The present report has been prepared in compliance with that decision. The report highlights the developments that took place since 1987 and as such, it compkments the 1987 state ofthe world environment report. Two topics that have been receiving world-wide attention have been selected for in-depth treatment. These are: (a) possible climatic changes due to increase in emission of carbon dioxide and other trace gases—known as the greenhouse gases—and the environmentakonsequences ofsuch changes and(b) hazardous wastes and their management.