This is the first in a new series of publications arlslng out of the
work of the Committee on Challenges of Modern Society of the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization. The CCMS was established in 1969 with a
mandate to examine practical ways of improving the exchange of
experience among mem- ber nations of the Alliance in the task of
creating a better envir- onment for their societies. It was charged with
considering "spe- cific problems of the human environment with the
deliberate objec- tive of stimulating action by member governments". It
may come as a surprise to some that NATO - generally thought of as being
an organization devoted solely to matters of defence - should concern
itself with the environment at all. But this is to overlook Article 2 of
the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949, which expressly provides that member
count ries should contribute towards the furt her development of
peaceful and friendly internat- ional relations by promoting conditions
of stability and well- being. This concern is reflected in many
non-military areas, in addition to the environmental one. I wish the
present volume, which has been edited by the Bel- gian Prime Minister's
Office for Science Policy Programming, every success.