工程處成立40周年的標志是在實質(zhì)性領域取得了進展，并在新總干事領導下，隨著工程處進入其歷史的另一個十年，反思過去的成就和未來的挑戰(zhàn)。在本報告所述的一年中，核能繼續(xù)為滿足全球電力需求作出重大貢獻，在這方面，原子能機構(gòu)繼續(xù)充當一個論壇，評估國家和國際發(fā)展的經(jīng)驗和交流意見。12月在京都舉行的《聯(lián)合國氣候變化框架公約》會議將注意力重新集中在能源和環(huán)境上，并為原子能機構(gòu)提供了一個機會，介紹其關于核和其他能源替代品的成本和效益的工作。在這一年里，原子能機構(gòu)對1992年在里約熱內(nèi)盧舉行的聯(lián)合國環(huán)境與發(fā)展會議《21世紀議程》中闡明的聯(lián)合國全系統(tǒng)可持續(xù)發(fā)展目標作出了進一步的貢獻。例如，工程處參與消滅蟲害和適當?shù)乃Y源管理，就產(chǎn)生了切實的影響。這一年還見證了多年來為進一步加強國際法律框架以幫助確保核能的安全和完全用于和平目的而開展的工作的成功高潮。年內(nèi)，工程處的經(jīng)常預算為2.32億美元，比1996年的水平小幅增加（0.4%）。工程處還利用預算外資金近2 400萬美元支持其經(jīng)常預算方案。利用這些預算外資源開展的活動對實現(xiàn)工程處核定的方案目標至關重要。1997年技術合作基金的捐款目標定為6 800萬美元，其中4 780萬美元由會員國認捐。令人遺憾的是，這是承諾實現(xiàn)技術合作框架目標的最低百分比，本次審查注意到1997年與安全與和平利用核能有關的全球事態(tài)發(fā)展，并在這方面強調(diào)了原子能機構(gòu)的成就。

The Agency’s fortieth anniversary year was marked by progress in substantive areas — and by reflection on past achievements and future challenges as the Agency moves into another decade of its history under the leadership of a new Director General. In the year under review nuclear energy continued to make a significant contribution to meeting the global demand for electricity and, in this regard, the Agency continued to act as a forum for assessing experience and sharing ideas on national and international developments. The meeting in December in Kyoto of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change refocused attention on energy and the environment — and was an opportunity for the Agency to present its work on the costs and benefits of nuclear and other energy alternatives. There were further Agency contributions during the year to the United Nations system wide objective of sustainable development as articulated in ‘Agenda 21’ of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro. Tangible impact was recorded, for example, in the Agency’s involvement in insect pest eradication and proper water resources management. The year also witnessed the successful culmination of many years of work on the further strengthening of the international legal framework to help ensure that nuclear energy is used safely, and solely for peaceful purposes. During the year the Agency operated on a regular budget of $232 million, which represented a small increase (0.4%) over the level in 1996. The Agency also utilized almost $24 million in extrabudgetary funds in support of its regular budget programmes. The activities undertaken with these extrabudgetary resources were vital to attaining the Agency’s approved programme objectives. The target for contributions to the Technical Co-operation Fund (TCF) for 1997 was set at $68 million, of which $47.8 million was pledged by Member States. Regrettably, this represents the lowest ever percentage level pledged to the TCF target.This review notes global developments in 1997 relevant to the safe and peaceful use of nuclear energy and, in that context, highlights the achievements of the Agency.