A STOCKHOLM DECLARATION ON THE HUMAN
ENVIRONMENT, 1972
NOTE: The Questions May be as
·
Examine the significance of Stockholm
Declaration of the UN Conference on Human Environment 1972.
·
Write a brief note on The Principles
adopted in Stockholm Declaration 1972.
· Discuss the importance of
Stockholm Declaration and its effects upon member states
Answer:
· Introduction
· Provisions of the Stockholm declaration
· Contributions of Stockholm declaration
· Subsequent developments after Stockholm declaration, 1972
Introduction
The General
Assembly of UNO, United Nations Conference on Human environment took place at Stockholm from 5th
to 16th June 1972. For the first time, the World Nations seriously
discussed and deliberated on Environment Protection and Sustainable
development.
The
Conference has resulted in Declaration called “Stockholm Declaration on the
Human Environment, 1972.
Provisions of the Stockholm declaration
The Declaration contains:
a. 7 Universal Truths
b. 26 Principles
a.
Universal Truths:
1. Man is both a creator and molder of
his environment. Both the natural and manmade environments are essential to his
wellbeing and enjoyment of his rights (including right to live).
2. The protection and improvement of
human environment is a major issue, as it affects the wellbeing of people and
their economic development. It’s the duty of Government to protect and improve
human environment.
3. Man’s discoveries, inventions,
creations and advances, if wisely used, bring benefits for development to
people, but if wrongly applied, it can do great harm to human beings. Manmade
harm is growing in many regions of earth.
4. In the development countries, the
underdevelopment has caused most of the environmental problems. The
environmental problems are due to the industrialized and technological
developments.
5. The growth of population continuously
presents problems for the preservation of the environment and hence adequate
policies and measure must be adopted to face these problems.
6. Man must shape his actions with more
care for environmental consequences and he must use his knowledge to build a
better natural environment.
7. Citizen, Communities, Enterprises and
Institutions must accept responsibility to achieve this environmental growth by
all, sharing equitable in common efforts.
b. Principles:
1. Man has the fundamental right and
hence has the responsibility to protect and improve the environment for present
and future generations.
2. The natural resources of earth must
be safeguarded for the benefit of present and future generations through
careful planning and appropriate management.
3. The capacity of the earth to produce
vital, renewable resources must be maintained and restored.
4. Man has the responsibility to safeguard
and manage of wildlife and its habitats which are now gravely in danger.
5. The non-renewable resources of earth
must be guarded for the future.
6. The excess discharge of the toxic substances
and heat must be stopped to ensure that it will not damage the ecosystem.
7. States must take all possible steps
to prevent pollution of the seas.
8. Economic and Social development is essential
for ensuring a favorable living and working environment.
9. Environmental deficiencies generated
by under-development and natural disasters pose grave problems.
10.For the developing countries,
stability of prices and adequate earnings for primary commodities and raw
materials are essential for environmental management.
11.The environmental policies of all
states should be enhanced and not affect the present and future “development
potential” of developing Counties.
12.Resources should be made available to
preserve and improve the environment.
13.State should adopt an integrated
approach to their development planning.
14.Rational planning constitutes for
reconciling any conflicts between the needs of development and to protect and
improve the environment.
15.Planning must be applied to human
settlements and urbanization with a view to avoiding harmful effects on the
environment.
16.Demographic policies should be
applied in those regions where the rate of population growth are likely to harm
the environment.
17.National Institutions must be
entrusted with the task of planning managing or controlling the environmental
resources of state.
18.Science and technology must be
applied to the identification, avoidance and control of environmental risks.
19.Education in environmental matters is
essential in protecting and improving environment in full human dimensions.
20.Scientific research and development
must be promoted in all countries
21.States have the Sovereign right to
exploit their own resources.
22. States must co-operate and develop
the international law regarding liability and compensation for the victims of
pollution and other environmental damage.
23.It is essential to consider the
system of values prevailing in each country.
24.International matters like protection
and improvement of the environment should be handled in a co-operative spirit
by all countries.
25.States shall ensure that
international organizations play a coordinated efficient and dynamic role for
protections and improvement of the environment.
26.Man and his environment must be
spared of the effects of the nuclear weapons and all other means of mass
destruction.
Contributions of Stockholm declaration
The main contributions
of this UN Conference on human Environment/Stockholm declaration are as
follows:
1. The Declaration on the Human
environment.
2. The Action plan for the Human environment.
3. The Resolution on Institutional
Financial Arrangements.
4. Resolution on designation of a World
Environment Day.
5. Resolution on Nuclear Weapons Tests
6. Resolution on the convening of a
Second Conference
7. Decision to refer to Government’s
recommendation for action at the National Level.
Subsequent developments after
Stockholm declaration, 1972
After the Stockholm Declarion, 1972, many
International commissions and conferences on environmental protection and
upgradation were held and the important commissions are:
1. Nairobi Declaration, 1982
2. Brundland Commission Report, 1987
3. Rio Declaration,1992
4. Earth Summit Plus,1997
Nairobi Declaration, 1982:
Nairobi Declaration was made on the eve of 10th
anniversary of United Nations Organizations conference on the Human
Environment.(i.e Stockholm Declaration 1972)
The main aspects of the Nairobi Declarations
are as follows:
1. There is no significant improvement
in solving the environmental problems as from Stockholm Declaration 1972.
2. It is decided to carry on the principles
enunciated in the Stockholm Declaration. It is an action plan to further
strengthen the international co-operation of member states for the
Environmental protection.
Brundland Commission Report, 1987:
The following
are the important provisions:
1. Every human being has the basic right
to have an adequate environment for healthy living
2. Every nation must conserver and use
the natural resources, both for the benefits of the present and future
generations.
3. Every nations must maintain eco
systems and ecological process for the function of the biosphere.
4. Every nations establish adequate
environmental protection standards.
5. Every nations must inform in advance
of any activity by which persons are likely to be affected and provide suitable
remedy.
6. Every nations must cooperate with one
another in implementation of the rights and obligations to sustainable
development.
Rio Declaration, 1992:
The need for the conference was due
to the fact that industrialized countries degrade the environment by high
consumption of resources and intense production of waste and developing
countries put extra pressure on earth by rapid population growth.
The main aspects are:
1. To establish a new and equitable
global partnership.
2. To work towards international
agreements which respect the interests of all and protect the integrity of the
global environmental and developmental system.
3. To recognize the integral and interdependent
nature of the earth.
Earth Summit Plus, 1997:
The sessions was held at New York to find out how far
the nations have implemented Rio Declarations. The reason that this meeting was
held after five years of earth summit 1992 is because more than 170
representatives of various nations participated in the conference.
The important outcome of the conference
is as follow:
1. The oceans, forests, and atmosphere
are in trouble and the population of the poor people is growing.
2. There is increased release of
carbon-di-oxide in the atmosphere and hence there is global warming
3. 13.7 million hectares of forests are
being cut every year.
4. The level of Greenhouses gases is
increasing at the rate of 2% annually.
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