Environmental Management: Principles and practice

The 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development
Sometimes referred to as the ‘Earth Summit’ or abbreviated to UNCED, held in
1992 the Rio Conference was a test of the ability of the international political and
legal order to reach a consensus for the good of the whole world (Tromans, 1992;
Grubb et al., 1993). Originally there were hopes that UNCED would agree an Earth
Charter, but this was not achieved, although several new declarations were made and
conventions were established (see Box 3.3) (Freestone, 1994; Johnson, 1993).
Freestone (1994) reviewed the implications of UNCED, stressing that it did crystallize
principles which contribute to the development of international environmental law.
However, some feel the Earth Summit tended to weaken international environmental
law by focusing on development issues (see Sands, 1993). A follow-up meeting to
UNCED, the Rio II Conference was held in New York in 1997 (see chapter 14).
BOX 3.3 Agreements made at the Earth Summit, 1992
♦  Rio Declaration on Environment and Development updated version of the
Stockholm Declaration (of 1972); published general principles for future
international action on environment and development.
♦  Framework Convention on Climate Change framework for negotiation of
detailed protocols to deal with control of greenhouse gas emissions,
deforestation, sea-level change, etc.
♦  Convention on Biological Diversity intended to arrest alarming rate of species
loss (criticized for having been poorly and hurriedly drafted).
♦  Declaration on Forests a principle, not legally binding, this was substituted
for original idea of a Forest Convention.
♦  Agenda 21 an action plan for the rest of the century and framework for
dealing with environment and development issues. Consists of 40 chapters
(not a legally binding instrument).
♦  Global Environmental Facility a fund established for global problem-solving.
Under the auspices of the World Bank, UNEP and UNDP. Designed to be
‘democratic and transparent’ and helpful to poor nations. Amongst other
things, intended to support Biodiversity and Climate Change Conventions.