Last reviewed 4 Nov 2026 · Facts as of 4 Nov 2026 · 3 min read
1. Landmark conferences
| Conference | Year / place | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| UN Conference on the Human Environment | 1972, Stockholm | First global environment conference; created UNEP (HQ Nairobi); 5 June became World Environment Day |
| Brundtland Commission report Our Common Future | 1987 | Defined sustainable development |
| Earth Summit (UNCED) | 1992, Rio de Janeiro | Agenda 21, Rio Declaration, Forest Principles; opened UNFCCC, CBD; led to UNCCD |
| Rio+10 (World Summit on SD) | 2002, Johannesburg | Review of Agenda 21 |
| Rio+20 | 2012, Rio | The Future We Want; process for the SDGs |
| UN Sustainable Development Summit | 2015, New York | Agenda 2030 and the 17 SDGs |
2. Climate
| Agreement | Year | Key points |
|---|---|---|
| UNFCCC | 1992 (in force 1994) | Framework; COPs held every year; principle of common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR) |
| Kyoto Protocol | 1997 (in force 2005) | Binding emission cuts for developed (Annex I) countries; CDM, joint implementation, emissions trading |
| Paris Agreement | 2015 (COP21; in force 2016) | Keep warming well below 2 °C, pursue 1.5 °C; NDCs from all countries; global stocktake every 5 years |
| Glasgow (COP26, 2021) | — | India announced Panchamrit and net zero by 2070 |
| COP28, Dubai (2023) | — | First global stocktake; call to transition away from fossil fuels; Loss and Damage Fund operationalised |