Representatives from UN agencies, NGOs and the scientific community took active part in the discussions.

In his inaugural address, the Prime Minister of India, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, spoke about the major global developments of the twentieth century, which had had an impact both on human life and on planet earth. Citing some of these developments, he said, "These include an unprecedented growth in population and in consumption, rapidly increasing urbanisation, dramatic changes in the global economic system and the revolution in communication technology." On the brink of the twenty first century, Mr Vajpayee, pointed out, it was increasingly becoming apparent that the "process of development, including industrialisation and economic growth, have come at a huge cost to society, to the environment and to our very future."