Module 2

Brundtland Report, Kyoto protocol and SDG

World Commission on Environment and Dev
elopment
- WCED
Brundlant
on Dec 1983 –Report
Secretary General of the UN, Javier Perez de Cuellar, Ask
Norway former PM, Gro Harlem Bruntland, to create an organization- focus on
environmental and developmental problems and solution.

 1983 GA established the Commission- Resolution 38/161, “Process of preparation of

the Environmental perspective to the year 2000 and Beyond”.

 1987- WCED- Published a report “ Our Common Future”. The document- to be known
as Brundtland Report.

 Create a balance between Economic Development and Environmental Protection.

Conti..
 UN General Assembly convened the WCED in response to mounting concern
surrounding ozone depletion, global warming, and other environmental problems
associated with raising the standard of living of the world’s population.

 “ the environment is where we live and development is what we do in attempting to

improve our lot within that abode. The two are inseparable”

 Brundtland Report changed sustainable development from a physical notion based

concept of sustainable yield in forestry and fisheries to a much broader concept that
linked economic and ecological policies in an integrated framework.
 Background
 Brundtland Report, publication released in 1987 by the
World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED)

 Aimed to unite countries in pursuit of sustainable development. Sustained

Development- Definition- "development that meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

 WCED explored the causes of environmental degradation, attempted to understand

the interconnections between social equity, economic growth, and environmental
problems, and developed policy solutions that integrated all three areas.
Suggestion
 To propose long term environmental strategies for achieving sustainable development;

 To recommend ways- concern for the environment may be translated into greater
cooperation- developing countries and under-developed countries and;

 Lead to the achievement of common and mutually supportive objectives

 Raising the level of understanding and commitment on the part of individuals,

businesses, institutes, and government.

 Long term Environmental issues- appropriate effort needed to deal successfully with
the problem of protecting and enhancing the environment

 A long term agenda for action and

 Aspirational goal for the world community.

To achieve these ends the govt mainly focused on

Population
Food security
Loss of species and Genetic Resource
 Energy
 Industry and human settlements
United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development (UNCED)
 The Brundtland report laid the foundations for the Rio Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro in
1992, which then ultimately led to the creation of the UN Commission on Sustainable
Development that same year.

 The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as
the Earth Summit, took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from June 3 to 14, 1992.

 Landmark event that brought together leaders from 172 countries, along with thousands of
representatives from NGOs, to address pressing environmental and developmental challenges
facing the world.

 Highlighted how different social, economic, and environmental factors are interdependent
and evolve together, and how success in one sector requires action in other sectors to be
sustained over time.
Objective

 Primary objective of the Rio 'Earth Summit' was to produce a

broad agenda and a new blueprint for international action on
environmental and development issues that would help guide
international cooperation and development policy in the twenty-
first century.
Key outcomes of the Earth Summit include
1. Rio Declaration on Environment and Development: This document outlined 27
principles intended to guide sustainable development worldwide. It affirmed the right
to development and highlighted the need for environmental protection.

2. Agenda 21: Agenda 21 is a comprehensive action plan for sustainable development

that addresses various sectors such as agriculture, biodiversity, energy, and waste
management. It emphasizes the importance of global cooperation and local
participation in achieving sustainable development goals. Calling for new strategies to
invest in the future to achieve overall sustainable development in the 21st century. Its
recommendations ranged from new methods of education to new ways of preserving
natural resources and new ways of participating in a sustainable economy
Conti..
3. Statement of Forest Principles: This statement aimed to address deforestation and
promote sustainable forest management practices.

4. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): The CBD is an international treaty aimed

at conserving biodiversity, promoting sustainable use of biological resources, and ensuring
the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources.

5. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): The

UNFCCC is an international treaty aimed at stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in
the atmosphere to prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.
Summary
 The 'Earth Summit' concluded that the concept of sustainable
development was an attainable goal for all the people of the
world, regardless of whether they were at the local, national,
regional or international level. It also recognized that
integrating and balancing economic, social and environmental
concerns in meeting our needs is vital for sustaining human
life on the planet and that such an integrated approach is
possible.
Kyoto Protocol, 1997
 1st international treaty aimed at mitigating global climate change by
reducing greenhouse gas emissions, was adopted 25 years ago, on 11
December 1997, in Kyoto, Japan during the third session of the Conference
of the Parties (COP 3) to the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC) .

 The agreement, which entered into force in 2005 and was ratified by 192
Parties, has since been superseded by the Paris Agreement but remains a
historic landmark in the international fight against climate change .
Conti..

 The Kyoto Protocol was an agreement among developed nations to reduce

carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and greenhouse gases (GHG) to minimize the
impacts of climate change.
 The Protocol applied to 6 greenhouse gases:
1. carbon dioxide
2. methane
3. nitrous oxide
4. hydrofluorocarbons
5. perfluorocarbons
6. sulphur hexafluoride.
Key features of the Kyoto Protocol include:

1. Emissions Reduction Targets: Industrialized countries

(referred to as Annex I countries) agreed to legally
binding targets to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions
by an average of 5.2% below 1990 levels during the
commitment period of 2008-2012.
Conti…
1. Flexibility Mechanisms: The protocol introduced three mechanisms to help countries
meet their emissions targets more cost-effectively:

1. International Emissions Trading: countries that emit less than they are allowed to can sell
this amount to industrialized countries that produce more than they should. In this way, it
becomes economically beneficial to reduce emissions.

2. Clean Development Mechanism (CDM): Allows industrialized countries to invest in emission

reduction projects in developing countries and receive credits for these reductions.

3. Joint Implementation (JI): Similar to the CDM, but involves investments in emission
reduction projects in other industrialized countries.
Conti…
1. Compliance Mechanisms: The protocol established procedures for monitoring and
enforcing compliance with emissions targets.

2. Adaptation Fund: The protocol created a fund to support developing countries in

adapting to the impacts of climate change.

 The Kyoto Protocol faced various challenges, including criticism for not requiring
emissions reductions from developing countries and for the withdrawal of some key
countries, notably the United States, which withdrew from the protocol in 2001 citing
concerns about its impact on the economy and the lack of obligations for developing
countries. Despite these challenges, the Kyoto Protocol laid the groundwork for
subsequent climate negotiations and agreements, including the Paris Agreement adopted
in 2015.
Doha amendment to Kyoto protocol

 The Doha Amendment is an extension of the

Kyoto Protocol adopted in Doha, Qatar, in 2012.
It was designed to further commitments to
reducing greenhouse gas emissions beyond the
initial commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol,
which ended in 2012.
Key features of the Doha Amendment include:
1. Extension of Commitment Period: Originally covered the years 2008-2012, to continue
until 2020.

2. Emissions Reduction Targets: The amendment reaffirmed the emissions reduction targets
for Annex I countries (industrialized countries) that were set in the original Kyoto Protocol.

3. New Commitments: The Doha Amendment introduced new emission reduction targets for
Annex I countries for the period 2013-2020.

4. Entry into Force: The Doha Amendment required ratification by at least three-fourths of
the parties to the Kyoto Protocol to enter into force. However, as of my last update in
January 2022, it had not yet entered into force due to the slow ratification process.

5. Implementation and Compliance: Like the original Kyoto Protocol, the Doha
Amendment included provisions for monitoring, reporting, and verifying emissions
reductions, as well as compliance mechanisms.
Sustainable Development Goals

 The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 interconnected global goals
adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015 as part of the
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They build upon the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) that were established in 2000 and expired in 2015. The
SDGs aim to address a wide range of social, economic, and environmental challenges
facing the world today, with the overarching objective of achieving sustainable
development by 2030.
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals are:

1. 1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere

2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and
promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well being for all at all stages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote
lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
 Each goal is accompanied by specific targets (totaling 169) to be achieved by 2030, and
they are all interconnected, recognizing that progress in one area often depends on
progress in others. The SDGs are universal, applying to all countries, whether
developed or developing, and emphasize the importance of collaboration and
partnerships among governments, civil society, businesses, and other stakeholders to
achieve them.
 The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides a framework for
implementing the SDGs, emphasizing the importance of integrated and holistic
approaches to development that balance economic, social, and environmental
considerations. It calls for action at the global, regional, national, and local levels to
address the world's most pressing challenges and build a more sustainable and equitable
future for all.
17 SDGs
 End poverty in all its forms everywhere
 End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and
promote sustainable agriculture
 Ensure healthy lives and promote well being for all at all stages
 Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote
lifelong learning opportunities for all
 Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Conti..
 Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and
sanitation for all

 Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy

for all
 Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full
and productive employment and decent work for all
 Built resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable
industrialization and foster innovation
 Reduce inequalities within and among countries
 Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and
sustainable
 Ensure sustainable consumption and production pattern
Conti…
 Take urgent actions to combat climate change and its impact

 Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources

 Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems,

sustainably managed forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land
degradation and halt biodiversity loss

 Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide

access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive
institutions at all levels

 Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership

for sustainable development