Since the beginning of the 1970’s, the international community of States has recognized that the goals of environmental protection can only be reached through international cooperation. As a consequence, numerous international treaties at the regional and global level have been concluded, primarily in the areas of air pollution control, water pollution control, protection of endangered species and natural resources, waste disposal policy, and the protection of the ozone layer.

The Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the largest meeting up to that time of heads of State and government, represented a turning point in international environmental and development policy. The conference underscored the necessity of sustainable development – i.e., of a development model that integrates economic, ecological and social aspects equally – as a prerequisite for securing the future of our planet. The Earth Summit provided impulses pointing the way to the future. These impulses include in particular Agenda 21, the 40-chapter, global program of action for sustainable development. Three significant environmental conventions developed out of the Earth Summit: the Convention on Climate Change , the Convention on Biological Diversity , and the Convention to Combat Desertification .

Further important environmental agreements have been elaborated since then, especially relating to protection of the atmosphere (Kyoto Protocol) and chemicals.

Ten years after the Earth Summit in Rio, the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) took place in Johannesburg from 26 August to 4 September 2002, taking stock of the implementation of the Rio outcome. A number of important interim objectives were agreed in Rio concerning the further implementation of the idea of sustainable development. A Political Declaration of the heads of State and government and a Plan of Action were adopted. (More information on the outcome of the WSSD )

The success of the efforts of the international community with respect to sustainable development and the preservation of natural resources will be judged by their results. The greatest challenges for the future will include overcoming the imbalance between the countries of the North and the South and the risks of climate change.

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