Earth Summit 2012: The Long Road to Sustainability July 14, 2009 S. Jacob Scherr Director, International Program Natural Resources Defense Council

Three Decades of International Attention to Environment and Development  Stockholm  Montreal  Rio  Cairo  Beijing  Kyoto  Istanbul  New York  Monterrey  Johannesburg  Copenhagen  Brazil 2012?

UN Conference on the Human Environment Stockholm, Sweden 1972  First major meeting on the international environment  Focus on transfrontier pollution, particularly acid rain, as opposed to global environment  Lack of recognition of environmental problems in developing countries which were more concerned about poverty  Creation of the United Nations Environment Programme  Stimulated new environmental laws, agencies, programs, and projects at international and national level

World Commission on Environment and Development “Bruntland Commission” Our Common Future, 1987  Important effort to reconcile the perceived conflict between environmental protection and economic growth  Coined the term “sustainable development” –“Development that meets the need of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” –Recognition of the interdependence of environmental protection, social equity, and economic development  Set the stage for the Earth Summit in 1992

Two Treaties  UN Framework Convention on Climate Change  Convention on Biological Diversity One Action Plan  Agenda 21 Two Statements of Principles  Rio Declaration  “Forest Principles” New Institutions  Commission on Sustainable Development  Global Environmental Facility Unilateral Commitments Outcomes of Rio Earth Summit

Earth Summit Results Sustainable Development Councils and Committees in as many as 150 nations around the world.Sustainable Development Councils and Committees in as many as 150 nations around the world. National Agenda 21s, sustainable development strategies or environmental action plans in 86 countries.National Agenda 21s, sustainable development strategies or environmental action plans in 86 countries. Actions in a number of developing countries to establish new environmental laws, agencies, and programs.Actions in a number of developing countries to establish new environmental laws, agencies, and programs. Local Agenda 21s in communities around the worldLocal Agenda 21s in communities around the world Recognition of “triple bottom line” by businessesRecognition of “triple bottom line” by businesses

Implementation Gap  Failure to reduce unsustainable consumption and pollution in the industrialized world  Inadequate support for international sustainable development institutions and foreign assistance  Lack of political will and good governance in many countries  Lack of U.S. leadership

Detailed “One-size-fits-all” approach of treaties and action plans has not generally translated into effective timely action in diverse nations. 192 nations find it increasingly difficult to reach unanimous agreement on anything specific or quickly. Treaties and plans, of which there are now 100s, are not self-executing. Governments have generally failed to hold one another accountable for their commitments. FAILURE OF INTERNATIONAL STRUCTURES

Johannesburg Summit  102 Presidents and Prime Ministers  10,000 governmental officials from 192 countries  20,000 or more “civil society” representatives and citizens  3,500 journalists

Johannesburg Results  Plan of Implementation and Political Declaration (Type I)  250 international partnerships and initiatives registered with the UN (Type 2)  Demonstration of the extraordinary vitality and diversity of citizen action worldwide

Down to Earth Summit: 250 Partnerships and Initiatives  Clean Fuels and Vehicles – complete phase out leaded gasoline and reduce sulfur in diesel (NRDC, US EPA, UNEP, Mexico, China, Netherlands, Canada, South Africa, etc.)  Congo Basin Forest Partnership – protection of forest and wildlife and promotion of sustainable development in six Central African nations (US, UK, Japan, WWF, CI, AFPA, etc.)  Global Village Energy Partnership – provide energy services to 300 million people and thousands of communities by 2012 (US AID, World Bank, UNDP, Winrock, etc.)

The Johannesburg Summit: A Paradigm Shift Int’l Law/ Geopolitical National Governments Global/Internet National Governments International Agencies WTO, IMF, World Bank Corporations Citizen Organizations States and Cities Media

Brazil 2012: “Last Chance for the Earth” Summit?