EARTH SUMMIT & RELATED INITIATIVES

WORLD CHARTER FOR NATURE (1982)
• Adopted by UN member states on 28 October 1982.
• Five key conservation principles:
  - Nature must be respected; essential ecological processes must not be impaired.
  - Genetic viability of Earth must not be compromised; habitats of all species must be safeguarded.
  - Entire Earth (land + sea) must follow conservation principles; special protection for unique ecosystems and rare species.
  - Ecosystems and resources must be managed sustainably without harming co‑existing ecosystems/species.
  - Nature must be protected from degradation caused by warfare/hostile activities.

EARTH SUMMIT – RIO DE JANEIRO (1992)
• Official name: United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED).
• Held: 3–14 June 1992, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
• Follow‑ups:
  - Rio+10 (2002) – Johannesburg, South Africa.
  - Rio+20 (2012) – Rio de Janeiro again.

Key Outcomes
• CBDR principle formalized under UNFCCC.
• Major documents adopted:
  - Rio Declaration → 27 principles guiding sustainable development.
  - Agenda 21 → global blueprint for sustainable development (non‑binding).
  - Forest Principles → non‑legally binding guidelines for sustainable forest management.
• Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) introduced globally (part of Agenda 21).

Rio Conventions (Legally Binding Agreements)
• UNFCCC → later led to Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement.
• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
• UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (CSD)
• Set up in 1992 to monitor implementation of Agenda 21 + Rio Declaration.
• Reviewed progress on sustainable development globally.
• High‑level forum within ECOSOC.
• 53 member states; had a Bureau (Chair + 4 Vice Chairs).
• Oversaw follow‑up to Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI).

CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (CBD)
• Opened for signature during Earth Summit 1992; effective from 1993.
• Legally binding on member states.
• Three main objectives:
  - Conservation of biodiversity.
  - Sustainable use of biodiversity components.
  - Fair & equitable benefit sharing from genetic resources.
• Membership: 195 UN states + EU; USA is not a party.
• 2010 COP‑10 (Nagoya, Japan):
  - Nagoya Protocol adopted on Access & Benefit Sharing.

AGENDA 21 (1992)
• Comprehensive global plan of action for sustainable development.
• Adopted by 178+ governments.
• Non‑binding but influential.
• “21” → agenda for the 21st century.
• Areas covered: poverty, health, energy, agriculture, climate, oceans, forests etc.
• Since 2015 → SDGs included under Agenda 2030.

EARTH SUMMIT 2002 → RIO+10
• Venue: Johannesburg, South Africa.
• Confirmed global commitment to Agenda 21 and MDGs.
• Adopted Johannesburg Declaration.
• Reaffirmed multilateralism + sustainable development principles.

RIO+20 (2012)
• Venue: Rio de Janeiro.
• 20‑year review of Earth Summit 1992 and 10‑year review of Earth Summit 2002.
• Also known as “Rio Earth Summit 2012”.
• Reaffirmed Agenda 21.
• Focused on:
  - Green Economy.
  - Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development (IFSD).

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Subject: Environment

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