Evaluation of four secret telegrams from the launch of the World Commission on Environment and Development

Makoto EZAWA

doi:10.11353/sesj1988.21.451

Environmental science is an interdisciplinary study, consisting of many disciplines, including environmental history. In this paper, I examine four secret telegrams from the point of view of environmental history. These telegrams were mainly sent from the embassy of Japan to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and others during the launch of the World Commission on Environment and Development. The telegrams were recently discovered in the Ookita Saburo Memorial Office in Tokyo. Mr. Ookita was a member of the Commission at the time. The first telegram indicates the conflict between Chairperson Gro Harlem Brundtland and Vice-chairperson Mansour Khalid, according to Swedish authorities. The second one hints at the possible resignation of Brundtland, according to Canadian authorities. The third telegram, sent by Brundtland herself, reveals her inner thoughts. The fourth one is a report of the preparatory meeting of the Commission held in 1983, sent by the officer of the Permanent Representative of Japan to UN Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland. These telegrams demonstrate the tremendous leadership that Chairperson Brundtland exercised despite the conflict between developed countries and developing countries. It appears that Nordic countries supported her and also influenced the Commission to form the Sustainable Development concept.

Evaluation of four secret telegrams from the launch of the World Commission on Environment and Development

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