Agenda 21 recommends: (a) coordinating existing systems for gathering data and statistics relevant to developmental and environmental issues so as to support preparation of long-term scientific assessments - for example, data on resource depletion, import/export flow, energy use, health impact and demographic trends; (b) applying the data obtained through research into ecosystems, ecological processes and developmental impact to environment/development assessments at the global, regional and local levels; (c) promoting the wide distribution of these assessments in a form that is responsive to public needs and can be widely understood.