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In
depth I
Rio+10: Earth Summit 2002
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From 26 August to 4 September 2002, the World Summit on Sustainable Development (popularly known as “Rio +10”) was held in Johannesburg, South Africa. According to "Our Common Future: The Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development” (submitted in 1987 and known as the "Brundtland Report"), sustainable development is defined as “the development that satisfies present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". A sustainable way of life rests on three key areas: equitable economic growth; natural resource and environmental conservation; and social development.
By initiative of the United Nations, thousands of participants -including heads of State and Government authorities, national delegates and leaders of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), companies, and other groups concerned with sustainable development- gathered in Johannesburg. The goal was to focus world attention and direct actions on tackling such challenges as the enhancement of the quality of life for all human beings and the conservation of the natural resources of the planet.
This event commemorated the tenth anniversary of the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit (1992), where the international community adopted Agenda 21, an unprecedented global action plan to promote sustainable development. The Johannesburg Summit provided an opportunity to adopt specific measures and identify measurable targets towards the best implementation of Agenda 21.
During the Summit the third one on environmental issues organized by the United Nations-, a number of parallel activities were convened and held by independent organizations or groups. These same groups, for the most part, considered that the Summit’s outcome consisted of “merely rhetoric declarations”. The agreements reached are basically reduced to a Political Declaration and a Plan of Action, full of good intentions concerning the reduction of the number of people in the world without access to drinkable water, biodiversity and fishing resources, and with no objectives for promoting renewable energies. The documents approved contain no specific commitments, no new or additional funds, thus leading many analysts and participants to conclude that the Summit failed.
The most positive outcome was the announcement by several countries that they were ratifying the Kyoto Protocol, thus further isolating the United States -which was conspicuously absent from Johannesburg- as the leading opponent of international agreements on environmental issues.
Versión
en español
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In-depth
reports |
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reports on key issues |
Biotechnology and biosafety
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety entered into force on 11 September 2003, after reaching 50 ratifications.
Wetlands conservation
Nearly half of the world’s wetlands have been destroyed, adding yet another threat to to the earth’s ecosystems.
Hazardous waste trafficking
Toxic products find their way to developing countries, causing pollution and health problems.
The water crisis
If access to water is a basic human right, should its provision be left in the hands of private corporations?
GM food
Is the use of transgenics a justifiable solution to the problem of famine in poor countries?
Millennium Development Goals - MDGs
A comprehensive list of resources from the United Nations and civil society organizations.
Climate change
Climate change is widely considered to be one of the gravest threats to the sustainability of the planet.
Desertification
Over 250 million people are directly affected, and one billion people in over 100 countries are at risk.
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Follow-up |
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Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) |
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Civil society |
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Official information |
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Information resources |
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Campaigns |
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Analysis and opinions |
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Media |
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Green humour |
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From Rio+10 to the MDGs |
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