Between June 5 and 16, 1972, at the initiative of Sweden, the “First Earth Summit” was held in conjunction with the UN, also known as the “United Nations Conference on the Human Environment”. At this meeting, the “Stockholm Declaration” was produced, comparable to the Declaration of Human Rights, oriented towards the normalization of human relations with the environment.
It can be said that this Swedish initiative is the grandmother of climate conferences and marked a path that we have been walking for almost 50 years. But we must not forget the pioneers of the discoveries of our planet's climate system, those scientists who made important contributions such as Jean-Baptiste Joseph Fourier (1768-1830), French mathematician and physicist, who first used the analogy of the greenhouse effect. Or Svante Arrhenius, a Swedish scientist who as early as 1896 claimed nothing less than: "Fossil fuels could accelerate global warming," just to name a couple of examples, but there were plenty of other people who contributed important insights to unravel. the mechanisms that intervene in the Earth's climate.
The Stockholm conference was held in the Swedish capital, led by Olaf Palme, Prime Minister of the host country, and Kurt Waldheim, UN Secretary General. The objective of the Summit was to analyze the state of the planet's environment, with the assistance of representatives from 113 countries, 19 intergovernmental organizations and more than 400 non-governmental organizations. For all these reasons, the conference is recognized as the beginning of modern political and public awareness of global environmental problems.
Criticism after almost half of the Stockholm Declaration has passed
The document is a compendium of good intentions and beautiful proclamations, but if the reader takes some time and reads the articles of the illustrious instrument, he will be able to observe that after almost 50 years of its writing, not only that most of it has not been fulfilled. its principles but rather have exacerbated environmental problems.
The temperature has set almost 20 records of increase since then. The same has happened with the parts per thousand of CO2 in the atmosphere. Since humans appeared on Earth, the planet has entered the era of 400 ppm for the first time. In the Summit years it was at 300 ppm, which means a 33% increase in just half a century. This results in greater global warming and climate change that is increasingly severe and difficult to reverse.
Forests deserve a separate chapter, which have suffered enormous deforestation in all parts of the planet, just in the decades that followed the Stockholm Declaration. An iconic case is the Borneo rainforest, which has seen two-thirds of its trees lose. Such was the hostility of deforestation that occurred in Malaysia and Indonesia, two of the countries that share the world's third-largest island, that Borneo became the largest exporter of timber in the 1980s-1990s, overtaking Africa and South America together. The rainforest, the lung of Southeast Asia, went from being an extremely humid place to an arid space with fires for most of the year. This is nothing more than a local climate change, a window to see what can happen in other parts of the planet.
Conclusions
Despite all the problems, it must be recognized that today there is much greater public awareness about global warming, climate change and related issues than 50 years ago. This movement, in which thousands of children, adolescents and young people participate, sponsored mainly by the UN and other organizations, undoubtedly began with the First Earth Congress, thanks to the efforts of Sweden and the United Nations. The UN has several programs to involve young people and adolescents in the fight against climate change.
Appendix
The Stockholm Declaration consists of 7 proclamations and 26 principles, given "the need for common criteria and principles that offer the peoples of the world inspiration and guidance to preserve and improve the human environment."
PROCLAMATION
- Man is both the work and the architect of the environment that surrounds him, which gives him material sustenance and gives him the opportunity to develop intellectually, morally, socially and spiritually. In the long and tortuous evolution of the human race on this planet a stage has been reached in which, thanks to the rapid acceleration of science and technology, man has acquired the power to transform, in innumerable ways and on a scale unprecedented, when it surrounds it. The two aspects of the human environment, the natural and the artificial, are essential for the well-being of man and for the enjoyment of fundamental human rights, including the right to life itself. The protection and improvement of the human environment is a fundamental issue that affects the well-being of peoples and the economic development of the entire world,an urgent desire of the peoples of the world and a duty of all governments. Man must constantly recapitulate his experience and continue to discover, invent, create and progress. Today, the ability of man to transform his surroundings, used with discernment, can bring the benefits of development to all peoples and offer them the opportunity to ennoble their existence. Applied erroneously or recklessly, the same power can cause incalculable damage to man and his environment. All around us we see the evidence of man-made damage multiplying in many regions of the earth: dangerous levels of pollution of water, air, land and living beings, great disturbances of the ecological balance of the biosphere;destruction and depletion of irreplaceable resources and serious deficiencies, harmful to the physical, mental and social health of man, in the environment created by him, especially in the one in which he lives and works.In developing countries, most environmental problems they are motivated by underdevelopment. Millions of people continue to live far below the minimum levels necessary for a decent human existence, deprived of food and clothing, of housing and education, of adequate sanitation and hygiene. For this reason, developing countries must direct their efforts towards development, bearing in mind their priorities and the need to safeguard and improve the environment. To the same end, industrialized countries should strive to reduce the distance that separates them from developing countries.In industrialized countries, environmental problems are generally related to industrialization and technological development. Natural population growth continually poses problems related to the preservation of the environment, and appropriate standards and measures should be adopted, as appropriate, to address to those problems. Of what exists in the world, human beings are the most valuable. They are the ones who promote social progress, create social wealth, develop science and technology and, with their hard work, continually transform the human environment. With social progress and advances in production, science and technology, man's ability to improve the environment increases with each passing day.We have reached a moment in history in which we must guide our actions around the world, paying more attention to the consequences they may have for the environment. Through ignorance or indifference we can cause immense and irreparable damage to the earthly environment on which our lives and well-being depend. On the contrary, with deeper knowledge and prudent action, we can achieve better living conditions for ourselves and for our posterity in an environment more in line with the needs and aspirations of man. The prospects for raising the quality of the environment and creating a satisfying life are great. What is needed is enthusiasm, but at the same time, serenity of mind; hard work, but systematic. To reach the fullness of your freedom within nature,man must apply his knowledge to forge, in harmony with it, a better environment. The defense and improvement of the human environment for present and future generations has become an imperative goal of humanity, to be pursued at the same time as the already established fundamental goals of peace and economic and social development throughout the world. To reach this goal, it will be necessary for citizens and communities, companies and institutions, at all levels, to accept their responsibilities and for all of them to participate equitably in the common work. Men of all conditions and organizations of different kinds will shape, with the contribution of their own values and the sum of their activities, the environment of the future. It will correspond to the local and national administrations,Within their respective jurisdictions, the bulk of the burden of standard setting and large-scale enforcement of the environment. International cooperation is also required in order to raise resources to help developing countries fulfill their role in this area. There is an increasing number of environmental problems which, because they are regional or global in scope or because they have repercussions in the common international sphere, will require extensive collaboration between nations and the adoption of measures by international organizations in the interest of all. The conference urges governments and peoples to join forces to preserve and improve the human environment for the benefit of man and his posterity.most of the burden in terms of setting standards and implementing large-scale measures on the environment. International cooperation is also required in order to raise resources to help developing countries fulfill their role in this area. There is an increasing number of environmental problems which, because they are regional or global in scope or because they have repercussions in the common international sphere, will require extensive collaboration between nations and the adoption of measures by international organizations in the interest of all. The conference urges governments and peoples to join forces to preserve and improve the human environment for the benefit of man and his posterity.most of the burden in terms of setting standards and implementing large-scale measures on the environment. International cooperation is also required in order to raise resources to help developing countries fulfill their role in this area. There is an increasing number of environmental problems which, because they are regional or global in scope or because they have repercussions in the common international sphere, will require extensive collaboration between nations and the adoption of measures by international organizations in the interest of all. The conference urges governments and peoples to join forces to preserve and improve the human environment for the benefit of man and his posterity.International cooperation is also required in order to raise resources to help developing countries fulfill their role in this area. There is an increasing number of environmental problems which, because they are regional or global in scope or because they have repercussions in the common international sphere, will require extensive collaboration between nations and the adoption of measures by international organizations in the interest of all. The conference urges governments and peoples to join forces to preserve and improve the human environment for the benefit of man and his posterity.International cooperation is also required in order to raise resources to help developing countries fulfill their role in this area. There is an increasing number of environmental problems which, because they are regional or global in scope or because they have repercussions in the common international sphere, will require extensive collaboration between nations and the adoption of measures by international organizations in the interest of all. The conference urges governments and peoples to join forces to preserve and improve the human environment for the benefit of man and his posterity.Because they are regional or global in scope or have repercussions in the common international sphere, they will require broad collaboration among nations and the adoption of measures by international organizations in the interest of all. The conference urges governments and peoples to join forces to preserve and improve the human environment for the benefit of man and his posterity.Because they are regional or global in scope or have repercussions in the common international sphere, they will require broad collaboration among nations and the adoption of measures by international organizations in the interest of all. The conference urges governments and peoples to join forces to preserve and improve the human environment for the benefit of man and his posterity.
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES
Principle I. Man has the fundamental right to freedom, equality and the enjoyment of adequate living conditions in a quality environment that allows him to lead a dignified life and enjoy well-being, and has the solemn obligation to protect and improve the environment for present and future generations. In this regard, policies that promote or perpetuate apartheid, racial segregation, discrimination, colonial oppression and other forms of foreign oppression and domination are condemned and must be eliminated.
Principle 2. The earth's natural resources, including air, water, land, flora and fauna and especially representative samples of natural ecosystems, should be preserved for the benefit of present and future generations through careful planning or management, as required.
Principle 3. The ability of the earth to produce vital renewable resources should be maintained and, wherever possible, restored or enhanced.
Principle 4. Man has a special responsibility to preserve and judiciously manage the heritage of wild flora and fauna and their habitats, which are currently in serious danger from a combination of adverse factors. Consequently, when planning economic development, importance must be attached to the conservation of nature, including wild flora and fauna.
Principle 5. The earth's non-renewable resources must be used in such a way as to avoid the danger of their future depletion and to ensure that all humanity shares in the benefits of such employment.
Principle 6. The discharge of toxic substances or other materials and the release of heat, in quantities or concentrations such that the environment cannot neutralize them, must be stopped, so that serious or irreparable damage to ecosystems is not caused. The just struggle of the peoples of all countries against pollution must be supported.
Principle 7. States shall take all possible measures to prevent the pollution of the seas by substances that may endanger human health, damage living resources and marine life, impair the possibilities of recreation or hinder other legitimate uses of the sea.
Principle 8. Economic and social development is essential to ensure a favorable living and working environment for man and to create the necessary conditions on earth to improve the quality of life.
Principle 9. The deficiencies of the environment caused by the conditions of underdevelopment and natural disasters pose serious problems and, the best way to remedy them is accelerated development through the transfer of considerable amounts of financial and technological assistance that complement the internal efforts of the countries in development and the timely help that may be required.
Principle 10. For developing countries, price stability and adequate income from commodities and raw materials are essential elements for environmental management, as both economic factors and processes must be taken into account. ecological.
Principle 11. The environmental policies of all states should be aimed at increasing the current or future growth potential of developing countries and should not undermine that potential or hinder the achievement of better living conditions for all and states and communities. International organizations should take the relevant measures with a view to reaching an agreement to deal with the economic consequences that may result, at the national and international levels, from the application of environmental measures.
Principle 12. Resources should be earmarked for the conservation and improvement of the environment, taking into account the special circumstances and needs of developing countries and any expenses that these countries may incur in the inclusion of measures for the conservation of the environment in their development plans. development, as well as the need to provide, upon request, more international financial assistance for that purpose.
Principle 13. In order to achieve a more rational management of resources and thus improve environmental conditions, states should adopt an integrated and coordinated approach to planning their development so as to ensure the compatibility of development with the need to protect and improve the human environment for the benefit of its population.
Principle 14. Rational planning is an essential instrument for reconciling the differences that may arise between the demands of development and the need to protect and improve the environment.
Principle 15. Planning should be applied to human settlements and urbanization with a view to avoiding damaging impacts on the environment and obtaining maximum social, economic and environmental benefits for all. In this regard, projects aimed at colonialist and racist domination must be abandoned.
Principle 16. In regions where there is a risk that the population growth rate or excessive population concentrations harm the environment or development, or where low population density may impede the improvement of the human environment and hinder development, demographic policies should be applied that respect fundamental human rights and have the approval of the governments concerned.
Principle 17. The competent national institutions should be entrusted with the task of planning, managing or controlling the use of the states' environmental resources with a view to improving the quality of the environment.
Principle 18. As part of its contribution to economic and social development, science and technology should be used to discover, avoid and combat risks that threaten the environment, to solve environmental problems and for the common good of humanity.
Principle 19. Education in environmental issues, aimed at both the young and adult generations and paying due attention to the less privileged sector of the population, is essential to broaden the foundations of a well-informed public opinion and conduct of individuals, companies and communities inspired by the sense of their responsibility regarding the protection and improvement of the environment in all its human dimension. It is also essential that the mass media avoid contributing to the deterioration of the human environment and disseminate, on the contrary, information of an educational nature on the need to protect and improve it, so that man can develop in all aspects.
Principle 20. Scientific research and development concerning environmental problems, both national and multinational, should be promoted in all countries, especially in developing countries. In this regard, the free exchange of up-to-date scientific information and experience on transfer should be supported and assisted, in order to facilitate the solution of environmental problems; Environmental technologies should be made available to developing countries under conditions that facilitate their wide dissemination without constituting an undue economic burden for those countries.
Principle 21. In accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and with the principles of international law, states have the sovereign right to exploit their own resources in application of their own environmental policy and the obligation to ensure that the activities carried out carried out within its jurisdiction or under its control do not harm the environment of other states or areas located outside of any national jurisdiction.
Principle 22. The states should cooperate to continue developing international law regarding liability and compensation to victims of pollution and other environmental damage caused by activities carried out within the jurisdiction or under the control of such states. to areas outside its jurisdiction.
Principle 23. Without prejudice to the criteria that may be agreed by the international community and the standards that must be defined at the national level, in all cases it will be essential to consider the prevailing value systems in each country and the applicability of standards that, Although they are valid for the most advanced countries, they can be inappropriate and of high social cost for the developing countries.
Principle 24. All countries, large or small, must deal, in a spirit of cooperation and on an equal footing, in international questions relating to the protection and improvement of the environment. It is essential to cooperate, through multilateral or bilateral agreements or by other appropriate means, to control, avoid, reduce and effectively eliminate the damaging effects that activities carried out in any sphere may have on the environment, taking due account of sovereignty and the interests of all states.
Principle 25. The states shall ensure that international organizations carry out a coordinated, effective and dynamic work in the conservation and improvement of the environment.
Principle 26. Man and his environment must be freed from the effects of nuclear weapons and all other means of mass destruction. States should endeavor to reach agreement early, in the relevant international bodies, on the elimination and complete destruction of such weapons.
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