About Sustainable Development

Origins of Sustainable Development Summit
The association between economic development and environmental degradation was first made at the United Nations Conference on Human Environment in Stockholm in 1972.

Creation of "Sustainable Development"
The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), Earth Summit, was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. It was agreed that environmental protection and social and economic development are fundamental to sustainable development, based on the Rio Principles.

Agenda 21 - Implementation Sustainable Development
To achieve sustainable development the world leaders adopted a global programme, Agenda 21. Agenda 21 is a broad plan of global, national and local actions led by organizations of the United Nations system, governments, and major groups working in every area in which human activity impacts the environment.

Johannesburg Summit 2002 - Increasing Awareness of Sustainable Development
The Johannesburg Summit 2002 - The World Summit on Sustainable Development focused the world's attention and actions toward meeting difficult challenges, improving people's lives, and protecting natural resources in a world with a growing population and rising demands for food, water, shelter, sanitation, energy, health services and economic security.

UN Commission on Sustainable Development
In December 1992 the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) was created to ensure effective follow-up of the UNCED and to monitor and report on the implementation of the agreements at local, national, regional and international levels.

UN Commission on Social Development
The United Nations Commission on Social Development is the body monitoring the implementation of the agreements made at the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen 1995. At the summit members of the international community gathered to carry forward the struggle against poverty, unemployment and social disintegration, and to create new awareness of social responsibility and solidarity for the 21st century. The commission was established as a functional commission of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 1946.

The Commission on Population and Development
The United Nation has addressed the relationship between population and development in many ways, placing special emphasis on advancing the rights and status of women, which is seen as key to social and economic progress.
The Commission on Population was modified and became the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) as a result of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). The Commission, which is composed of 47 member states, is in charge of studying and advising the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on population changes and their effects on economic and social conditions.
The United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) is designed for practical implementation concerning women’s populations and health activities, and is part of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Women’s Development
The United Nations actively supports women’s empowerment and enjoyment of their human rights through the adoption of global norms, standards and policies, and through its development assistance activities. The Commission on the Status of Women is responsible for these activities. In addition, the following treaties and programs are being implemented in these fields:
• United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
• United Nations Commission on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
• United Nations Division of the Advancement of Women
• United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)
• International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW)
• UNICEF
• United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNHCHR)
• United Nations Office for Refugees (UNHCR)
• United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA)

Financing for Development
The International Conference on Financing for Development was held from 18-22 March, 2002 in Monterrey, N.L., Mexico. The United Nations hosted this conference on key financial and development issues, which attracted 50 Heads of State or Government, over 200 ministers and leaders from the private sector, civil society and all the major intergovernmental financial, trade, economic, and monetary organizations. During the conference, the full range of financing options for providing international support to help developing countries meet the Millennium Development Goals was discussed.

Forestry and Sustainable Development
For more information, click here.

Water and Sustainable Development (available soon)