Global Environment Outlook 3 (GEO 3)

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INTEGRATING ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT: 1972–2002

Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD); the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD); agreement to negotiate a world desertification convention; and the statement of Principles for the Sustainable Management of Forests. The Rio Principles reaffirmed the issues that had been articulated in Stockholm 20 years earlier, placing human beings at the centre of sustainable

development concerns by stating that humans are ‘entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature ’. The Earth Summit provided a forum to address issues of both environment and development, and to highlight differences in perspective between the North and South. After the Summit, sustainable development took on a life of its own, forcing its way into the deliberations of bodies ranging from city councils to international organizations. More than 150 countries have established national-level institutions to develop an integrated approach to sustainable development — although, in some countries, the national councils of sustainable development have been more political than substantive in nature (Myers and Brown 1997). A wide range of civil society sectors is now involved in agenda setting and strategy building. More than 90 per cent of them have been established in response to Rio, the majority in developing countries. The emphasis given to sustainable development also had considerable impact on both legal instruments and the institutions that administer them. For example CITES, which was already evolving away from a classic conservation approach, moved further towards an approach that balances conservation with sustainable use. The practical application of sustainable use within CITES provoked substantial and heated debate throughout the decade. Agenda 21 Agenda 21 is an action programme. It was partially based on a series of specialized contributions from governments and international bodies, including Caring for the Earth: a Strategy for Sustainable Living (IUCN, UNEP and WWF 1991). Agenda 21 is now the

Agenda 21

Agenda 21 lays a solid foundation for the promotion of sustainable development in terms of social, economic and environmental progress. Agenda 21 has 40 chapters, and its recommendations are divided into four main areas: Social and economic issues such as international cooperation to accelerate sustainable development, combating poverty, changing consumption patterns, demographic dynamics and sustainability, and protecting and promoting human health. Conservation and management of resources for development, such as protection of the atmosphere, combating deforestation, combating desertification and drought, promoting sustainable agriculture and rural development, conservation of biological diversity, protection of freshwater resources and the oceans, and the sound management of toxic chemicals and hazardous wastes. Strengthening the role of major groups, including women, children and youth, indigenous people and their communities, NGOs, local authorities’ initiatives in support of Agenda 21 , workers and their trade unions, business and industry, the scientific and technological community, and farmers. Means of implementation, including financial resources and mechanisms, transfer of environmentally sound technology, promoting education, public awareness and training, international institutional arrangements, international legal instruments and mechanisms, and information for decision-making.

IPPC publishes its Third Assessment, with increased estimate of global warming Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

Size of ozone hole reaches new records, affecting tip of South America

Terrorists use airliners to destroy the World Trade Center in New York and damage the Pentagon in Washington DC

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety adopted

World Water Forum, The Hague

World Wide Web has 50 million pages

Millennium Summit, New York, United States

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