STOCKHOLM CONFERENCE

Aim

To create a common governance structure for the planet's environment and natural resources.

Theme

From June 5-June 16, 1972, countries across the world shed a bit of their sovereignty. The occasion was the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, the first such worldwide convergence on the planetary environment, with the theme "Only One Earth."

Principles

The participating 122 countries, that adopted the Stockholm Declaration essentially committed 26 principles, a few of them are-

The sovereignty should not be subject to cause harm to the environment of other countries.
This was the first globally subscribed document that recognized the "interconnections between development, poverty and the environment."

Dimensions

Countries agreeing not to harm each other's environment or the areas beyond national jurisdiction.
An action plan to study the threat to Earth's environment.
Establishment of an international body called the UN Environment Program (UNEP) to bring cooperation among countries.

Historic Beginnings

Till 1972, no country had an environment ministry.
India set up its ministry of environment and forest in 1985.
The first global conference on the environment was not a subject of importance for any country or global concern.

In 1968, Sweden first proposed the idea of the Stockholm Conference. Then the planet's atmospheric system started making the news.

Acid rains were reported
Species extinction made headlines like humpback whales and Bengal tigers.
The mercury poisoning caused by methyl mercury release into the Minimata Bay in Japan.

In the UN General Assembly in 1968, for the first time climate change was discussed using emerging scientific evidence.
In 1965, the then US president Lyndon B Johnson's Science Advisory Committee came out with a report, which was definitive on the role of Human-emitted carbon dioxide in atmospheric warming.
It was stated that in the absence of unknown feedback like changes in clouds, a doubling of carbon dioxide from the current level would result in an approximately 2⁰ C increase in global temperature.

Key Agreements- Stockholm Declaration

Earth's natural resources including air, water, land, flora and fauna must be safeguarded for the benefit of future generations.
The discharge of toxic substances and release of heat must be halted to ensure that serious or irreversible damage is not inflicted upon ecosystems.
The struggle of people of ill countries against pollution should be supported.
To prevent pollution of seas by substances that are liable to create hazards to human health, harm living resources and marine life, damage amenities or interfere with other legitimate uses of the sea.
According to the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law, the sovereign right to exploit their resources under their environmental policies.

Hint of consensus

The world witnessed the environment entering into the global political agenda.
The Cold War was precipitating the division between the East and West. Both the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics-USSR bloc supported the conference.
But a disagreement arose between East and West Germany. This ultimately led to the USSR, boycotting the conference.
During the UN General Assembly debates in 1968, many developing countries expressed that it was dominated by wealthier, industrialized countries.
Brazil was the most vocal in its opposition to the conference calling it a "rich man's show." Latin American countries supported Brazil.

Stockholm 2022

On June 2-3, world leaders will not discuss how the past half-century was, but how the next 50 years would be treated with emergency actions.
It is themed as "Stockholm+50: A healthy planet for the prosperity of all our responsibility, our opportunity."
As the environmental era started, there are no signs of a restrestraintour relationship with nature. UN data circulated to commemorate Stockholm+50 showed that trade increased 10 times, the global economy has grown 5 times and the world population has doubled.
Human development is largely fuelled by a tripling in the extraction of natural resources, food production, energy production and consumption over the past 50 years.
A visualization of the next 50 years, states that "1-3 billion people are projected to be left outside the climate conditions that have served humanity over the past 6000years.
The study says humans have resided in a "climatic envelope" characterized by -11 ⁰C and 15⁰ C of mean annual temperature.

Greatest Polluters

Indira Gandhi's presence at the Stockholm conference was rare since she was the only prime minister to attend the event. Her speech is still remembered for its "poverty the biggest polluter" message. Some excerpts from her speech-

"On the one hand the rich look askance at our continuing poverty, on the other, they warn us against their ods. We do not wish to impoverish the environment any further and yet we cannot for a moment forget the grim poverty of large numbers of people. Are not poverty and need the greatest polluters..???"

Share to Social

UPSC Article