Recapturing the spirit of Rio in Johannesburg

In the preparations for the WSSD (World Summit on Sustainable Development) to be held in Johannesburg in September 2002, several global issues are coming to the fore as matters of concern. The Summit itself is being organized 10 years after the Rio conference on environment and development, which was a unique event where world leaders from across the globe gathered to discuss and debate the future of the planet and the development of human society. The Rio summit found agreement on various documents, which were hammered out and finalized, including the Framework Convention on Climate Change, Agenda 21, and the Rio Declaration. The progress in implementation on each of these has been either very slow or non-existent. The WSSD would review this unsatisfactory pace of progress in the implementation of agreements, which were expected to substantially alter the relationship between human actions and our common habitat?planet earth. The WSSD would also see how the spirit of Rio can be recaptured and revived. One major issue under current debate in preparation for the WSSD is the question of global environmental governance. Some of the MEAs (multilateral environmental agreements) have commonalities and overlaps, but are generally served by separate secretariats, which do not necessarily coordinate their individual actions. One option being considered, therefore, is the establishment of a World Environment Organization that could coordinate work under the MEAs and other actions that may be required globally in this field. While the concept has some appeal, there would be little benefit in giving it shape unless the developed world is prepared to commit resources in adequate measure for global environmental action. Another United Nations body starved of funds would be the last thing that the world needs. Symbolism cannot become a substitute for action.