Earth Summit: what it is, agreements and objectives

The Earth Summit, formally known as United Nations Conferences on Environment and Development (UNCTAD)supposes a international meeting in which heads of state from all the countries of the world participate, with the aim of reaching agreements focused on a progress in the field of the environmentsustainable development, climate change, biodiversity, health, waste management, and other related topics.

Among the different Earth Summits that have taken place throughout the 20th century, the most notable was the Earth Summit held in the city of Rio de Janeiroheld from June 3 to 14, 1992, also known colloquially as “Río-92”. Representatives from 179 countries participated in this global conference, including people linked to politics, diplomacy, science, journalism and nearly 400 NGOs.

This massive effort to find the most optimal balance possible and the least impact of human socio-economic activities in relation to the environment, was a great milestone in international relations and in the development of international law.

In the next sections of the article we will delve into the different agreements and objectives that were specifically proposed in the Earth Summit “Rio-92”which was the largest meeting of heads of State and Government held to date.

Focused on environmental issues directly related to health, air pollution, waste management, housing, the management of the different ecosystems of the seas and mountains, as well as the management of water resources and the sanitation and purification of water, the management of agriculture and desertification; The “Rio-92” Earth Summit presented great agreements to address these and more related issues. Among sayings Earth Summit agreements stand out:

• Rio Declaration on Environment and Development: In it, possible solutions were proposed to different types of environmental problems, including the reduction of the production of those products that are toxic and polluting for the environment and the survival of living beings, the increase in the use of non-polluting and renewable energies; promote, by governments, effective public transport systems, (thus reducing CO2 emissions and atmospheric and noise pollution), as well as raise awareness about the importance of saving water, taking into account the shortage of drinking water that many countries in the world already suffer.
• Agenda 21: with the proposal of 21 measures focused on sustainable development and the consequent creation of the Commission on Sustainable Development. Learn more about this topic in this other Evidence Network article on What is Agenda 21: summary and objectives.
• Convention on Forests and Forestry Principles: It is an authorized declaration (without binding legal force), which sets out a series of principles with the aim of achieving a global consensus regarding the management, conservation and sustainable development of any type of forest.
• Proposal for the Framework Convention on Climate Change: with the aim of raising awareness among the world population of the different problems associated with the phenomenon of Climate Change.
• Convention on Biological Diversity: This important agreement establishes various measures for the conservation of biodiversity on a global scale, as well as for a sustainable, fair and equitable use, both of the elements that compose it, and of the benefits that result from the use of its genetic resources.

The “Rio-92” Earth Summit invited citizens from every corner of the planet to lay the fundamental foundations of a world focused on prosperity, peace and sustainability. For this, different objectives of the Earth Summit and action points of great interest and importance, such as:

• The commitment of the Governments of the countries participating in the Summit in favor of Sustainable Development, thus guaranteeing the needs of present generations without compromising the resources that future generations will have.
• The balances and balances between the difficulties and progress that have emerged to date were studied and analyzed in relation to the environmental, legal, political and social issues established at previous Earth Summits.
• An ecological economy focused on both promoting sustainability and eradicating world poverty was proposed as a model economy.

Thus, from the first Stockholm Earth Summit (1972) until today, New York Climate Action Summit (2019) Summits have continued to be held at an international level to continue improving these aspects related to the environment, as well as society, the economy, politics, etc.

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