S-3799.1 _______________________________________________
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 8420
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State of Washington 53rd Legislature 1994 Regular Session
By Senators Skratek and Sheldon
Read first time 01/17/94. Referred to Committee on Trade, Technology & Economic Development.
WHEREAS, The international community, under the auspices of the United Nations Conference on the Environment and Development, has begun to explore ways to integrate economic development and environmental quality through a strategy to promote sustainable development; and
WHEREAS, The United Nations and the United States government are considering actions to further agreements reached by the international community regarding sustainable development, including the establishment of a new United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development; and
WHEREAS, Many nations and other states, including Austria, Canada, Holland, New Zealand, Norway, Florida, Minnesota, and Vermont, are developing sustainable development plans to properly preserve and protect treasured natural resources and environmental quality while benefiting their economies; and
WHEREAS, Sustainable development involves promoting human well-being and meeting critical economic needs while ensuring all of the following: The environment so that future generations have resource options; managing renewable resources so that their quality and quantity are preserved or enhanced; managing the built environment in a way that promotes the efficient use of energy and other resources; sustaining the abundance of resources and preserving the capacity of natural systems to absorb wastes and performing other necessary ecological functions; promoting the biodiversity of species and systems; and avoiding, remediating, or mitigating, to the greatest extent practicable, the adverse effects on the environment of use and development; and
WHEREAS, It is of the utmost importance that Washington's regulatory environment is favorable to the varied activities of the businesses that contribute to the well-being of the state; and
WHEREAS, At the same time, it is essential to ensure that people can safely breathe the air and drink the water, that children can play without the fear of exposure to toxic contaminants, that treasured natural and cultural resources are preserved and protected for all to enjoy, and that those who make their livelihood from fishing, tourism, and other natural resource-related endeavors may continue to do so; and
WHEREAS, The goal of making business practices and environmental quality compatible with economic vitality cannot be achieved without ensuring that environmental preservation and protection statutes and regulations are consistent and necessary to serve that public purpose; and
WHEREAS, The business community needs a stable framework of economic and environmental statutes and regulations to be able to make long-range plans and to invest in the best available technology; and
WHEREAS, The State of Washington is confronted with economic and social problems and our natural resources are increasingly threatened, requiring a new partnership among businesses, government agencies, and environmental groups and other organizations to develop and implement an urgently needed strategy for environmental protection, natural resources conservation, and sustained economic output; and
WHEREAS, There must be wise and responsible stewardship exercised to maximize both environmental quality and economic productivity in the state;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the State of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That the Legislature of the State of Washington encourage cooperative international, national, and state-wide efforts to promote sustainable development; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the State of Washington develop and implement a sustainable development plan.
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