1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio
Declaration, Agenda 21
The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development,
Having met, at Rio de Janeiro from 3 to 14 June 1992,
Reaffirming the Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human
Environment, adopted at Stockholm on 16 June 1972, a/ and seeking to build upon it,
With the goal of establishing a new and equitable global partnership through the
creation of new levels of cooperation among States, key sectors of societies and
people,
Working towards international agreements which respect the interests of
all and protect the integrity of the global environmental and developmental system,
Recognizing the integral and interdependent nature of the Earth, our home,
Proclaims that;
Principle 1
Human beings are at the centre of concerns for sustainable development. They are
entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature.,
Principle 2
States have, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of
international law, the sovereign right to exploit their own resources pursuant to their own
environmental and developmental policies, and the responsibility to ensure that
activities within their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to the environment of
other States or of areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction.
Principle 3
The right to development must be fulfilled so as to equitably meet developmental and
environmental needs of present and future generations.
Principle 4
In order to achieve sustainable development, environmental protection shall constitute
an integral part of the development process and cannot be considered in isolation from
it.
Principle 5
All States and all people shall cooperate in the essential task of eradicating poverty as
an indispensable requirement fox sustainable development, in order to decrease the
disparities in standards of living and better meet the needs of the majority of the people
of the world.
Principle 6
The special situation and needs of developing countries, particularly the least developed
and those most environmentally vulnerable, shall be given special priority. International
actions in the field of environment and development should also address the interests
and needs of all countries.
Principle 7
States shall cooperate in a spirit of global partnership to conserve, protect and restore
the health and integrity of the Earth's ecosystem. In view of the different contributions to
global environmental degradation, States have common but differentiated
responsibilities. The developed countries acknowledge the responsibility that they bear
in the international pursuit of sustainable development in view of the pressures their
societies place on the global environment and of the technologies and financial
resources they command.
Principle 8
To achieve sustainable development and a higher quality of life for all people, States
should reduce and eliminate unsustainable patterns of production and consumption and
promote appropriate demographic policies.
Principle 9
States should cooperate to strengthen endogenous capacity-building for sustainable
development by improving scientific understanding through exchanges of scientific and
technological knowledge, and-by enhancing the development, adaptation, diffusion and
transfer of technologies, including new and innovative technologies.
Principle 10
Environmental issues are best handled with the participation of all concerned citizens, at
the relevant level. At the national level, each individual shall have appropriate access to
information concerning the environment that is held by public authorities, including
information on hazardous materials and activities in their communities, and the
opportunity to participate in decision-making processes. States shall facilitate and
encourage public awareness and participation by making information widely available.
Effective access to judicial and administrative proceedings, including redress and
remedy, shall be provided.
Principle 11
States shall enact effective environmental legislation. Environmental standards,
management objectives and priorities should reflect the environmental and
developmental context to which they apply. Standards applied by some countries may
be inappropriate and of unwarranted economic and social cost to other countries, in
particuJ.ar developing countries.
Principle 12
States should cooperate to promote a supportive and open international economic
system that would lead to economic growth and sustainable development in all
countries, to better address the problems of environmental degradation. Trade policy
measures for environmental purposes should not constitute a means of arbitrary or
unjustifiable discrimination or a disguised restriction on international trade. Unilateral
actions to deal with environmental challenges outside the jurisdiction of the importing
country should be avoided. Environmental measures addressing transboundary or
global environmental problems should, as far as possible, be based on an international
consensus.
Principle 13
States shall develop national law, regarding liability and compensation for the victims of
pollution and other environmental damage. States shall also cooperate in an
expeditious and more determined manner to develop further international law regarding
liability and compensation for adverse effects of environmental damage caused by
activities within their jurisdiction or control to areas beyond their jurisdiction.
Principle 14
States should effectively cooperate to discourage or prevent the relocation and transfer
to other States of any activities and substances that cause severe environmental
degradation or are found to be harmful to human health.
Principle 15
In order to protect the environment, the precautionary approach shall be widely applied
by States according to their capabilities. Where there are threats of serious or
irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for
postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.
Principle 16
National authorities should endeavour to promote the internalization of environmental
costs and the use of economic instruments, taking into account the approach that the
polluter should, in principle, bear the cost of pollution, with due regard to the public
interest and without distorting international trade and investment.
Principle 17
Environmental impact assessment, as a national instrument, shall be undertaken for
proposed activities that are likely to have a significant adverse impact on the
environment and are subject to a decision of a competent national authority.
Principle 18
States shall immediately notify other States of any natural disasters or other
emergencies that are likely to produce sudden harmful effects on the environment of
those States. Every effort shall be made by the international community to help States
so afflicted.
Principle 19
States shall provide prior and timely notification and relevant information to potentially
affected States on activities that may have a significant adverse transboundary
environmental effect and shall consult with those States at an early stage and in good
faith.
Principle 20
Women have a vital role in environmental management and development. Their full
participation is therefore essential to achieve sustainable development.
Principle 23
The creativity, ideals and courage of the youth of the world should be mobilized to forge
a global partnership in order to achieve sustainable development and ensure a better
future for all.
Principle 22
Indigenous people and their communities and other local communities have a vital role
in environmental management and development because of their knowledge and
traditional practices. States should recognize and duly support their identity, culture and
interests and enable their effective participation in the achievement of sustainable
development.
Principle 23
The environment and natural resources of people under oppression, domination and
occupation shall be protected.
Principle 24
Warfare is inherently destructive of sustainable development. States shall therefore
respect international law providing protection for the environment in times of armed
conflict and cooperate in its further development, as necessary.
Principle 25
Peace, development and environmental protection are interdependent and indivisible.
Principle 26
States shall resolve all their environmental disputes peacefully and by appropriate
means in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.
Principle 27
States and people shall cooperate in good faith and in a spirit of Partnership in the
fulfilment of the principles embodied in this Declaration and in the further development
of international law in the field of sustainable development.
AGENDA 21
The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also
called the Earth Summit, took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 1992. This largest-
ever world meeting brought Heads of State and government officials together with
international organizations and representatives of non-government organizations
(NGOs) from around the world.
A 700 page global plan of action called Agenda 21 was produced as a result of the
Earth Summit: it represents the consensus reached by 178 States on how we can
secure OUR future. Agenda 21 is like a blueprint (or maybe we should call it a
"greenprint"!) for global partnership aiming at a high quality environment and a healthy
economy for all peoples of the planet.
Agenda 21 addresses the critical issues we face as a global community: continuing
damage to ecosystems, the worsening of poverty, hunger and ill health, increasing
world population and illiteracy. Agenda 21 is composed of 40 chapters that identify each
challenge and propose simple realistic solutions towards sustainable development
which is: meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs.
Around the world, governments, businesses, non-governmental and other organizations
are already putting the ideas from Agenda 21 to work. It is crucial to maintain the
momentum of the Rio process and implement the agreements that were reached. This
task will require not only the leadership and funding of governments and business, but
also the vision, cooperation and work of every citizen. Sustainable development cannot
be achieved without all sectors of society working together.
Section I: Social and Economic Dimensions is directed toward combating poverty,
especially in developing countries, changing consumption patterns, promoting health,
achieving a more sustainable population, and sustainable settlement in decision
making.
Chapter 1
Preamble to Agenda 21: No nation can secure its future alone, but all countries can
assure themselves of a safer, more prosperous future by dealing with environment and
development issues TOGETHER in global partnership.
Chapter 2
The Role of TRADE: Trade and environment should be mutually supportive since
international economic relations and the economic policies of every country have great
relevance to sustainable development.
Chapter 3
Combatting POVERTY: Poverty is caused by hunger, illiteracy, inadequate medical
care, unemployment and population pressures. The poor need access to basic
education and health care, safe water and sanitation, and to resources, especially land.
Chapter 4
Changing CONSUMPTION PATTERNS: New concepts of wealth and prosperity which
are more in harmony with the Earth's carrying capacity need to be developed,
particularly in the industrialized countries. Individuals need to accept that they have
choices when making decisions about their own consumption patterns.
Chapter 5
POPULATION Dynamics: The world's population is expected to exceed 8 billion by the
year 2020. Countries need to know their national population carrying capacity and deal
with the combination of population growth, health of the ecosystem, technologies and
access to resources.
Chapter 6
Protecting and Promoting HEALTH: Every year in the developing world, nearly 15
million children under 15 die from infection and malnutrition. Human health depends on
a healthy environment, clean water supply, sanitary waste disposal, adequate shelter
and healthy food. The overall goal is health for all by the year 2000.
Chapter 7
Sustainable Human settlements: By the year 2000, half the world's population will be
living in cities. Governments should reduce migration to the big cities by improving rural
living and see that the homeless get access to land, credit and low-cost building
materials.
Chapter 8
MAKING DECISIONS for Sustainable Development: There is a tendency to treat the
environment as a "free good" and to pass the cost of environmental damage to other
parts of society, other countries or future generations. Nations and corporate
enterprises should integrate environmental protection and restoration costs in their
decision-making.
Section II: Conservation and Management of Resources for Development includes
atmospheric protection, combating deforestation, protecting fragile environments,
conservation of biological diversity (biodiversity), control of pollution and the
management of biotechnology, and radioactive wastes.
Chapter 9
Protecting the ATMOSPHERE: Our atmosphere is under increasing pressure from
greenhouse gases that threaten to change the climates and chemicals that reduce the
ozone layer. Greater energy efficiency out of existing power stations is needed as well
as developing new,
renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro, ocean and human power, while
reducing reliance on non-renewable sources of energy such as fossil fuels.
Chapter 10
Planning and Management of LAND-USE: Increasing demand for land and its natural
resources is creating competition and conflicts. Sustainable use and management of
land should include landscape ecological planning, traditional and indigenous land
practices and the active participation in decision-making by people affected by land
planning.
Chapter 11
Combatting DEFORESTATION: There is a need for concerted international research
and conservation efforts to control the harvesting of forests by promoting indigenous
technologies and agroforestry and expanding the shrunken world-forest cover.
Chapter 12
Combatting DESERTIFICATION: Desertification and drought result in poverty and
starvation, which brings about more soil degradation. One of the major tools to fight the
spread of deserts is the planting of trees and other plants that retain water and maintain
soil quality.
Chapter 13
MOUNTAIN Development: About 10% of the Earth's population live in mountain areas,
while about 40% occupies watershed areas below. Measures are needed to protect
mountain ecosystems from erosion, landslides and the rapid loss of habitat, animals
and plant life.
Chapter 14
AGRICULTURE and Rural Development: The world's long-term ability to meet the
growing demand for food and other agricultural products is uncertain. The priority must
be to maintain and improve the capacity of agricultural lands with new technologies to
support an expanding population.
Chapter 15
Conservation of BIODIVERSITY: The use of biological resources to feed and clothe
us, to provide us with housing and medicines accelerates the loss of bio-diversity.
Urgent and decisive action is
needed to conserve and maintain genes, species and ecosystems.
Chapter 16
Sustainable BIOTECHNOLOGY: The success of biotechnology programs depends on
highly trained scientific professionals who use traditional knowledge and modern
technology to change the genetic material in plants, animals and microbes and create
new products such as vaccines, increase soil fertility and crop resistance, improve
treatment of sewage, etc.
Chapter 17
Protection of the OCEANS: Oceans are under increasing stress from pollution, over-
fishing and general degradation. Nations must control and reduce the pollution of the
marine environment and maintain its
life support capacity.
Chapter 18
Protecting and Managing WATER: In the developing world, one person in three lacks
safe drinking water and sanitation p; basic requirements for health and dignity. A
cleanup of the most obvious sources of pollution is needed in order to have safe water
and sanitation for all by the year 2025.
Chapter 19
Management of TOXIC CHEMICALS: There are presently no less than 100,000
commercial man-made chemicals. Countries need to develop and share expertise for a
sound management of toxic chemicals and prevent illegal international traffic in toxic
and dangerous products.
Chapter 20
HAZARDOUS WASTES: Developing countries have come under pressure to accept
unpleasant imports of hazardous waste which pose a risk to people and the
environment. Developed countries have an obligation to promote the transfer of sound
technologies and reduce hazardous waste.
Chapter 21
SOLID WASTE and SEWAGE: Growing quantities of garbage and sewage from our
cities pose threats to our health and environment. An urban waste prevention approach
needs to be implemented so that by 2010, all countries should have national plans for
waste management.
Chapter 22
RADIOACTIVE WASTE: The use of radioactive substances is growing in nuclear power
production of electricity, medicine, research and industry and so is the waste. It is
important to ensure training and financial support to developing countries that have
nuclear programs to ensure safe and responsible management.
Section III: Strengthening the Role of Major Groups includes the roles of children
and youth, women, NGOs, local authorities, business and industry, and workers; and
strengthening the role of indigenous peoples, their communities, and farmers.
Chapter 23
Preamble: Sustainable development is primarily the responsibility of every government,
but the commitment and involvement of all social groups is critical to the effective
implementation of the objectives, policies and mechanisms agreed to by all
governments at the Earth's Summit.
Chapter 24
WOMEN: Governments are urged to give girls equal access to education, to make
health-care systems responsive to women's needs and to bring women into full
participation in social, cultural and public life.
Chapter 25
CHILDREN and YOUTH: Children and youth make up nearly one-third of the world
population. Governments are urged to combat abuse of the rights of youth, especially
females in certain cultures, and to ensure that all children have access to education.
Chapter 26
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE: Indigenous people comprise about 4% of the world's
population and their numbers are decreasing. Governments and international
organizations should protect their rights and patrimony, recognize their traditional
knowledge and resource management practices and enroll them in full global
partnership.
Chapter 27
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS: Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
form a network in both developed and developing countries and play a vital role in the
shaping and implementation of participatory democracy which is integral to the
implementation of sustainable development.
Chapter 28
LOCAL AUTHORITIES: Local authorities, such as municipal governments, should
consult citizens and community, business and industrial groups on local programs,
policies, laws and regulations to achieve Agenda 21's objectives.
Chapter 29
WORKERS and TRADE UNIONS: Workers will be among those most affected by the
changes needed to achieve sustainable development. Through elected representatives,
workers must be involved in promoting socially responsible economic development.
Chapter 30
BUSINESS and INDUSTRY: Responsible behavior in the private sector is a
prerequisite to achieving sustainable development. Entrepreneurship can play a major
role in improving the efficiency of resource use, minimizing wastes and protecting
human health and environmental quality.
Chapter 31
SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY: Scientists and technologists (engineers, architects,
industrial designers, urban planners, and other professionals) have special
responsibilities to search for knowledge and to help protect the biosphere.
Chapter 32
FARMERS: Farmers are directly responsible for one third of the land surface of the
Earth. They require economic and technical assistance that will encourage them to
implement self-sufficient, low-input and low-energy agricultural practices. Women, who
do much of the world's farming, should have access to tenure and the use of land, to
credits and technologies.
Section IV: Means of Implementation includes science, technology
transfer, education, international institutions, and financial mechanisms.
Chapter 33
FINANCIAL RESOURCES: Developing nations need free trade and access to markets
in order to achieve sustainable economic growth. Special attention should be given to
nations whose economies are in transition.
Chapter 34
Transfer of TECHNOLOGY: Scientific knowledge can help prevent shortages of
energy, water and non-renewable resources. Developing countries should access
environmentally-sound technology and know-how through a collaborative international
network of laboratories.
Chapter 35
SCIENCE for Sustainable Development: In the face of threats of irreversible
environmental damage, improved knowledge of the Earth's systems is crucial as well as
the integration of the natural, social and engineering sciences.
Chapter 36
EDUCATION and PUBLIC AWARENESS: Education gives people the environmental
and ethical awareness, values and attitudes, skills and behaviour needed for
sustainable development. Because sustainable development must ultimately involve
everyone, access to education must be increased for all children and adult illiteracy
must be reduced.
Chapter 37
CREATING CAPACITY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: All countries share the
need to strengthen national capabilities. Developing countries especially need to build
their own capacity to implement Agenda 21 in cooperation with UN organizations,
developed countries and with each other.
Chapter 38
INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS: A large responsibility for
following-up with Agenda 21 rests with the United Nations organizations. It is
recommended that the UN create a high-level Commission on Sustainable Develop-
ment which would draw on expertise of UN organizations, international financial
organizations and NGOs, industry, business and scientific groups.
Chapter 39
INTERNATIONAL LAW AND MECHANISMS: It is essential that all countries and all
sectors within countries, participate in the negotiation of international agreements that
create effective international standards for environmental protection.
Chapter 40
SHARING INFORMATION AND DATA FOR DECISION-MAKING: In order to base
decisions on sound information, the availability, quality and accessibility of data needs
to be improved between developed and developing countries.
