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Final UNCED Report
English | Français | Español Agenda 21 - Global Programme of Action on Sustainable Development Forest Principles Framework Convention on Climate Change Convention on Biological Diversity NGO Treaties |
![[ IISDnet Table of Contents ]](../agri/contents.GIF){kind=small} What was the Earth Summit?
The U.N. Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), commonly known as the Earth Summit, was held in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992. Government representatives from 178 countries were present. Efforts during UNCED to negotiate an Earth Charter - an environmental bill of rights delineating the principles for economic and environmental behavior of peoples and nations - ultimately produced the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. Other major documents resulting from UNCED were Agenda 21, a statement on Forest Principles, and two conventions: one on Climate and another on Biodiversity. The Rio Declaration is a statement of 27 principles upon which the nations have agreed to base their actions in dealing with environment and development issues. Agenda 21 is a 40 chapter action blueprint on specific issues relating to sustainable development. Citizen groups from around the globe also met in Rio and produced 46 of their own alternative conventions and agreements. While they are non-binding, these agreements do express the concern that progress on environment and development issues will not be made at the government level alone. Solutions also reside with the local communities and within citizens' groups. Since the Earth Summit, the United Nations has set up the U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development to monitor the progress of nation states relative to agreements made in Rio. Many national governments have created their own National Councils for Sustainable Development to coordinate efforts between all sectors of society. Text reprinted and modified with permission from the Iowa Division of the UNA-USA
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UNCED Founding Resolution
Earth Negotiations Bulletin Daily Reports on the Earth Summit![[ You're @ IISDnet ]](../buttons/footer.gif){kind=small}