Why in the news?

• Stockholm+50 is a conference being hosted in Stockholm, Sweden. It will mark the 50th anniversary of the 1972 United Nations (UN) Conference on the Human Environment (also known as the Stockholm Conference).
• This international summit will be hosted by the United Nations General Assembly.
• Even after 50 years of the Stockholm Declaration, the world is confronting a triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and waste, nature and biodiversity loss, and other planetary challenges. The accomplishment of the Sustainable Development Goals is jeopardised as a result of this.
• One of the agenda items will be a long-term recovery from the Covid-19 epidemic.

What is the 1972 Stockholm Conference?

• Background: In 1968, the United Nations General Assembly debated climate change using increasing scientific knowledge.
• A research study published actual estimations of global temperature based on CO2 levels in 1967. Furthermore, it was expected that doubling CO2 levels from existing levels will result in a nearly 2°C rise in global temperature.
• Sweden was the first to propose the Stockholm Conference. That is why it is also known as the “Swedish Initiative.”
• The United Nations Conference on the Human Environment was held in Stockholm from June 5th to June 16th, 1972.
• This was the first worldwide summit on the planet’s environment.
• ‘Only One Earth’ was the theme.
• The meeting was attended by 122 countries.
• The goal is to develop a unified governance framework for the global environment and natural resources.
• Stockholm Declaration and Human Environment Action Plan
• The Declaration of Stockholm:
• The Stockholm Declaration was adopted by 70 of the 122 participating countries, 70 of which were developing and impoverished countries.
• The Stockholm Declaration included 26 principles that signalled the start of a dialogue between industrialised and developing countries.
• This helped to establish “interconnections between development, poverty, and the environment.”

Action Plan:

• The Action Plan was divided into three major areas, each of which was further subdivided into 109 recommendations:
• Programme for Global Environmental Assessment (watch plan)
• Environmental management tasks
• International measurements to assist with assessment and management operations at the national and international levels.

• The Conference Has Three Dimensions:

• Countries agreed not to “damage one other’s environment or areas beyond of national authority.”
• A plan of action to investigate the harm to the Earth’s environment.
• Establishment of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to foster international collaboration.

What were the Stockholm Declaration’s main points?

• Natural resources such as air, water, land, vegetation, and fauna must be carefully planned for the benefit of current and future generations.
• Toxic material and heat emissions should not be allowed to exceed the environmental capacity.
• The poor and emerging countries must be helped in their fight against pollution.
• States’ environmental policies should promote developing countries’ current and future development potential.
• States and international organisations should take appropriate steps to obtain an agreement on meeting the potential national and international economic repercussions of environmental actions.
• States have the sovereign right to utilise their own resources in accordance with their own environmental policies, according to the UN charter and norms of international law.
• However, governments bear the obligation of ensuring that activities within their jurisdiction or authority do not impair the environment of neighbouring states or places beyond national jurisdiction.

What is the significance of Stockholm in 1972?

• The first worldwide conference on the environment took place when the environment was neither a global concern nor a national priority.
• Previously, the UN charter never addressed the issue of the environment.
• Until 1972, no country had an environment ministry.
• Following that, countries such as Norway and Sweden established environmental ministries.
• India established its Ministry of Environment and Forests in 1985.
• After 1972, environmental issues such as species extinction and mercury poisoning began to make headlines, and public awareness grew.
• The modern “environmental age” began with the Stockholm conference.
• Many of today’s environmental conventions can be traced back to the Stockholm Declaration.
• Climate Change Framework Convention of the United Nations (UNFCCC)
• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) (CBD)

What are the Obstacles?

• Global politics has had a negative impact on the conference from its inception.
• Some countries raised worry over rich countries’ dominance, claiming that the policies are more beneficial to wealthier, industrialised countries.
• Nations’ lack of coordination has contributed to the world warming by at least 3 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by 2100. This is twice the 1.5 degree Celsius increase mandated by the Paris Agreement.
• 1-3 billion people are expected to be displaced by climate change during the next 50 years.
• It is the most significant impediment to implementing sustainable environmental measures, as poverty cannot be addressed without the use of science and technology.
• Policies for a sustainable environment cannot be implemented effectively unless the poor or developing countries can offer employment and meet people’s daily needs.

The Way Forward

• The majority of the globe must recognise that ecology and conservation are not in their best interests. Instead, this will make a difference in their life.
• The developed world is primarily concerned with air and water pollution, whereas developing countries seek assistance in eradicating poverty while minimising environmental damage.
• As a result, environmental protection measures must be implemented to ensure the economic development of developing countries.
• As time is running out, it is critical for Stockholm+50 to establish concrete timetables for achieving the goals aimed at achieving a sustainable environment.