Stockholm Conference

Why in the News?

Recently, the conference was held to commemorate 50 years of the Stockholm Conference — the first United Nations conference on the environment.

Key Points:

Key Highlights of the Conference:

• The two-day international meeting — Stockholm+50 — concluded with a call for urgent commitment to addressing global environmental concerns and a just transition to a sustainable economy

• Sweden and Kenya co-hosted the landmark Stockholm+50 conference as part of the United Nations’ collaborative path toward a healthy planet

• Stockholm+50 will assist in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals to create a healthy and resilient planet

• Aim: The conference aimed to provide a platform for the nations and stakeholders to engage, share expertise, and solve complex and sensitive issues for immediate action that will result in long-term system transformation

• The event also aimed to provide a chance to reflect on, celebrate, and build on the last 50 years of environmental activism

• Theme: Stockholm+50: A healthy planet for the prosperity of all — our responsibility, our opportunity

About Stockholm Conference, 1972:

• Background: 

  • In 1968, Sweden first proposed the idea of the Stockholm conference (this is why it was referred to as the Swedish Initiative)

  • In 1968,the UN General Assembly for the first time discussed climate change using emerging scientific evidence

  • Until 1972, no country had an environment ministry

  • Norwegian delegates returned from the conference to set up a ministry for the environment

  • India set up its ministry of environment and forest in 1985

• About: 

  • The United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm was held From June 5 to June 16, 1972

  • Theme: ‘Only One Earth’

  • Participating Countries: 122 countries participated in the conference

• Aim: The aim was to create a common governance structure for the planet’s environment and natural resources

• It adopted the Stockholm Declaration on June 16

• They essentially committed to 26 principles and an action plan that set in a multilateral environmental regime

• This was the first globally subscribed document that recognised the “interconnections between development, poverty and the environment

• The three dimensions of this conference were: 

  • 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

  • And establishment of an international body called the UN Environment programme (UNEP) to bring in cooperation among countries

Way Forward:

• Stockholm+50 could be a new watershed moment for environmental protection and human wellbeing

• It’s high time we start narrowing the gap between targets and actual actions since we have a limited window to reverse climate change and the course of our future

• Countries must move beyond gridlocked international negotiations and show the political will needed for bold actions to safeguard the future of our planet and of our future generations