This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities.
In the case of privately owned technology, Agenda 21 recommends adopting the following measures, in particular for developing countries:< (a) creation and enhancement by developed countries, as well as other countries which might be in a position to do so, of appropriate incentives, fiscal or otherwise, to stimulate the transfer of environmentally sound technology by companies, in particular to developing countries, as integral to sustainable development;< (b) enhancement of the access to and transfer of patent protected environmentally sound technology, in particular to developing countries;< (c) purchase of patents and licences on commercial terms for their transfer to developing countries on non-commercial terms as part of development cooperation for sustainable development, taking into account the need to protect intellectual property rights;< (d) in compliance with and under the specific circumstances recognized by the relevant international conventions adhered to by states, the undertaking of measures to prevent abuse of intellectual property rights, including rules with respect to their acquisition through compulsory licensing, with the provision of equitable and adequate compensation;< (e) provision of financial resources to acquire environmentally sound technology so as to enable developing countries in particular to implement measures to promote sustainable development that would entail a special or abnormal burden to them.