1. International Perspectives: UNCED, Agenda 21, MDGs, WSSD
Dr Mahfuzul Haque
Former Secretary, GOB

2. International Events
1972: United Nations Conference on Human Development (UNCHD), Stockholm, Sweden. The Conference brought leaders of the industrialized and developing nations to chart an Action Plan on Human Development
1989: World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) or the “Brundtland Commission” in it’s report Our Common Future defined “Sustainable Development”

3. Sustainable Development
Sustainable Development is the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising with the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. (ref: Our Common Future, WCED, 1987).
visit:

4. UNCED, 1992 www.un.org/esa/sustdev/documents/UNCED
1992: United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), Rio-de-Janeiro, Brazil, also known as the “Earth Summit” or “Rio-Summit” assembled the world leaders to address global environmental issues of concern.

5. UNCED, 1992 Following five Conventions were signed:
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
Earth Charter
Forestry Principles
Agenda 21

6. UNFCCC, 1992 www.unfccc.int Objectives are to :
achieve stabilization of GHG concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent anthropogenic (man made) interference with the climate system
achieve such a level within a timeframe (1990) to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change
ensure that food production is not threatened
enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner

7. CBD
Objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) are to:
conserve bio-diversity
ensure its sustainable use
ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources

8. Biological Diversity
Biological diversity means variability among living organisms-terrestrial, marine and aquatic systems including diversity within and between species and ecosystems

9. Earth Charter Forestry Principles
Earth Charter expresses the wish of the world leaders to conserve this only habitable planet, the Earth
Forestry Principles are some guidelines to save the forests
For details visit:

10. Agenda 21 (www.un.org/esa/sustdev/documents/agenda21)
Agenda 21 is the Agenda for the 21st century covering all sectors of development spread over 40 chapters
All signatory nations are expected to develop their National Agenda 21
Bangladesh has partially addressed Agenda 21 in National Environment Management Action Plan (NEMAP), 1995

11. Agenda 21 (www.un.org/esa/sustdev/documents/agenda21)
Out of 40, some important chapters are as follows:
Combating Poverty
Changing Consumption Patterns
Population and Sustainability
Protecting Atmosphere
Combating Deforestation
Sustainable Agriculture Development
Safer use of Toxic Chemicals
Women in Sustainable Development
Children and Youth in Sustainable Dev
Partnership with NGOs

12. Achieve universal primary education
UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 2000 (
By 2015, all 189 UN member states have pledged to:
Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger reduce half the proportion of people living on less than a dollar a day. Reduce by half the proportion of people who suffer from hunger
Achieve universal primary education
Promote gender equality and empower women eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary level by 2005 and at all levels by 2015
Reduce child mortality by two thirds the mortality among under five children

13. UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 2000
Improve maternal health reduce by three quarters maternal mortality ratio
Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases halt and reverse spread of diseases including malaria
Ensure environment sustainability reduce half proportion of people accessing safe drinking water
Develop a global partnership for development address special needs of LDCs, SIDS, and landlocked countries

14. WSSD www.johannesburgsummit.org
World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) was held in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2002
Summit took stock of developments since the Earth Summit, 1992 held 20 years ago and implementation status of Agenda 21
Summit outcome was “Johannesburg Plan of Implementation”

15. WSSD www.johannesburgsummit.org
Johannesburg Plan of Implementation:
Poverty Eradication
Changing unsustainable pattern of consumption and production
Protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development
Sustainable Development in a Globalizing world
Health and Sustainable Development
Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States
Sustainable Development for Africa

16. WSSD www.johannesburgsummit.org
Other Regional Initiatives
Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean
Sustainable Development in Asia and Pacific
Sustainable Development in West Asia Region
Sustainable Development in Economic Commission for Europe Region
Means of Implementation
Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development
Role of UNGA, ECOSOC, International Organisations

17. THANK YOU