Medieval square in Stockholm, Sweden
Insight

The Legacy of the Stockholm Conference

June 1, 2022

In 1972, the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm set off a chain of events that rewrote how countries tackle environmental challenges. How do we take the lessons of the past half century and apply them to our triple planetary crisis?

Our Earth Negotiations Bulletin team sat down with environmental leaders to revisit the legacies of that original conference in Stockholm, from the development of the Rio Conventions and the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions to the establishment of national ministries on environmental issues around the world. They also look at what work still remains, from implementation to ensuring intergenerational justice.

Watch below to hear from:

  • Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Executive Secretary, United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UN CBD)
  • Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility (GEF)
  • H.E. Ambassador Peter Thomson, United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Ocean

 

Follow our Earth Negotiations Bulletin team's coverage of Stockholm+50 and explore with IISD the history, lessons learned, and road ahead for sustainable development.