What
is Sustainable Development?
For development
to be sustainable it must integrate environmental stewardship, economic
development and the well-being of all people—not just for today
but for countless generations to come. According to the International
Institute for Sustainable Development (ISSD), this is the challenge facing
governments, non-governmental organizations, private enterprises, communities
and individuals.
The Role of Youth
Youth comprise nearly 30 per cent of the world's population. The involvement
of today's youth in environment and development decision-making and in
the implementation of programmes is critical to the long-term.
Chapter 25 of Agenda 21 called for the active participation of youth from
all parts of the world in all relevant levels of decision-making processes
because it affects their lives today and has implications for their futures.
In addition to their intellectual contribution and their ability to mobilize
support, they bring unique perspectives that need to be taken into account.
Agenda
21
The
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, having met at
Rio de Janeiro from 3 to 14 June 1992, reaffirmed the Declaration of the
United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, adopted at Stockholm
on 16 June 1972. It sought 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, all
working towards international agreements which respect the interests of
all and protect the integrity of the global environmental and developmental
system. 27 principles were proclaimed at Rio that made up the basis of
action for sustainable development in the 21st century, or what became
known as Agenda 21.
UNEP Vision
In Malmo, Sweden, Ministers of Environment met from 29 to 31
May 2000 in the 1st Global Ministerial Forum, to review important and
emerging environmental issues and to chart the course for the future.
It was there that they declared that "To confront the underlying
causes of environmental degradation and poverty, we must integrate environmental
considerations in the mainstream of decision-making. We must also intensify
our efforts in developing preventive action and a concerted response,
including national environmental governance and the international rule
of law, awareness-raising and education, and harness the power of information
technology to this end. All actors involved must work together in the
interest of a sustainable future". The full text of the Malmo Declaration.
World Summit On Sustainable Development
During the Opening Plenary of
the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), on 26 August 2002,
Klaus Toepfer, UNEP's Executive Director, noted progress since Rio in
achieving sustainability. However, he said new scientific evidence of
global environmental change necessitated quantum increase in efforts.
He characterized WSSD as a Summit of implementation, accountability and
partnership.
In the Summit's Political Declaration, world leaders pledged to commit
themselves to act together, united by a common determination to save our
planet, promote human development and achieve universal prosperity and
peace.
They
also pledged committment to the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation and
to expedite the achievement of the time-bound, socio-economic and environmental
targets contained therein.
Millenium
Development Goals
By the year 2015, all 191 UN member states pledged to meet the following
Millenium Development Goals: eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; acheive
universal primary education; promote gender equlity and empower women;
reduce child mortality; improve maternal health; combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria
and other diseases; ensure environmental sustainability; and develop a
global partnership for development. |
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