The document outlines the historical progression of United Nations conferences focused on environment and development, notably the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and its follow-ups, including Rio+20 in 2012. Key outcomes include Agenda 21, the Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the Convention on Biological Diversity, which together aim to promote sustainable development through international cooperation. The 2012 conference emphasized renewing political commitment, assessing progress, and addressing emerging challenges such as food security, water scarcity, and ecosystem loss.

1. Background, Detail and Latest Action
Md. Inzamul Haque Sazal
MSc, BSc in Geography & Environment
Shahjalal University of Science &Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh
Sazal.edu@outlook.com

2. The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development
(UNCED), also known as the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit , Rio Summit, Rio
Conference, and Earth Summit (Portuguese: ECO92), was a major United
Nations conference held in Rio de Janeiro from 3 to 14 June 1992.
In 2012, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development was
also held in Rio, and is also commonly called Rio+20 or Rio Earth Summit
2012. It was held from 13 to 22 June.
Working towards international agreements which respect the interests of
all and protect the integrity of the global environmental and
developmental system, recognizing the integral and interdependent
nature of the Earth, our home.
WHAT IS RIO SUMMIT

3. 1972 | 1982 | 1992 | 2002 | 2012
2002
Johannesburg
World Summit on
Sustainable Development
2012
Rio de Janeiro
UN Conference on the
Human Environment,
Earth Summit
1992
Rio de Janeiro
UN Conference on the
Human Environment,
Earth Summit
1987
Brundtland Report
“Our Common Future”
1972
Stockholm
UN Conference on
Sustainable Development
1997
New York
Rio+5
UNGASS 19
Background: Timeline 1972-2012

4. The United Nations Conference on the Human
Environment in Stockholm put environmental issues on
the international agenda for the first time.
The Stockholm Conference, June 5-16, 1972 laid the groundwork
for progress in the environment and development.
One important outcome from Stockholm was the creation of the
UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
“Man is unlikely to succeed in managing his relationship with nature unless in the
course of it he learns to manage better the relations between man and man.” –
Maurice Strong, Secretary-General of the Stockholm Conference
Historical Background: Stockholm, 1972
Declaration of the UN Conference on the Human Environment http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?documentid=97&articleid=1503
Report of the UN Conference on the Human Environment http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?documentid=97

5. The 1987 Brundtland Report, “Our Common Future,” helped define
sustainable development.
“Humanity has the ability to make
development sustainable to ensure
that it meets the needs of the
present without compromising the
ability of future generations to
meet their own needs.” - Part One
of the Brundtland Report
In 1983, UN Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar asked Prime Minister Gro Harlem
Brundtland* of Norway to create an organization independent of the UN to focus on
environmental and developmental problems and solutions.
The World Commission on Environment and Development, known as the Brundtland
Commission, was formed. The Commission’s report highlighted how growth rates in
both developing and industrialized nations would prove to be unsustainable.
Historical Background: Brundtland, 1987

6. Historical Background: Earth Summit 1992
The first global gathering on sustainability was the 1992 Earth Summit in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The Earth Summit – the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development
(UNCED) June 3-14 – produced Agenda 21, a blueprint to rethink economic growth, to
advance social equity and to ensure environmental protection.
More than 178 Governments adopted: Agenda 21, the Rio Declaration on Environment
and Development, and the Statement of Principles for the Sustainable Management of
Forests.
Two important legally binding agreements were opened for signatures: the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions; and, the Convention on Biological Diversity, to
conserve biodiversity.The Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) was
created to ensure effective follow-up to the Summit.
“If you don’t know how to fix it, please don’t
break it.” – 12-yr old Canadian Severn Cullis-
Suzuki at Earth Summit 1992

7. Rio+5 June 23-27, 1997 in NewYork ended without significant action.
UNGASS-19, the 19th Special Session of the UN General Assembly was
promoted as “Rio+5” and was convened to review and appraise the
implementation of Agenda 21.
The Summit noted many shortfalls in progress, particularly failures to
achieve an increase in monetary aid and technical assistance to
developing nations.
After three attempts, the process failed to produce a defining Political
Statement, though leaders recommitted to the goals of Agenda 21.
"Our words have not been matched by deeds."
- Razali Ismail, UNGeneral Assembly
president, from Malaysia
Historical Background: Rio+5 1997

8. The 2002World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) produced
the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.
At Rio+10 Aug. 26-Sept. 4 in Johannesburg, South Africa the Johannesburg Plan
of Implementation (JPI) set out new commitments in poverty eradication,
health, trade, education, science and technology, regional concerns, natural
resources, and institutional arrangements.
 Economic development
 Social development
 Environmental development
The JPI also identified three mutually reinforcing pillars of sustainable
development.
“a collective responsibility to advance and
strengthen the interdependent and
mutually reinforcing pillars of sustainable
development – economic development,
social development and environmental
protection – at local, national, regional and
global levels.” – Johannesburg Plan of
Implementation
Three Pillars of Sustainable Development
Historical Background: Rio+10 2002

9. Rio+20, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable
Development scheduled for June 20-21, 2012 in Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil, is intended to set a global sustainability agenda for the
coming decade .
Delegates from 183 countries, some of them represented by their presidents,
vice-presidents, and premiers, along with more than 50,000 participants
from governments, the private sector, non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) and other groups will attend.
The Conference is being promoted as “The Future WeWant”.
Historical Background: Rio+20 2012

10. Issues Addressed in Rio Summit 1992
TOP ISSUES-
• Systematic scrutiny of patterns of production — particularly the production of toxic components, such
as lead in gasoline, or poisonous waste including radioactive chemicals
• Alternative sources of energy to replace the use of fossil fuels which are linked to global climate change
• New reliance on public transportation systems in order to reduce vehicle emissions, congestion in cities and the
health problems caused by polluted air and smoke
• The growing scarcity of water

11. Outcome
 Convention on Biological Diversity
 Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC)
 United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development
 Agenda 21
 Forest Principles

12. Convention on Biological Diversity
• The conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and
the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic
resources.
• Developed a global strategy with guidelines for action by international, national
and local governments and institutions to save, understand, and use biodiversity
sustainably and equitably.
• Signed by over 150 countries
• The U.S. was the only attending country not to sign the biodiversity treaty.

13. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
• Lead to the implementation of Kyoto Protocol
• Stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that
would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system
• To ensure that food production is not threatened and to enable economic
development to proceed in a sustainable manner.
• The key elements of the convention are:
-new and additional financial resources to meet convention goals;
-promotion of transfer of technology to developing countries; and
-an institutional mechanism to enable the international community to manage
the climate change problem over the long term, working with the IPCC.

14. United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
 to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought through
national action programs that incorporate long-term strategies supported
by international cooperation and partnership arrangements.
 It is the first and only internationally legally binding framework set up to
address the problem of desertification. The Convention is based on the
principles of participation, partnership and decentralization the backbone
of good Governance and Sustainable Development.

15. Rio Declaration on Environment and Development
 The Rio Declaration consisted of 27 principles intended to guide future sustainable development
around the world.
 These principles define the rights of people to development, and their responsibilities to safeguard
the common environment. They build on ideas from the Stockholm Declaration at the 1972 United
Nations Conference on the Human Environment.
 The Rio Declaration states that the only way to have long term economic progress is to link it with
environmental protection.
 This will only happen if nations establish a new and equitable global partnership involving
governments, their people and key sectors of societies. They must build international agreements
that protect the integrity of the global environmental and the developmental system.

16. Agenda 21
• A non-binding, voluntarily implemented action plan of the United Nations with regard
to sustainable development.
• A 300-page document divided into 40 chapters that have been grouped into 4 sections:
Section I: Social and Economic Dimensions is directed toward combating poverty, especially in developing
countries, changing consumption patterns, promoting health, achieving a more sustainable population, and
sustainable settlement in decision making.
Section II: Conservation and Management of Resources for Development Includes atmospheric protection,
combating deforestation, protecting fragile environments, conservation of biodiversity, control of pollution and the
management of biotechnology, and radioactive wastes.
Section III: Strengthening the Role of Major Groups includes the roles of children and youth, women, NGOs, local
authorities, business and industry, and workers; and strengthening the role of indigenous peoples, their communities,
and farmers.
Section IV: Means of Implementation: implementation includes science, technology
transfer, education, international institutions and financial mechanisms.

17. Forest Principles
• The informal name given to the Non-Legally Binding Authoritative Statement of Principles for a Global
Consensus on the Management, Conservation and Sustainable Development of AllTypes of Forests.
• The Montreal Process, also known as the Working Group on Criteria and Indicators for the Conservation and
Sustainable Management of Temperate and Boreal Forests, was started in 1994 as a result of the Forest
Principles.
• Forestry issues and opportunities should be examined in a holistic and balanced manner.
• Forests are essential to economic development and the maintenance of all forms of life.

18. Objectives of Recent Rio Summit (Rio+20)
The stated objectives of Rio+20 are to: renew political commitment,
assess progress, and address challenges.
 Renew Political Commitment to Sustainable Development techniques,
discuss structural modifications within political institutions in relation to
development technology.
 Assess Progress on various country commitments to sustainable development
practices, look into gaps in progress, and evaluate the success of outcomes of
major international summit meetings on sustainable development.
 Discuss Emerging Challenges that have become more critical: food crises,
water scarcity, natural disasters, health security, migration, and biodiversity
and ecosystem loss; and reach agreement on comprehensive mitigation.

19. Themes of Recent Rio Summit (Rio+20)
Discussion at Rio+20 was shaped by two themes: the Green Economy and Institutional Framework.
Key Considerations
 link goals for the environment with those for the economy rather than
one taking precedent over the other.
 integrate the knowledge that ecosystems currently undergo stress
from production techniques, and that extreme poverty still exists
throughout the world.
 shift methods of development to those that are both economically and
environmentally friendly.
Green Economy in the Context of Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Development

20. Themes of Recent Rio Summit (Rio+20)
Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development
Key Considerations
 reform UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme)
 establish a UN Environment Organization (UNEO) orWorld Environment
Organization (WEO)
 Monitor and enforce global agreements on environment and sustainable
development
 Strengthen the CSD (Commission on Sustainable Development).
The theme of Institutional Framework stresses the importance of integrating sustainable development
practices into global political institutions.

21. Rio+20 have highlighted seven areas which need priority attention: jobs, energy, cities, food, water,
oceans, disasters.
Jobs – Jobs are critical for social stability, and green jobs contribute to preserving or restoring the quality of the environment. [UNCSD Issues Brief 7]
Energy - Sustainable energy is needed for strengthening economies, protecting ecosystems and achieving equity. [Sustainable Energy for All]
Cities –The challenges cities face must be overcome in ways that create prosperity, while improving resource use and reducing poverty. [UNCSD Issues
Brief 5]
Food – A profound change in global agriculture is needed to nourish today's 925 million and the additional 2 billion people expected by 2050. [UNCSD
Issues Brief 9]
Water – Water scarcity, poor quality and inadequate sanitation negatively impact food security, livelihoods and educational opportunities. [UNCSD
Issues Brief 11]
Oceans – The world's oceans - their temperature, chemistry, currents and life - drive global systems that make the Earth habitable for humankind.
[UNCSD Issues Brief 4]
Disasters – Smart choices help us recover from disasters, choices related to how we grow our food, where and how we build our homes, how our
financial system works, what we teach in schools, and more. [UNCSD Issues Brief 8]
Focal Areas of Recent Rio Summit (Rio+20)