ABSTRACT
This Chapter tells the inside story of the Rio Earth Summit, that momentous event in 1992 when the cause of sustainable development was put firmly on the global table. How did former “oil man” Maurice Strong come to play such a critical role in the quest to get sustainability on the international community’s radar? And what part did he play in helping elevate the voices of many stakeholders—from indigenous peoples to women’s groups, youth to unions—in the halls of rich and powerful governments? From Strong’s early days growing up in poverty in Canada after the Great Depression, to his rise up the corporate ladder, this chapter sheds light on this unique person and the vital role he played in Rio in 1992.
