United Nations Conferences and Reports on the Environment

UN Conference on the Human Environment (1972) Economic and Social Council resolution 1346 (XLV) of 30 July 1968 recommended the General Assembly consider convening a UN conference on problems of the human environment. Conference convened by General Assembly resolution 2398 (XXIII) of 3 December 1968 Held in Stockholm, 5-16 June 1972 Led to the establishment of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Outcome document: A/CONF.48/14/Rev.1

World Commission on Environment and Development (1987) Established by General Assembly resolution 38/161 of 19 December 1983 Prepared a report for General Assembly in 1987 Based on a four-year study Transmitted by A/42/427 Entitled Our Common Future, also known as the Brundtland report Developed the theme of sustainable development

United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (1992) Convened by General Assembly resolution 44/228 of 20 December 1988 Held in Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 Known at the time as the Earth Summit Later came to be called the Rio Conference Led to the establishment of the Commission on Sustainable Development Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, a series of principles defining the rights and responsibilities of States Agenda 21, a global plan of action to promote sustainable development Statement of Forest Principles, a set of principles to underpin the sustainable management of forests worldwide Two multilateral treaties were opened for signature: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Convention on Biological Diversity Called for several major initiatives in other key areas of sustainable development, such as, a global conference on Small Island Developing States; negotiations began for a Convention to Combat Desertification, and for an agreement on highly migratory and straddling fish stocks.

General Assembly Special Session on the Environment (1997) Called for by General Assembly resolutions 47/190 and 51/181 Known as the Earth Summit +5 19th special session of the General Assembly Held in New York, 23-27 June 1997 Review of the implementation of Agenda 21 Outcome document: General Assembly resolution S-19/2 of 27 June 1997, Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21.

World Summit on Sustainable Development (2002) Convened by General Assembly resolution 55/199 of 20 December 2000 Also known as Rio +10 Held in Johannesburg, 26 August - 4 September 2002 Reviewed progress in the implementation of Agenda 21 since its adoption in 1992 WSSD website still available Outcome document: A/CONF.199/20 + Corr.1, includes: Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development Plan of Implementation

UN Conference on Sustainable Development (2012) Called for by General Assembly resolution 66/197 Known as Rio+20 Held in Rio de Janeiro, 20-22 June 2012 Rio +20 website Outcome document A/CONF.216/16, includes "The future we want"