ABSTRACT
One of the underlying principles of the European Community has been the view that Europe is only part of a world-wide network of organizations, political structures, problems, opportunities and economic markets. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development was formed in 1960 as part of the global desire for economic restructuring and co-ordination which was prevalent at the start of the 1960s. The Rio Summit is a watershed in the progress of global environmental policy and agreement. The environment has no notion of political or ownership boundaries, and similarly many wildlife or environmental organizations operate at an international level. In 1961, an Environment Committee was founded, which set its objectives as 'establishing a permanent system of co-operation on questions concerning the protection of nature in Europe'. In conjunction with other Non-governmental organizations sectors, environmental organizations will take on several roles, including: service-providing function; pressure group function; resource co-ordinating function; self-help and networking function; fund-raising function.
