Research Guides: UN Documentation: Environment: Major Conferences and Reports

Conferences and Reports on the Environment

UN activity in the field of environment has been driven by major conferences and reports.

Economic and Social Council resolution 1346 (XLV) of 30 July 1968 recommended the General Assembly consider convening a UN conference on problems of the human environment.
Conference convened by General Assembly resolution 2398 (XXIII) of 3 December 1968
Held in Stockholm, 5-16 June 1972
Led to the establishment of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Outcome document: A/CONF.48/14/Rev.1

Established by General Assembly resolution 38/161 of 19 December 1983
Prepared a report for General Assembly in 1987
- Based on a four-year study
- Transmitted by A/42/427
- Entitled Our Common Future, also known as the Brundtland report
- Developed the theme of sustainable development

Convened by General Assembly resolution 44/228 of 20 December 1988
Held in Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992
Known at the time as the Earth Summit
Later came to be called the Rio Conference
Led to the establishment of the Commission on Sustainable Development
Outcome document in 3 volumes: A/CONF.151/26/Rev.1
- Vol.I + Corr.1: Resolutions adopted by the Conference
- Vol.II: Proceedings of the Conference
- Vol.III + Corr.1: Statements made by Heads of State or Government at the summit segment of the Conference
Three major agreements adopted (found in Vol.I + Corr.1):
- Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, a series of principles defining the rights and responsibilities of States
- Agenda 21, a global plan of action to promote sustainable development
- Statement of Forest Principles, a set of principles to underpin the sustainable management of forests worldwide
Two multilateral treaties were opened for signature:
- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
- Convention on Biological Diversity
Called for several major initiatives in other key areas of sustainable development, such as, a global conference on Small Island Developing States; negotiations began for a Convention to Combat Desertification, and for an agreement on highly migratory and straddling fish stocks.

Called for by General Assembly resolutions 47/190 and 51/181
Known as the Earth Summit +5
19th special session of the General Assembly
Held in New York, 23-27 June 1997
Review of the implementation of Agenda 21
Outcome document: General Assembly resolution S-19/2 of 27 June 1997, Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21.

Convened by General Assembly resolution 55/199 of 20 December 2000
Also known as Rio +10
Held in Johannesburg, 26 August - 4 September 2002
Reviewed progress in the implementation of Agenda 21 since its adoption in 1992
Outcome document: A/CONF.199/20 + Corr.1, includes:
- Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development
- Plan of Implementation

Convened as a high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly
New York, 25 - 27 September 2015
Summit website
Outcome document: A/RES/70/1, includes "Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development"

Convened as part of High-Level Week of the 74th session of the General Assembly
New York, 23 September 2019
Included a Youth Action Summit, 21 September 2019
Report of the Secretary General on the 2019 Climate Action Summit and the way forward in 2020