earthsummit2012

Global Sustainability Targets

Building accountability for the
st
21 Century
Produced by Hannah Stoddart, Stakeholder Forum
Contributing Author: Eela Dubey

INTRODUCTION
Stakeholder Forum has produced this paper in an effort to provide an overview of the multitude of
existing global targets for sustainable development. As the international community prepares for
the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in 2012 ('Rio+20'), there will be pressure for new
targets to be set and for new commitments to be made. Stakeholder Forum recognises that this is
an important part of any Summit outcome, and hopes that this overview of existing targets may
assist governments to consolidate targets where possible, and to identify gaps where new targets
might be necessary. This document also intends to enhance accountability for previous
commitments, by gathering together in one place all the time-bound targets that governments are
obliged to deliver on sustainable development, as a tool for civil society to hold them to account.
The targets indentified in this document are drawn from the following global agreements:
Agenda 21 Outcome from the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)
- 'Rio Earth Summit' in 1992
Commission on Sustainable Development outcome documents from all sessions of the
Commission on Sustainable Development
Millennium Development Goals goals and targets agreed at the Millennium Summit in
2000
Johannesburg Plan of Implementation outcome document from the World Summit on
Sustainable Development (WSSD) in 2002
Rio Conventions the Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD), Kyoto Protocol to the
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
The targets have been disaggregated by focus and by sector, as follows:
Human Development Targets
Health
Human Settlements
Education
Poverty and Employment
Environmental Management Targets
Land
Forests
Agriculture and Food
Energy
Freshwater
Atmosphere
Chemicals
Waste
Governance and Implementation Targets
Major Groups and Civil Society
Capacity Building and Governance
Finance
Targets have only been listed where they are time-bound and have a specific delivery date.
Targets have been chosen according to their relevance to the sustainable development process.
This document is not exhaustive and there are some sub-targets that have not been included.
To provide feedback on this document please contact Hannah Stoddart, Head of Policy and
Advocacy at Stakeholder Forum hstoddart@stakeholderforum.org

GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY TARGETS 1992 - 2010

Human Development Targets
HEALTH

Document

Target

Delivery
Date

Agenda 21 (6.12)
Section 1
Chapter 6
Protecting and
Promoting Human
Health
A: Meeting primary
health care needs,
particularly in rural
area basis for action
Para 12

2000
6.12... Some major goals are:
(a) By the year 2000, to eliminate guinea worm disease
(dracunculiasis);
(b) By the year 2000, eradicate polio;
(c) By the year 2000, to effectively control onchocerciasis (river
blindness) and leprosy;
(d) By 1995, to reduce measles deaths by 95 per cent and reduce
measles cases by 90 per cent compared with pre-immunization
levels;
(e) By continued efforts, to provide health and hygiene education
and to ensure universal access to safe drinking water and
universal access to sanitary measures of excreta disposal,
thereby markedly reducing waterborne diseases such as
cholera and schistosomiasis and reducing:
(f) By the year 2000, the number of deaths from childhood
diarrhoea in developing countries by 50 to 70 per cent;
(g) By the year 2000, the incidence of childhood diarrhoea in
developing countries by at least 25 to 50 per cent;
(h) By the year 2000, to initiate comprehensive programmes to
reduce mortality from acute respiratory infections in children
under five years by at least one third, particularly in countries
with high infant mortality;
(i)
By the year 2000, to provide 95 per cent of the world's child
population with access to appropriate care for acute respiratory
infections within the community and at first referral level;
(j) By the year 2000, to institute anti-malaria programmes in all
countries where malaria presents a significant health problem
and maintain the transmission-free status of areas freed from
endemic malaria;
(k) By the year 2000, to implement control programmes in
countries where major human parasitic infections are endemic
and achieve an overall reduction in the prevalence of
schistosomiasis and of other trematode infections by 40 per
cent and 25 per cent, respectively, from a 1984 baseline, as
well as a marked reduction in incidence, prevalence and
intensity of filarial infections;

Agenda 21 (6.40)
Section 1
Chapter 6 - Protecting
and Promoting Human
Health
E: Reducing health
risks from
environmental
pollutions and hazards

6.40 The overall objective is to minimize hazards and maintain the

environment to a degree that human health and safety is not impaired
or endangered and yet encourage development to proceed. Specific
programme objectives are:
(a) By the year 2000, to incorporate appropriate environmental
and health safeguards as part of national development
programmes in all countries;
(b) By the year 2000, to establish, as appropriate, adequate
national infrastructure and programmes for providing
environmental injury, hazard surveillance and the basis for
abatement in all countries;
(c) By the year 2000, to establish, as appropriate, integrated

2000

programmes for tackling pollution at the source and at the

disposal site, with a focus on abatement actions in all
countries;
Commission on
Sustainable
Development
2nd Session Report
Review of sectoral
cluster: health,
human
settlements and
freshwater
1. Protecting and
promoting human
health

108. The Commission invites the Inter-Agency Committee on

Sustainable Development (IACSD) to consider in its follow-up work on
chapter 6 of Agenda 21 and in the preparation of the 1997 review, the
following priority areas:
(e) Developing an effective and efficient environmental health
information system to collect and disseminate national, regional and
international information on newly emerging environmental health
problems by 1997.

1997

2005
Johannesburg Plan
54. (e) Promote and develop partnerships to enhance health
of Implementation education with the objective of achieving improved health literacy on a 2010
global basis by 2010, with the involvement of United Nations agencies, 2015
Chapter IV - Health
as appropriate;
and Sustainable
Development
54. (f) Develop programmes and initiatives to reduce, by the year
2015, mortality rates for infants and children under 5 by two thirds,
and maternal mortality rates by three quarters, of the prevailing rate in
2000, and reduce disparities between and within developed and
developing countries as quickly as possible, with particular attention to
eliminating the pattern of disproportionate and preventable mortality
among girl infants and children;
55. Implement, within the agreed time frames, all commitments
agreed in the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS adopted by the
General Assembly at its twenty-sixth special session, emphasizing in
particular the reduction of HIV prevalence among young men and
women aged 15 to 24 by 25 per cent in the most affected countries by
2005, and globally by 2010, as well as combat malaria, tuberculosis
and other diseases by, inter alia:
Millennium Summit
Outcome
Millennium
Development Goals

1C. Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who
2015
suffer from hunger
4.A. Reduce by two thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the under-five
mortality rate
5.A. Reduce by three quarters the maternal mortality ratio
5.B. Achieve universal access to reproductive health
6.B. Achieve, by 2010, universal access to treatment for HIV/AIDS for
all those who need it
6.C. Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the incidence of
malaria and other major diseases
6.A. Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS
8.E. In cooperation with pharmaceutical companies, provide access to
affordable essential drugs in developing countries

HUMAN SETTLEMENTS

Delivery
Date

Document

Target

Agenda 21 (7.38)
Section 1
Chapter 7
Promoting Sustainable
Human Settlement
Development
D. Promoting the
integrated provision of
environmental
infrastructure: water,
sanitation, drainage
and solid-waste
management

2025
7.38. The objective is to ensure the provision of adequate
environmental infrastructure facilities in all settlements by the year
2025. The achievement of this objective would require that all
developing countries incorporate in their national strategies
programmes to build the necessary technical, financial and human
resource capacity aimed at ensuring better integration of infrastructure
and environmental planning by the year 2000.

Johannesburg Plan 10. To achieve a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100
of Implementation million slum dwellers, as proposed in the 'Cities without slums'
Chapter II Poverty
initiative.
Eradication

2020

EDUCATION

Document

Target

Delivery
Date

Agenda 21 (25.5)
Section 3
Chapter 25 Children
and Youth in SD
A: Advancing the role
of youth and actively
involving them in the
protection of the
environment and the
promotion of
economic and social
development

25.5 Each country, by the year 2000, should ensure that more than 50
per cent of its youth, gender balanced, are enrolled in or have access
to appropriate secondary education or equivalent educational or
vocational training programmes by increasing participation and access
rates on an annual basis.

2000

Johannesburg Plan
of Implementation
Chapter X Means of
Implementation

116 (a) Meet the Millennium development goal of achieving universal

primary education, ensuring that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys
and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary
schooling;

2015

2005 - 2015
120. Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education by
2005, as provided in the Dakar Framework for Action on Education for
All, and at all levels of education no later than 2015, to meet the
development goals contained in the Millennium Declaration, with action
to ensure, inter alia, equal access to all levels and forms of education,
training and capacity-building by gender mainstreaming, and by
creating a gender-sensitive educational system.
Johannesburg Plan (e) Support the development of national programmes and strategies to
of Implementation promote education within the context of nationally owned and led
strategies for poverty reduction and strengthen research institutions in
Chapter VIII

2015

Sustainable
Development for
Africa

education in order to increase the capacity to fully support the achievement

of internationally agreed development goals related to education, including
those contained in the Millennium Declaration on ensuring that, by 2015,
children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full
course of primary schooling and that girls and boys will have equal access
to all levels of education relevant to national needs;

Millennium Summit
Outcome
Millennium
Development Goals

2.A. Ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike,
will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling
3.A. Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education,
preferably by 2005, and in all levels of education no later than 2015

2015

POVERTY AND EMPLOYMENT

Document

Target

Delivery
Date

Millennium Summit
Outcome
Millennium
Development Goals

1A. Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people whose
income is less than $1 a day

2015

1B. Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all,
including women and young people

Environmental Management Targets

LAND

Document

Target

Delivery
Date

Agenda 21 (10.5)
Chapter 10
Integrated Approach
to the Planning and
Management of Land
Resources

1996 2000
10.... In more specific terms, the objectives are as follows:
(a) To review and develop policies to support the best possible use
of land and the sustainable management of land resources, by
not later than 1996;
(b) To improve and strengthen planning, management and
evaluation systems for land and land resources, by not later than
2000;
(c) To strengthen institutions and coordinating mechanisms for land
and land resources, by not later than 1998;
(d) To create mechanisms to facilitate the active involvement and
participation of all concerned, particularly communities and
people at the local level, in decision-making on land use and
management, by not later than 1996.

Agenda 21 (12.40)
Chapter 12
Managing Fragile
Ecosystems:
Combating
Desertification and
Drought

12.40 The General Assembly, at its forty-seventh session, should be

requested to establish, under the aegis of the General Assembly, an
intergovernmental negotiating committee for the elaboration of an
international convention to combat desertification in in those countries
experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in
Africa, with a view to finalizing such a convention by June 1994.

1994

2000
Agenda 21 (13.15) 13.15 The objectives of this programme area are:
(a) By the year 2000, to develop appropriate land-use planning
Section 2
and management for both arable and non-arable land in
Chapter 13: Managing
mountain-fed watershed areas to prevent soil erosion, increase
Fragile Ecosystems
biomass production and maintain the ecological balance;
Sustainable Mountain
Development
B. Promoting
integrated watershed
development and
alternative livelihood
opportunities
Agenda 21 (14.44) 14.44 The objectives of this programme area are:
(a) By the year 2000, to review and initiate, as appropriate,
Section 2
national land-resource surveys, detailing the location, extent
Chapter 14
and severity of land degradation;
Promoting Sustainable
Agriculture and Rural
Development
E. Land Conservation
and Rehabilitation

2000

FORESTS

Document

Target

Delivery
Date

Agenda 21 (11.2)
Section 2
Chapter 11Combating
Deforestation
A: Sustaining the
multiple roles and
functions of all types
of forests, forestlands,
and woodlands

11.2. By the year 2000, to strengthen the capacities and capabilities of 2000
national institutions to enable them to acquire the necessary knowledge
for the protection and conservation of forests, as well as to expand
their scope and, correspondingly, enhance the effectiveness of
programmes and activities related to the management and
development of forests;

BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEMS

Convention on
Biological Diversity
6th Conference of the
Parties
Decision VI/26
B. Mission

11. Parties commit themselves to a more effective and coherent

implementation of the three objectives of the Convention, to achieve
by 2010 a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at
the global, regional and national level as a contribution to poverty
alleviation and to the benefit of all life on earth.

Convention on
Biological Diversity
7th Conference of
Parties
Decision VII/30
Seven Focal Areas for
the Biodiversity
Target, including sub
goals and targets

Focal Area: Protect the components of biodiversity

Goal 1. Promote the conservation of the biological diversity of
ecosystems, habitats and biomes
Target 1.1: At least 10% of each of the world's ecological regions
effectively conserved.
Target 1.2: Areas of particular importance to biodiversity protected
Goal 2. Promote the conservation of species diversity
Target 2.1: Restore, maintain, or reduce the decline of populations of
species of selected taxonomic groups
Target 2.2: Status of threatened species improved.
Goal 3. Promote the conservation of genetic diversity
Target 3.1: Genetic diversity of crops, livestock, and of harvested
species of trees, fish and wildlife and other valuable species conserved,
and associated indigenous and local knowledge maintained.
Focal Area: Promote sustainable use
Goal 4. Promote sustainable use and consumption.
Target 4.1: Biodiversity-based products derived from sources that are
sustainably managed, and Production areas managed consistent with
the conservation of biodiversity.
Target 4.2: Unsustainable consumption, of biological resources, or that
impacts upon biodiversity, reduced.
Target 4.3: No species of wild flora or fauna endangered by
international trade.
Focal Area: Address threats to biodiversity
Goal 5. Pressures from habitat loss, land use change and degradation,
and unsustainable water use, reduced.

2010

Target 5.1: Rate of loss and degradation of natural habitats decreased.

Goal 6. Control threats from invasive alien species.
Target 6.1: Pathways for major potential alien invasive species
controlled.
Target 6.2: Management plans in place for major alien species that
threaten ecosystems, habitats or species.
Goal 7. Address challenges to biodiversity from climate change, and
pollution.
Target 7.1: Maintain and enhance resilience of the components of
biodiversity to adapt to climate change
Target 7.2: Reduce pollution and its impacts on biodiversity
Focal Area: Maintain goods and services from biodiversity to
support human well-being
Goal 8. Maintain capacity of ecosystems to deliver goods and services
and support livelihoods
Target 8.1: Capacity of ecosystems to deliver goods and services
maintained.
Target 8.2: biological resources that support sustainable livelihoods,
local food security and health care, especially of poor people
maintained.
Focal Area: Protect traditional knowledge, innovations and
practices
Goal 9 Maintain socio-cultural diversity of indigenous and local
communities
Target 9.1 Protect traditional knowledge, innovations and practices
Target 9.2: Protect the rights of indigenous and local communities over
their traditional knowledge, innovations and practices, including their
rights to benefit sharing
Focal Area: Ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits
arising out of the use of genetic resources
Goal 10. Ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out
of the use of genetic resources
Target 10.1: All transfers of genetic resources are in line with the
Convention on Biological Diversity, the International Treaty on Plant
Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and other applicable
agreements.
Target 10.2: Benefits arising from the commercial and other utilization
of genetic resources shared with the countries providing such
resources.
Focal Area: Ensure provision of adequate resources
Goal 11: Parties have improved financial, human, scientific, technical
and technological capacity to implement the Convention
Target 11.1: New and additional financial resources are transferred to
developing country Parties, to allow for the effective implementation of
their commitments under the Convention, in accordance with Article
20.
Target 11.2: Technology is transferred to developing country Parties, to
allow for the effective implementation of their commitments under the
Convention, in accordance with its Article 20, paragraph 4.
Convention on
Biological Diversity
10th Conference of the
Parties (COP10)
Decision X/II
Strategic Plan for

Strategic goal A. Address the underlying causes of biodiversity 2020

loss by mainstreaming biodiversity across government and
society
Target 1: By 2020, at the latest, people are aware of the values of
biodiversity and the steps they can take to conserve and use it
sustainably.

Biodiversity 20112020
IV Strategic Goals and
Aichi Biodiversity
Targets

Target 2: By 2020, at the latest, biodiversity values have been

integrated into national and local development and poverty reduction
strategies and planning processes and are being incorporated into
national accounting, as appropriate, and reporting systems.
Target 3: By 2020, at the latest, incentives, including subsidies,
harmful to biodiversity are eliminated, phased out or reformed in order
to minimize or avoid negative impacts, and positive incentives for the
conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity are developed and
applied, consistent and in harmony with the Convention and other
relevant international obligations, taking into account national socio
economic conditions.
Target 4: By 2020, at the latest, Governments, business and
stakeholders at all levels have taken steps to achieve or have
implemented plans for sustainable production and consumption and
have kept the impacts of use of natural resources well within safe
ecological limits.
Strategic goal B. Reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity
and promote sustainable use
Target 5: By 2020, the rate of loss of all natural habitats, including
forests, is at least halved and where feasible brought close to zero, and
degradation and fragmentation is significantly reduced.
Target 6:By 2020 all fish and invertebrate stocks and aquatic plants
are managed and harvested sustainably, legally and applying
ecosystem based approaches, so that overfishing is avoided, recovery
plans and measures are in place for all depleted species, fisheries have
no significant adverse impacts on threatened species and vulnerable
ecosystems and the impacts of fisheries on stocks, species and
ecosystems are within safe ecological limits.
Target 7:By 2020 areas under agriculture, aquaculture and forestry
are managed sustainably, ensuring conservation of biodiversity.
Target 8: By 2020, pollution, including from excess nutrients, has
been brought to levels that are not detrimental to ecosystem function
and biodiversity.
Target 9: By 2020, invasive alien species and pathways are identified
and prioritized, priority species are controlled or eradicated, and
measures are in place to manage pathways to prevent their
introduction and establishment.
Target 10: By 2015, the multiple anthropogenic pressures on coral
reefs, and other vulnerable ecosystems impacted by climate change or
ocean acidification are minimized, so as to maintain their integrity and
functioning.
Strategic goal C. Improve the status of biodiversity by
safeguarding ecosystems, species and genetic diversity
Target 11: By 2020, at least 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland
water areas, and 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, especially
areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services,
are conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically
representative and well connected systems of protected areas and
other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into
the wider landscapes and seascapes.
Target 12: By 2020 the extinction of known threatened species has
been prevented and their conservation status, particularly of those
most in decline, has been improved and sustained.
Target 13: By 2020, the genetic diversity of cultivated plants and
farmed and domesticated animals and of wild relatives, including other
socio-economically as well as culturally valuable species, is maintained,

10

and strategies have been developed and implemented for minimizing

genetic erosion and safeguarding their genetic diversity.
Strategic goal D: Enhance the benefits to all from biodiversity
and ecosystem services
Target 14: By 2020, ecosystems that provide essential services,
including services related to water, and contribute to health, livelihoods
and well-being, are restored and safeguarded, taking into account the
needs of women, indigenous and local communities, and the poor and
vulnerable.
Target 15: By 2020, ecosystem resilience and the contribution of
biodiversity to carbon stocks has been enhanced, through conservation
and restoration, including restoration of at least 15 per cent of
degraded ecosystems, thereby contributing to climate change
mitigation and adaptation and to combating desertification.
Target 16: By 2015, the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic
Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from
their Utilization is in force and operational, consistent with national
legislation.
Strategic
goal
E.
Enhance
implementation
through
participatory planning, knowledge management and capacitybuilding
Target 17: By 2015 each Party has developed, adopted as a policy
instrument, and has commenced implementing an effective,
participatory and updated national biodiversity strategy and action
plan.
Target 18: By 2020, the traditional knowledge, innovations and
practices of indigenous and local communities relevant for the
conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, and their customary
use of biological resources, are respected, subject to national
legislation and relevant international obligations, and fully integrated
and reflected in the implementation of the Convention with the full and
effective participation of indigenous and local communities, at all
relevant levels.
Target 19: By 2020, knowledge, the science base and technologies
relating to biodiversity, its values, functioning, status and trends, and
the consequences of its loss, are improved, widely shared and
transferred, and applied.
Target 20: By 2020, at the latest, the mobilization of financial
resources for effectively implementing the Strategic Plan for
Biodiversity 2011-2020 from all sources, and in accordance with the
consolidated and agreed process in the Strategy for Resource
Mobilization, should increase substantially from the current levels. This
target will be subject to changes contingent to resource needs
assessments to be developed and reported by Parties.
Millennium Summit 7.B:
Reduce biodiversity loss, achieving, by 2010, a significant 2010
Outcome
reduction in the rate of loss
Millennium
Development Goals

11

AGRICULTURE AND FOOD

Document

Target

Delivery
Date

1995 2005
14.8. The objectives of this Programme area are:
Agenda 21 (14.8)
(a)
By 1995, to review and, where appropriate, establish a
Section 2
programme to integrate environmental and sustainable
Chapter 14:
development with policy analysis for the food and agriculture
Promoting Sustainable
sector and relevant macroeconomic policy analysis, formulation
Agriculture and Rural
and implementation;
Development
(b)
To maintain and develop, as appropriate, operational
A. Agricultural policy
multisectoral plans, programmes and policy measures,
review, planning and
including programmes and measures to enhance sustainable
integrated
food production and food security within the framework of
programmes in the
sustainable development, not later than 1998;
light of the
(c)
To maintain and enhance the ability of developing countries,
multifunctional aspect
particularly the least developed ones, to themselves manage
of agriculture,
policy, programming and planning activities, not later than
particularly with
2005.
regard to food
security and
sustainable
development
Agenda 21 (14.56)
Section 2
Chapter 14:
Promoting Sustainable
Agriculture and Rural
Development
G. Conservation and
sustainable utilization
of plant genetic
resources for food and
sustainable agriculture

2000
14.56 The objectives of this programme area are:
(c)
Not later than the year 2000, to adopt policies and strengthen or
establish programmes for in situ on-farm and ex situ conservation and
sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture,
integrated into strategies and programmes for sustainable agriculture;

Agenda 21 (14.74)
Section 2
Chapter 14:
Promoting Sustainable
Agriculture and Rural
Development
I. Integrated pest
management and
control in agriculture

14.74 The objectives of this programme area are:

(a) Not later than the year 2000, to improve and implement plant
protection and animal health services, including mechanisms to control
the distribution and use of pesticides, and to implement the
International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of
Pesticides;
(c) Not later than the year 1998, to establish operational and
interactive networks among farmers, researchers and extension
services to promote and develop integrated pest management.

Agenda 21 (14.84) 14.84 The objectives of this programme area are:

(a)
Not later than the year 2000, to develop and maintain in all
Section 2
countries the integrated plant nutrition approach, and to
Chapter 14:
optimize availability of fertilizer and other plant nutrient
Promoting Sustainable
sources
Agriculture and Rural
(b)
Not later than the year 2000, to establish and maintain
Development
institutional and human infrastructure to enhance effective
J. Sustainable Plant
decision-making on soil productivity;
Nutrition to increase
food production
Johannesburg Plan
of Implementation
IV Protecting and
Managing the natural
resource base of

40. Agriculture plays a crucial role in addressing the needs of a

growing global population and is inextricably linked to poverty
eradication, especially in developing countries... This would include
actions at all levels to:
(a)
Achieve the Millennium Declaration target to halve by the year

12

1998 2000

2000

2015

economic and social

development

2015 the proportion of the worlds people who suffer from hunger and
realize the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and
well-being of themselves and their families, including food, including by
promoting food security and fighting hunger in combination with
measures which address poverty, consistent with the outcome of the
World Food Summit and, for States Parties, with their ob ligations
under article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights;

ENERGY

Document

Target

Delivery
Date

Agenda 21 (14.74)
Section 2
Chapter 14:
Promoting Sustainable
Agriculture and Rural
Development
K. Rural energy
transition to enhance
productivity

14.93 The objectives of this programme area are:

(a) Not later than the year 2000, to initiate and encourage a process
of environmentally sound energy transition in rural communities, from
unsustainable energy sources, to structured and diversified energy
sources by making available alternative new and renewable sources of
energy;

2000

Johannesburg Plan
of Implementation
Chapter VII Small
Island Developing
States

59. Support the availability of adequate, affordable and environmentally 2004

sound energy services for the sustainable development of small island
developing States by, inter alia:
(a) Strengthening ongoing and supporting new efforts on energy
supply and services, by 2004, including through the United Nations
system and partnership initiatives;

FRESHWATER

Document

Target

Delivery
Date

Agenda 21 (18.11)
Section 2
Chapter 18:
Protection of the
Quality and Supply of
Freshwater
Resources:
Application of
Integrated
Approaches to the
Development,
Management and Use
of Water Resources
A. Integrated water
resources
development and
management

18.11.All States, according to their capacity and available resources,

and through bilateral or multilateral cooperation, including the United
Nations and other relevant organizations as appropriate, could set the
following targets:
(a) By the year 2000:
i. To have designed and initiated costed and targeted national action
programmes, and to have put in place appropriate institutional
structures and legal instruments;
ii. To have established efficient water-use programmes to attain
sustainable resource utilization patterns;
(b) By the year 2025:
i. To have achieved subsectoral targets of all freshwater
programme areas.

2000
2025

It is understood that the fulfillment of the targets quantified in (i) and

(ii) above will depend upon new and additional financial resources that
will be made available to developing countries in accordance with the

13

relevant provisions of General Assembly resolution 44/228.

Agenda 21 (18.26)
Section 2
Chapter 18:
Protection of the
Quality and Supply of
Freshwater
Resources:
Application of
Integrated
Approaches to the
Development,
Management and Use
of Water Resources
A. Water Resources
Assessment

18.26.All States , according to their capacity and available resources,

and through bilateral or multilateral cooperation, including cooperation
with the United Nations and other relevant organizations, as
appropriate, could set the following targets:
(a) By the year 2000, to have studied in detail the feasibility of
installing water resources assessment services;

2000

Agenda 21 (18.39)
Section 2
Chapter 18:
Protection of the
Quality and Supply of
Freshwater
Resources:
Application of
Integrated
Approaches to the
Development,
Management and Use
of Water Resources
C. Protection of water
resources, water
quality and aquatic
ecosystems

18.39.All States, according to their capacity and available resources,

through bilateral or multilateral cooperation, including the United
Nations and other relevant organizations as appropriate, could set the
following targets:
(e) To reduce the prevalence of water-associated diseases, starting
with the eradication of dracunculiasis (guinea worm disease) and
onchocerciasis (river blindness) by the year 2000;

2000

Agenda 21 (18.58)
Section 2
Chapter 18:
Protection of the
Quality and Supply of
Freshwater
Resources:
Application of
Integrated
Approaches to the
Development,
Management and Use
of Water Resources
E. Water and
sustainable urban
development

2000
18.58.All States, according to their capacity and available resources,
and through bilateral or multilateral cooperation, including the United
Nations and other relevant organizations as appropriate, could set the
following targets
(a) By the year 2000, to have ensured that all urban residents have
access to at least 40 litres per capita per day of safe water and that 75
per cent of the urban population are provided with on- site or
community facilities for sanitation;
(b) By the year 2000, to have established and applied quantitative
and qualitative discharge standards for municipal and industrial
effluents
(c) By the year 2000, to have ensured that 75 per cent of solid waste
generated in urban areas are collected and recycled or disposed of in
an environmentally safe way.

Johannesburg Plan
of Implementation
Chapter II: Poverty
Eradication

2015
8. The provision of clean drinking water and adequate sanitation is
necessary to protect human health and the environment. In this
respect, we agree to halve, by the year 2015, the proportion of people
who are unable to reach or to afford safe drinking water (as outlined in
the Millennium Declaration) and the proportion of people who do not
have access to basic sanitation

Johannesburg Plan 26. Develop integrated water resources management and water

14

2005

of Implementation
Chapter IV
Protecting and
Managing the Natural
Resource base of
Sustainable
Development

efficiency plans by 2005, with support to developing countries

Millennium Summit 7C. Halve, by 2015, the proportion of the population without
Outcome
sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation
Millennium
Development Goals

2015

ATMOSPHERE

Document

Target

Delivery
Date

Kyoto Protocol to
the UN Framework
Conention on
Climate Change
Article 3

2012
1. The Parties included in Annex I shall, individually or jointly, ensure
that their aggregate anthropogenic carbon dioxide equivalent emissions
of the greenhouse gases listed in Annex A do not exceed their assigned
amounts, calculated pursuant to their quantified emission limitation and
reduction commitments inscribed in Annex B and in accordance with
the provisions of this Article, with a view to reducing their overall
emissions of such gases by at least 5 per cent below 1990 levels in the
commitment period 2008 to 2012.
2. Each Party included in Annex I shall, by 2005, have made
demonstrable progress in achieving its commitments under this
2005
Protocol.

Johannesburg Plan
of Implementation
Chapter IV
Protecting and
managing the natural
resource base of
economic and social
development

39. Enhance cooperation at the international, regional and national

levels to reduce air pollution, including transboundary air pollution, acid
deposition and ozone depletion, bearing in mind the Rio principles,
including, inter alia, the principle that, in view of the different
contributions to global environmental degradation, States have
common but differentiated responsibilities, with actions at all levels to:
(b) Facilitate implementation of the Montreal Protocol on Substances
that Deplete the Ozone Layer by ensuring adequate replenishment of
its fund by 2003/2005;
(d) Improve access by developing countries to affordable, accessible,
cost- effective, safe and environmentally sound alternatives to ozonedepleting substances by 2010, and assist them in complying with the
phase-out schedule under the Montreal Protocol, bearing in mind that
ozone depletion and climate change are scientifically and technically
interrelated;

15

2003/5
2010

CHEMICALS

Document

Target

Delivery
Date

Agenda 21 (19.13)
Section 2
Chapter 19
Environmentally
sound management of
toxic chemicals
A. Expanding and
accelerating
international
assessment of
chemical risks

19.13.The objectives of this programme area are:

(a) To strengthen international risk assessment. Several hundred
priority chemicals or groups of chemicals, including major pollutants
and contaminants of global significance, should be assessed by the
year 2000, using current selection and assessment criteria;

2000

Agenda 21 (19.27)
Section 2
Chapter 19
Environmentally
sound management of
toxic chemicals
B. Harmonization of
classification and
labeling of chemicals

19.27.A globally harmonized hazard classification and compatible

labeling system, including material safety data sheets and easily
understandable symbols, should be available, if feasible, by the year
2000.

2000

Agenda 21 (19.38)
Section 2
Chapter 19
Environmentally
sound management of
toxic chemicals
C. Information
exchange on toxic
chemicals and
chemical risks

19.38 The objectives of this programme area are:

(b) To achieve by the year 2000, as feasible, full participation in and
implementation of the PIC procedure, including possible mandatory
applications through legally binding instruments contained in the
Amended London Guidelines and in the FAO International Code of
Conduct, taking into account the experience gained within the PIC
procedure.

2000

Agenda 21 (19.58)
Section 2
Chapter 19
Environmentally
sound management of
toxic chemicals
E. Strengthening of
national capabilities
and capacities for
management of
chemicals

19.58.By the year 2000, national systems for environmentally sound

management of chemicals, including legislation and provisions for
implementation and enforcement, should be in place in all countries to
the extent possible.

2000

Commission on
Sustainable
Development
Second Session
Report
Annex: Priorities for
Action adopted by the
International
Conference on
Chemical Safety

1. Needs for different types of health and environmental risk assessments

should be identified and criteria for setting priorities for the various types
of risk assessments should be agreed. Applying these criteria, an initial list
of chemicals (including those of high production volume) for risk
assessment by the year 1997 should be established as soon as possible.
3. An inventory of risk assessments that are planned, in preparation or
completed should be established before the end of 1994.
6. Taking into account the results of the activities recommended in items 1
and 2 and making full use of the evaluations produced by United Nations
bodies, OECD, and others, 200 additional chemicals should be evaluated by
1997.

1994
1997
2000

16

Programme area A.
Expanding and
accelerating
international
assessment of
chemical risks

7. If the target in item 6 is met, another 300 chemicals should be

evaluated by 2000.

Commission on
Sustainable
Development
Second Session
Report
Annex: Priorities for
Action adopted by the
International
Conference on
Chemical Safety
Programme area B.
Harmonization of
classification and
labeling of chemicals
Programme area C.
Information exchange
on toxic chemicals
and chemical risks

1. The ongoing technical work on classification criteria should be

strengthened to enable finalization by 1997. Continued work to harmonize
classification systems and to establish compatible hazard communication
systems, including labelling and safety data sheets, should be completed
by 2000.
3. Relevant data available from international bodies should be if
economically feasible, by 1997 on CD/ROM or other appropriate media,
together with suitable searching and updating facilities.
7. All countries should have nominated, by 1997, designated authorities for
participation in the PIC procedure.
9. All countries which export chemicals subject to the PIC procedure should
have the necessary mechanisms in place by 1997, including
implementation and enforcement provisions, to ensure that export does
not take place contrary to importing countries decisions. Importing
countries should also establish the necessary mechanisms.
10. In all developing countries and countries in economic transition,
training should have been made available by 1997 in the implementation of
the London Guidelines and the PIC procedure.
6. By 1997 not less than 25 more countries should have implemented
systems for of major industrial accidents in accordance with international
principles such as those contained in the 1993 ILO Convention (No 174) on
the Prevention of Major Industrial Accidents and the United Nations
Economic for Europe (UN/ECE) Convention on Transboundary Effects of
Industrial Accidents

1997 2000

Commission on
Sustainable
Development
Second Session
Report
Annex: Priorities for
Action adopted by the
International
Conference on
Chemical Safety
Programme area D.
Establishment of risk
reduction
programmes

7. By 1997 not less than 50 more countries should have introduced

national systems for emergency preparedness and response, including a
strategy for education and training of personnel, with the aid of, inter alia,
the APELL
-40-programme and the ILO Code of Practice on the Prevention of Major
Industrial Accidents (1991).

1997

Commission on
Sustainable
Development
Second Session
Report
Annex: Priorities for
Action adopted by the
International
Conference on
Chemical Safety
Programme area E:
Strengthening of
national capabilities
and capacities for

2. National profiles to indicate the current capabilities and capacities for

management of chemicals and the specific needs for improvement should
be elaborated as soon as possible and not later than 1997.

8. By 1997 not less than 40 more countries should have established poison
control centres with related clinical and analytical facilities, and good
progress should have been made on harmonizing systems for recording
data in different countries.

4. By 1997 mechanisms for ensuring liaison of all parties involved in

chemical safety activities within a country should be established in the
majority of countries

17

1997

management of
chemicals
23. Renew the commitment, as advanced in Agenda 21, to sound
management of chemicals throughout their life cycle and of hazardous
wastes for sustainable development as well as for the protection of human
health and the environment, inter alia, aiming to achieve, by 2020, that
chemicals are used and produced in ways that lead to the minimization of
significant adverse effects on human health and the environment...
(c)
Encourage countries to implement the new globally harmonized
system for the classification and labeling of chemicals as soon as possible
with a view to having the system fully operational by 2008;

2020
2008

Document

Target

Delivery
Date

Agenda 21 (21.9)
Section 3
Chapter 21
Environmentally
sound management
of Solid Wastes and
Sewage-related issues
A. Waste Minimisation

21.9. Governments, according to their capacities and available resources

and with the cooperation of the United Nations and other relevant
organizations, as appropriate, should:
(a) By the year 2000, ensure sufficient national, regional and international
capacity to access, process and monitor waste trend information and
implement waste minimization policies;
(b) By the year 2000, have in place in all industrialized countries
programmes to stabilize or reduce, if practicable, production of wastes
destined for final disposal, including per capita wastes (where this concept
applies), at the level prevailing at that date; developing countries as well
should work towards that goal without jeopardizing their development
prospects;
(c) Apply by the year 2000, in all countries, in particular in industrialized
countries, programmes to reduce the production of agrochemical wastes,
containers and packaging materials, which do not meet hazardous
characteristics.

2000

Agenda 21 (21.18)
Section 3
Chapter 21
Environmentally
sound management
of Solid Wastes and
Sewage-related issues
B. Maximizing
environmentally sound
waste reuse and
recycling

21.18 Governments, according to their capacities and available

resources and with the cooperation of the United Nations and other
relevant organizations, as appropriate, should:
(a) By the year 2000, promote sufficient financial and technological
capacities at the regional, national and local levels, as appropriate, to
implement waste reuse and recycling policies and actions;
(b) By the year 2000, in all industrialized countries, and by the year
2010, in all developing countries, have a national programme,
including, to the extent possible, targets for efficient waste reuse and
recycling.

2000

Agenda 21 (21.29)
Section 3
Chapter 21
Environmentally
sound management
of Solid Wastes and
Sewage-related issues
C. Promoting
environmentally sound
waste disposal and
treatment
D. Extending waste

21.29. Governments, according to their capacities and available resources

and with the cooperation of the United Nations and other relevant
organizations, as appropriate, should:
(a) By the year 2000, establish waste treatment and disposal quality
criteria, objectives and standards based on the nature and assimilative
capacity of the receiving environment;
(b) By the year 2000, establish sufficient capacity to undertake wasterelated pollution impact monitoring and conduct regular surveillance,
including epidemiological surveillance, where appropriate;
(c) By the year 1995, in industrialized countries, and by the year 2005, in
developing countries, ensure that at least 50 per cent of all sewage, waste
waters and solid wastes are treated or disposed of in conformity with

Johannesburg Plan
of Implementation
Chapter III
Changing
Unsustainable
Patterns of
Consumption and
Production

WASTE

18

2000

2000
1995

service coverage

national or international environmental and health quality guidelines;

(d) By the year 2025, dispose of all sewage, waste waters and solid wastes
in conformity with national or international environmental quality
2025
guidelines.

Agenda 21 (21.39)
Section 3
Chapter 21
Environmentally
sound management
of Solid Wastes and
Sewage-related issues
D. Extending waste
service coverage

21.39. The overall objective of this programme is to provide healthprotecting, environmentally safe waste collection and disposal services to
all people. Governments, according to their capacities and available
resources and with the cooperation of the United Nations and other
relevant organizations, as appropriate, should:
(a) By the year 2000, have the necessary technical, financial and human
resource capacity to provide waste collection services commensurate with
needs;
(b) By the year 2025, provide all urban populations with adequate waste
services;
(c) By the year 2025, ensure that full urban waste service coverage is
maintained and sanitation coverage achieved in all rural areas.

19

2000
2025
2025

Governance and Implementation

INTEGRATION

Document

Target

Delivery
Date

Millennium Summit Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country

policies and programmes and reverse the loss of environmental
Outcome
resources
Millennium
Development Goals

2015

MAJOR GROUPS AND CIVIL SOCIETY

Document

Target

Delivery
Date

Agenda 21 (25.5)
Section 3
Chapter 25 Children
and Youth in SD
A: Advancing the role
of youth and actively
involving them in the
protection of the
environment and the
promotion of
economic and social
development

25.5 Each country, by the year 2000, should ensure that more than 50
per cent of its youth, gender balanced, are enrolled in or have access
to appropriate secondary education or equivalent educational or
vocational training programmes by increasing participation and access
rates on an annual basis.

2000

Agenda 21 (25.9)
Section 3
Chapter 25 Children
and Youth in SD
A: Advancing the role
of youth and actively
involving them in the
protection of the
environment and the
promotion of
economic and social
development

25.9. Governments, according to their strategies, should take measures to: 1993
(a) Establish procedures allowing for consultation and possible participation
of youth of both genders, by 1993, in decision-making processes with
regard to the environment, involving youth at the local, national and
regional levels;

Agenda 21 (27.7)
Section 3
Chapter 27
Strengthening the role
of NGOs: Partners for
Sustainable
Development

27.7. By 1995, a mutually productive dialogue should be established at the 1995

national level between all Governments and non-governmental
organizations and their self-organized networks to recognize and
strengthen their respective roles in implementing environmentally sound
and sustainable development.

Agenda 21 (28.2)
Section 3
Chapter 28 Local
Authorities' Initiatives
in support of Agenda
21

Objectives
28.2. The following objectives are proposed for this programme area:
(a) By 1996, most local authorities in each country should have undertaken 1996
a consultative process with their populations and achieved a consensus on
"a local Agenda 21" for the community;
(b) By 1993, the international community should have initiated a
consultative process aimed at increasing cooperation between local
1993

20

authorities;
(c) By 1994, representatives of associations of cities and other local
authorities should have increased levels of cooperation and coordination
with the goal of enhancing the exchange of information and experience
among local authorities;

1994

Agenda 21 (29.3)
Section 3
Chapter 29
Strengthening the role
of workers and their
trade unions

29.3. To that end the following objectives are proposed for

accomplishment by the year 2000:
(a) To promote ratification of relevant conventions of ILO and the
enactment of legislation in support of those conventions;
(b) To establish bipartite and tripartite mechanisms on safety, health and
sustainable development;
(c) To increase the number of environmental collective agreements aimed
at achieving sustainable development;
(d) To reduce occupational accidents, injuries and diseases according to
recognized statistical reporting procedures;
(e) To increase the provision of workers' education, training and
retraining, particularly in the area of occupational health and safety and
environment.

Agenda 21 (29.3)
Section 3
Chapter 35 Science
for Sustainable
Development
D. Building up
scientific capacity and
capability

35.21.The primary objective is to improve the scientific capacities of all 2000

countries - in particular, those of developing countries - with specific
regard to:
(b) A substantial increase by the year 2000 in the number of scientists
- particularly women scientists - in those developing countries where
their number is at present insufficient;

Agenda 21 (24.2)
Section 3
Chapter 24
Global Action for
Women towards
Sustainable and
Equitable
Development
Agenda 21 (24.2)
Section 3
Chapter 24
Global Action for
Women towards
Sustainable and
Equitable
Development

2000

24.2. The following objectives are proposed for national Governments:

(c) To consider developing and issuing by the year 2000 a strategy of

2000
changes necessary to eliminate constitutional, legal, administrative,
cultural, behavioural, social and economic obstacles to women's full
participation in sustainable development and in public life;
(d) To establish by the year 1995 mechanisms at the national, regional and
international levels to assess the implementation and impact of
1995
development and environment policies and programmes on women and to
ensure their contributions and benefits;
24.5. States parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women should review and suggest amendments to
it by the year 2000, with a view to strengthening those elements of the
Convention related to environment and development, giving special
attention to the issue of access and entitlements to natural resources,
technology, creative banking facilities and low- cost housing, and the
control of pollution and toxicity in the home and workplace.

2000

CAPACITY BUILDING AND GOVERNANCE

Document

Target

Delivery
Date

Agenda 21 (37.4)
Section 4
Chapter 37 National
Mechanisms and
International
Cooperation for

37.4. Specific objectives include the following:

(a) Each country should aim to complete, as soon as practicable, if possible 1994
by 1994, a review of capacity- and capability-building requirements for
devising national sustainable
development strategies, including those for generating and implementing
its own Agenda 21 action programme;

21

Capacity Building in
Developing Countries

(b) By 1997, the Secretary-General should submit to the General Assembly

a report on the achievement of improved policies, coordination systems
1997
and procedures for strengthening the implementation of technical
cooperation programmes for sustainable development, as well as on
additional measures required to strengthen such cooperation. That report
should be prepared on the basis of information provided by countries,
international organizations, environment and development institutions,
donor agencies and non- governmental partners.

Johannesburg Plan (b) Take immediate steps to make progress in the formulation and
of Implementation elaboration of national strategies for sustainable development and
begin their implementation by 2005.
Chapter XI Institutional
Framework for
Sustainable
Development
H.Strengthening
institutional
frameworks for
sustainable
development at the
national level

2005

8.A. Develop further an open, rule-based, predictable, nondiscriminatory trading and financial system
8.B. Address the special needs of least developed countries
8.C. Address the special needs of landlocked developing countries and
small island developing States
8.D. Deal comprehensively with the debt problems of developing
countries
8.F. In cooperation with the private sector, make available benefits of
new technologies, especially information and communications

2015

Document

Target

Delivery
Date

Agenda 21(33.19)
Section 3
Chapter 33 Financial
Resources and
Mechanisms
Means of
Implementation

33.19. Developed countries and others in a position to do so should make

initial financial commitments to give effect to the decisions of the
Conference. They should report on such plans and commitments to the
United Nations General Assembly at its forty-seventh session, in 1992.

1992

Millennium Summit
Outcome
Millennium
Development Goals

FINANCE

22

ABOUT STAKEHOLDER FORUM

Stakeholder Forum is an international organisation working to advance sustainable development
and promote stakeholder democracy at a global level. Our work aims to enhance open,
accountable and participatory international decision-making on sustainable development.
Stakeholder Forum works across four key areas: Global Policy and Advocacy (including Global
Governance); Stakeholder Engagement; Media and Communications; and Capacity Building.

OUR WORK TOWARDS EARTH SUMMIT 2012

Achieving sustainable development requires cooperation among a vast range of stakeholders.
Stakeholder Forum is working with representatives from all nine Major Groups globally in its work
towards Earth Summit 2012, to enhance involvement of civil society in the Summit process. To this
end it is producing analysis, facilitating dialogue, hosting workshops, conducting consultations and
building multi-stakeholder coalitions. To communicate its work it is also producing radio podcasts,
videos and animations to engage a wide diversity of stakeholders.
Stakeholder Forum has set up www.earthsummit2012.org as an information hub to provide
updates, background information and analysis towards Rio+20. It is intended that this site will also
act as a platform to connect organisations and stakeholders interested in engaging in the
preparatory process.

23

24