United Nations Conference on Environment and Development

The United Nations (UN) Conference on Environment and Development was convened between June 3 and 14, 1992, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 20 years after the first global environmental conference in Stockholm. The primary focus of the Rio conference was to reconceptualize the global development agenda to include the sustainable use of natural resources. World leaders attempted to ameliorate the world's most pressing environmental issues by agreeing on a comprehensive strategy. This strategy aimed to meet current socio-environmental needs while ensuring a healthy and viable world for future generations. The Rio Summit boasted unparalleled representations from 172 governments, including 108 heads of state, and the participation of 1,400 nongovernment organizations (NGOs).

The 1984 Brundtland Commission (named after the chair, Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlam Brundtland) laid ...