ABSTRACT
Issues of global environment and development have generally taken second place to security on the diplomatic agendas of the major powers. The UN Conference on Environment and Development was one of a series of special conferences convened by the UN General Assembly to address matters of global importance outside the scope of any standing UN agency. United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) was charged with preparing recommendations for action to promote development and protect the environment at national and international levels. UNCED was established as a conference open to all countries that were members of the United Nations or of its specialized agencies. The negotiation of the Declaration on Environment and Development was among the most difficult of the session. Diplomatically a success, UNCED produced documents of importance with worldwide consensus behind them. It set the deadline that prodded the negotiation of agreements on climate and biodiversity.
