1992 metų Jungtinių Tautų konferencijos „Aplinka ir vystymasis“ reikšmė ES aplinkos apsaugos politikos formavimui

Abstract

The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development was held in Rio de Janerio, Brazil. It was the largest environmental conference ever held. At the Rio Earth Summit nations from around the world came together to push for concerted action and reach an agreement for the best way to slow down, halt and reverse environmental deterioration. The Earth Summit produced a number of outcomes including: The Convention on Biological Diversity; The Framework Convention on Climate Change; Principles of Forest Management; The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development; and Agenda 21.These documents covered every aspect of sustainable development. Legislation was passed and many agreements made, obliging nations to become more sustainable. These agreements and guidelines are still adhered to today and are influencing political and business decisions. After the Rio Earth Summit, institutions of European Union produced a number of strategic documents: The 6th Environment Action Programme, The Lisbon strategy, European Union strategy for sustainable development, The Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development, etc. Agenda 21 calls to adopt national strategies for sustainable development that would harmonize various sectoral economic, social and environmental policies and plans that are operating in the country. Lithuania adopted National strategy for sustainable development in 2003. Integrating principles of sustainable development into country’s policies and programmes is one of the goals declared in the United Nations Millennium Declaration in order reach environmental sustainability. The guiding principle of sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable development recognizes the interdependence of environmental, social and economic systems and promotes equality and justice through people’s empowerment and a sense of global citizenship. Whilst we cannot be sure what the future may bring, the preferable future is a more sustainable one.