How the national councils that grew out of the 1992 Earth Summit worked, why the global network faded, and where that work continues today.
National Councils for Sustainable Development
Climate Change Convention
Agenda 21, Chapter 18: protecting freshwater resources
Chapter 18 of Agenda 21 set out the first global programme for freshwater management. Here is what it asked for and how the water agenda looks today.
Regional sustainable development networks: Africa, Asia-Pacific, the Americas and Europe
Sustainable development work is organised by region as much as by country. An overview of the regional bodies and where their reports can be found today.
WSSD – World Summit for Sustainable Development
The World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD) refers to a summit that occurred in Johannesburg in the last week of August and first week of September 2002. It
The Ramsar Convention
The Ramsar Convention was approved in Ramsar, Iran in 1971. The treaty involving members from all regions of the world took force in 1975. It is the only
Recent applications of the Convention on Biodiversity
The Biodiversity Convention (1992) is the first law of its kind, to recognize that the conservation of biological diversity should be a common concern for all of
How To Think About The Convention to Combat Desertification
On a global scale, there is deepening confirmation that the climate is changing, and that word-wide climate change is a factor that is contributing to an increase in
Integrating economic social and environmental action and perspectives
Every society is composed of a multi factorial system that contributes to the overall status of the society per se. Among the varied systems that make up the
On November 28, 2011 the United Nation’s Climate Change Convention will take place in Durban, South Africa. This convention will bring together the very best minds in the climate change industry as well as representatives from world governments. This year there are many key climate change bills that could shape many environmental protocols in many countries around the world.
One of the key points of the 2011 United Nation’s Climate Change Convention, also known as COP 17, is the total implementation of the Kyoto Protocol that was agreed upon at the 1997 UNCCCF in Kyoto, Japan. This now famous protocol called for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from 37 different countries from 2008-2012. This year
‘s Convention will review the numbers and projected emission status of the 37 countries to see if the protocol implementations are being met. As of now, the United States is the only one of the 37 targeted countries to not have implemented the Kyoto Protocol.
Another key point of this year’s convention is the discussion of the Bali Action Plan. This plan was agreed upon at COP 13 in Bali, Indonesia. The Bali Action Plan is broken into five parts to help with implementation. These five categories are: shared vision, mitigation, adaptation, technology and financing. All five categories were to be implemented at COP 15 in Copenhagen, Denmark and would bring the world governments to a shared upon set of goals to help curb environmental hazards.
The other main point of discussion at this year’s COP is the review of the Cancun Agreements from COP 16. The Cancun Agreements set a goal for governments for the calendar year 2011. This year’s COP will need to review and discuss the compiled data and decide if another Agreement needs to be implemented for 2012. Some of the highlights of the Cancun Agreements are: The establishment of a Green Climate Fund, Forest Management Reference Levels as well as the Cancun Adaption Framework which established different goals and projected outcomes for third-world and developing countries.
Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own.