The UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the “Earth Summit,” was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 3-14, 1992. This global conference, held to mark the 20th anniversary of the first Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1972, brought together political leaders, diplomats, scientists, media representatives and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from 179 countries for a major effort to consider the impact of human socio-economic activities on the environment. At the same time, the NGO Global Forum was held in Rio de Janeiro, bringing together an unprecedented number of NGO representatives who presented their vision for the future of the world with regard to the environment and socio-economic development.
The main goal of the Rio Earth Summit was to develop a broad agenda and a new plan of international action on environment and development issues that would help guide international cooperation and development policies in the twenty-first century.
The three basic documents of the conference were drafted and approved by the joint efforts of the participants.
The document of paramount importance was the Declaration on Environment and Development, which proclaimed the obligations of states on the basic principles for achieving our civilization’s sustainable development and a secure future. It consists of 27 paragraphs (principles) and although it is based on the Stockholm Declaration and confirms it, it reflects the changes that have taken place in the world over the last 20 years.
Another important document approved at the Conference was “Agenda 21,” a program of actions aimed at implementing the concept of global sustainable development by governments. In this document for the first time the general and specific problems of survival, ecological safety and sustainable development of civilization in the single global ecological space of the planet were clearly designated. The main emphasis was placed on environmental protection, much attention was paid to international cooperation, the fight against poverty, human health and demographic issues. Governments were held accountable for the success of the program, and international cooperation must support and complement such national efforts.
The Rio Conference also endorsed a “Statement of Principles for a Global Consensus on the Management, Conservation and Sustainable Development of All Types of Forests,” and opened for signature two major global agreements: the Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity.