The Earth Summit, officially known as the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), was a major international conference held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from June 3 to June 14, 1992. This event marked a significant moment in global environmental governance:
- Purpose: The summit aimed to address urgent issues concerning environmental protection and sustainable development. It was a response to increasing concerns about the degradation of the Earth's environment and the need for sustainable practices globally.
- Key Outcomes:
- Agenda 21: A comprehensive blueprint for sustainable development, promoting actions at local, national, and global levels.
- Rio Declaration on Environment and Development: A set of 27 principles intended to guide countries in achieving sustainable development.
- Framework Convention on Climate Change: A treaty that led to the establishment of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which is the basis for subsequent climate agreements like the Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement.
- Convention on Biological Diversity: An agreement aimed at the conservation of biodiversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources.
- Forest Principles: A non-binding document outlining the management, conservation, and sustainable development of all types of forests.
- Participation: Over 178 governments participated, with 108 sending their heads of state or government. Additionally, thousands of representatives from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) attended, highlighting the importance of civil society in sustainable development discussions.
- Legacy: The Earth Summit set the stage for future environmental and sustainable development conferences, including the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, and the 2012 Rio+20 conference, which focused on reviewing progress and setting new goals for sustainable development.
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