1. “We do not inherit the earth from our fathers,
we borrow it from our children”
2. United Nations Conference on Environment
and Development (UNCED)
Major UN conference
held in Rio de Janeiro
3rd to 14th June 1992
The focus of this conference was the state of the global
environment and the relationship between economics, science and
the environment in a political context.
The conference concluded with the Earth Summit, at which
leaders of 105 nations gathered to demonstrate their commitment
to sustainable development.
3. History
United Nations Conference on the Human Environment 1972 ,
Sweden , Stockholm
The Stockholm conference secured a permanent place for the
environment on the world's agenda and led to the establishment of
the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
1978 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement
1985 Helsinki Agreement (a 21-nation commitment to
reduce sulphur dioxide emissions)
1988 Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the
Ozone Layer; and
1989 Basel Convention on Transboundary Movements of
Hazardous Wastes
4. Issues Addressed
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
5. • 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
Results
6. 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, including by
appropriate access to genetic resources and by the appropriate
transfer of relevant technologies, taking into account all rights
over those resources and to technologies, and by appropriate
funding.
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.
The U.S. was the only attending country not to sign the
biodiversity treaty.
7. • 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 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC)
8. 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.
9. o The Rio Declaration consisted of 27 principles intended to
guide future sustainable development around the world.
o 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.
oThe Rio Declaration states that the only way to have long term
economic progress is to link it with environmental protection.
oThis 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.
Rio Declaration on Environment and
Development
10. 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.
11. 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
All Types 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.
