ABSTRACT

This chapter describes many of the provisions for international equity that permeate the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) agreements and conventions signed at the Earth Summit. Provisions for international equity were pervasive throughout the agreements and conventions signed at the Earth Summit in 1992, as well as the statements made there. The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development contains several provisions for international equity. Many leaders of the developed countries felt it necessary to invoke at the Earth Summit notions of international equity, justice and fairness. In the run-up to the Earth Summit, the developing countries pointed out that the vast majority of emissions of greenhouse gases were the responsibility of the developed countries. The legally binding Convention on Biological Diversity was signed at the Earth Summit by 153 countries and the European Community. The various agreements and conventions at the Earth Summit were supplemented by statements from the United Nations (UN) leadership, diplomats and statespersons.