22 U.S.C. § 262l–2 — Sustainable use of natural resources; use of agricultural and industrial chemicals

(a) Instructions to Executive Directors of Multilateral Development Banks It is U.S. policy that sustainable economic growth depends on sustainable use of natural resources. The Secretary of the Treasury must instruct the U.S. Executive Directors of the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to: (1) Push for internal rules requiring least-cost planning when evaluating proposed energy loans, and consider refusing to support power or energy loans unless cost-effective conservation measures have been fully studied. (2) Encourage each MDB to offer technical help to borrower nations preparing national energy plans, with special focus on least-cost analysis that weighs both demand-side and supply-side options. (3) Push for the MDBs to expand their expertise in energy conservation and renewable energy. (4) Push for lending strategies that emphasize energy conservation and efficiency over simply adding more generating capacity. (5) Push for policies that minimize greenhouse-gas emissions. (6) Push for lending strategies that emphasize energy-efficient transportation, considering alternatives like non-motorized vehicles, public transport, and more efficient transportation systems. (7) Push for the use of existing tools, and development of new ones, to conserve biological diversity, including consulting resources like Conservation Data Centers. (b) Bilateral and multilateral discussions to strengthen environmental performance of Multilateral Development Banks The Secretaries of the Treasury and State, working with the Administrator of the Agency for International Development, must hold bilateral and multilateral talks with other MDB members to further improve each bank's environmental performance. These talks must cover organizational, administrative, and procedural changes needed to manage assistance programs that protect and sustainably use natural resources, in consultation with affected local communities. (c) Duties of Administrator of Agency for International Development The Administrator of the Agency for International Development must: (1) When submitting future "early warning system" reports required by the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1988, use resources like Conservation Data Centers that promote biological diversity. (2) By January 15, 1989, report to the Appropriations Committees on the Agency's activities and practices that encourage or discourage renewable energy technologies overseas, and on how to fix or refocus those efforts — including whether to build a stronger private-sector link through a United States Renewable Energy Industry Advisory Council. (3) Tell all Agency missions that renewable energy and conservation must be central to its energy work, and that meeting energy needs this way must be discussed in every Country Development Strategy Statement. (4) Take steps to carry out the recommendations of a Committee on Health and Environment report about helping developing countries properly use farm and industrial chemicals.