The Conference on the Human Environment, held at Stockholm from June 5 to 16, 1972, was in many respects the most successful inter-national conference held in recent years. In a two-week period it adopted not only a basic Declaration and a detailed resolution on institutional and financial arrangements, but also 109 recommendations comprising an ambitious action plan. The Declaration contains a set of "common principles to inspire and guide the peoples of the world in the preservation and enhancement of the human environment." The resolution on institutional and financial arrangements proposed the establishment by the General Assembly of the United Nations of: an intergovernmental Governing Council for Environmental Pro-grammes, to provide general policy guidance for the direction and coordination of environmental programs; an Environment Secretariat headed by an Executive Director; an Environment Fund, to provide additional financing for environmental programs; and an interagency Environmental Co-ordinating Board for the purpose of ensuring cooperation and coordination among all bodies concerned in the implementation of environmental programs.