Earth Summit 2012:Earth Summit 2012:The Long Road to SustainabilityThe Long Road to Sustainability

July 14, 2009July 14, 2009

S. Jacob ScherrS. Jacob ScherrDirector, International ProgramDirector, International Program

Natural Resources Defense CouncilNatural Resources Defense Council

Three Decades of International Attention Three Decades of International Attention to Environment and Developmentto Environment and Development

Stockholm Stockholm MontrealMontreal RioRio CairoCairo BeijingBeijing KyotoKyoto IstanbulIstanbul New YorkNew York MonterreyMonterrey JohannesburgJohannesburg CopenhagenCopenhagen Brazil 2012?Brazil 2012?

UN Conference on the Human EnvironmentUN Conference on the Human EnvironmentStockholm, SwedenStockholm, Sweden

19721972

First major meeting on the international environmentFirst major meeting on the international environment Focus on transfrontier pollution, particularly acid rain, as Focus on transfrontier pollution, particularly acid rain, as

opposed to global environmentopposed to global environment Lack of recognition of environmental problems in Lack of recognition of environmental problems in

developing countries which were more concerned about developing countries which were more concerned about povertypoverty

Creation of the United Nations Environment ProgrammeCreation of the United Nations Environment Programme Stimulated new environmental laws, agencies, programs, Stimulated new environmental laws, agencies, programs,

and projects at international and national leveland projects at international and national level

World Commission on Environment and DevelopmentWorld Commission on Environment and Development“Bruntland Commission”“Bruntland Commission”

Our Common FutureOur Common Future, 1987, 1987

Important effort to reconcile the perceived conflict between Important effort to reconcile the perceived conflict between environmental protection and economic growthenvironmental protection and economic growth

Coined the term “sustainable development”Coined the term “sustainable development”– ““Development that meets the need of the present generation without Development that meets the need of the present generation without

compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”

– Recognition of the interdependence of environmental protection, social Recognition of the interdependence of environmental protection, social equity, and economic developmentequity, and economic development

Set the stage for the Earth Summit in 1992Set the stage for the Earth Summit in 1992

Two TreatiesTwo Treaties UN Framework Convention on Climate ChangeUN Framework Convention on Climate Change Convention on Biological DiversityConvention on Biological Diversity

One Action PlanOne Action Plan Agenda 21Agenda 21

Two Statements of Principles Two Statements of Principles Rio DeclarationRio Declaration ““Forest Principles”Forest Principles”

New InstitutionsNew Institutions Commission on Sustainable DevelopmentCommission on Sustainable Development Global Environmental FacilityGlobal Environmental Facility

Unilateral CommitmentsUnilateral Commitments

Outcomes of Rio Earth Summit Outcomes of Rio Earth Summit

Earth Summit ResultsEarth Summit Results

• Sustainable Development Councils and Committees in Sustainable Development Councils and Committees in as many as 150 nations around the world. as many as 150 nations around the world.

• National Agenda 21s, sustainable development National Agenda 21s, sustainable development strategies or environmental action plans in 86 countries. strategies or environmental action plans in 86 countries.

• Actions in a number of developing countries to establish Actions in a number of developing countries to establish new environmental laws, agencies, and programs.new environmental laws, agencies, and programs.

• Local Agenda 21s in communities around the world Local Agenda 21s in communities around the world • Recognition of “triple bottom line” by businessesRecognition of “triple bottom line” by businesses

Implementation GapImplementation Gap

Failure to reduce unsustainable consumption and pollution Failure to reduce unsustainable consumption and pollution in the industrialized worldin the industrialized world

Inadequate support for international sustainable Inadequate support for international sustainable development institutions and foreign assistancedevelopment institutions and foreign assistance

Lack of political will and good governance in many Lack of political will and good governance in many countriescountries

Lack of U.S. leadershipLack 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 SummitJohannesburg Summit

102 Presidents and 102 Presidents and Prime MinistersPrime Ministers

10,000 10,000 governmental governmental officials from 192 officials from 192 countriescountries

20,000 or more 20,000 or more “civil society” “civil society” representatives and representatives and citizenscitizens

3,500 journalists3,500 journalists

Johannesburg ResultsJohannesburg Resultswww.johannesburgsummit.orgwww.johannesburgsummit.org

Plan of Implementation Plan of Implementation and Political Declaration and Political Declaration (Type I)(Type I)

250 international 250 international partnerships and initiatives partnerships and initiatives registered with the UN registered with the UN (Type 2)(Type 2)

Demonstration of the Demonstration of the extraordinary vitality and extraordinary vitality and diversity of citizen action diversity of citizen action worldwide worldwide

Down to Earth Summit:Down to Earth Summit: 250 Partnerships and Initiatives 250 Partnerships and Initiatives

Clean Fuels and VehiclesClean Fuels and Vehicles – complete phase out leaded gasoline and – complete phase out leaded gasoline and reduce sulfur in diesel (NRDC, US EPA, UNEP, Mexico, China, reduce sulfur in diesel (NRDC, US EPA, UNEP, Mexico, China, Netherlands, Canada, South Africa, etc.)Netherlands, Canada, South Africa, etc.)

Congo Basin Forest Partnership – Congo Basin Forest Partnership – protection of forest and wildlife protection of forest and wildlife and promotion of sustainable development in six Central African and promotion of sustainable development in six Central African nations (US, UK, Japan, WWF, CI, AFPA, etc.)nations (US, UK, Japan, WWF, CI, AFPA, etc.)

Global Village Energy Partnership – Global Village Energy Partnership – provide energy services to 300 provide energy services to 300 million people and thousands of communities by 2012 (US AID, World million people and thousands of communities by 2012 (US AID, World Bank, UNDP, Winrock, etc.)Bank, UNDP, Winrock, etc.)

The Johannesburg Summit:The Johannesburg Summit:A Paradigm ShiftA Paradigm Shift

Int’l Law/ Geopolitical

National Governments

Global/Internet

National Governments

International AgenciesWTO, IMF, World Bank

Corporations

Citizen OrganizationsStates and CitiesMedia

Brazil 2012:

“Last Chance for the Earth” Summit?