Rio Declaration on Environment and Development

Agenda 21

Statement of principles to guide the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests

United Nations Framework Convention On Climate Change

Convention on Biological Diversity

The Five Rio Documents

Rio produced two international agreements, two statements of principles and a major action agenda on world wide sustainable development. The five are:

The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. Its 27 principles define the rights and responsibilities of nations as they pursue human development and well-being.

Agenda 21, a blueprint on how make development socially, economically and environmentally sustainable.

A statement of principles to guide the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests, which are essential to economic development and the maintenance of all forms of life.

Two major international Conventions were negotiated separately from but parallel to preparations for the Earth Summit and were signed by most governments meeting at Rio.

The aim of the United Nations Framework Convention On Climate Change is to stabilize greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at levels that will not dangerously upset the global climate system. This will require a reduction in our emissions of such gases as carbon dioxide, a by-product of the use of burning fuels for energy.

The Convention on Biological Diversity requires that countries adopt ways and means to conserve the variety of living species, and ensure that the benefits from using biological diversity are equitably shared.