Measuring progress on UNCED implementation

Abstract

This introduction to the special issue on Earth Summit implementation calls attention to the significance of the review of progress achieved in the implementation of the oceans and coasts agenda of the 1992 Earth Summit (the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)) conducted by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development in April 1996. It poses major questions facing the Commission, introduces the major themes discussed in the special issue and makes some assessments on the nature and pace of UNCED implementation. Almost four years have passed since the momentous Earth Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992. In April 1996, the institution created to monitor and provide oversight on the large and complex blueprint for change adopted in Rio, the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), considers the progress that has been achieved in the area of oceans and coasts. This is, then, a very propitious time to take stock of what, if anything, has changed in the way in which nations, international institutions and communities manage the world's oceans and coasts. Four years is a very short time in the implementation of almost any program, and in this case particularly so, with more than 2500 prescriptions for action emanating from the Earth Summit—prescriptions aimed at national governments, local communities, international organizations, groups and individuals—all important actors in implementation. Nevertheless, the CSD review provides a focal point, an agenda focusing event, for the interested community to pause and reflect on what has changed since Rio. In this vein, we asked key individuals around the world to share their perspectives on what has been achieved since Rio, what is likely to be achieved still and on what is lacking in the implementation of the multi-faceted oceans and coasts agenda of the Earth Summit—including the prescriptions of Chapter 17 of Agenda 21, as well as those of the Climate Change and Biodiversity Conventions. The papers in this special issue thus present a set of perspectives on what has been accomplished, as well as what remains to be done. The papers vary in their content and approach—some represent fully fledged research appraisals of implementation in a particular area, others are reports of ongoing implementation activities and some are personal commentaries on the UNCED implementation process.