"UNCED: Agenda 21, 1992" [2005] ELECD 298; in Tully, Stephen (ed), "International Documents on Corporate Responsibility" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2005)

Book Title: International Documents on Corporate Responsibility

Editor(s): Tully, Stephen

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781843768197

Section: Chapter 75

Section Title: UNCED: Agenda 21, 1992

Number of pages: 5

Extract:

75. UNCED: Agenda 21, 1992

Commentary: Although initially contemplating tighter regulatory control, the
1992 Rio Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) acknowledged
the positive contributions of business to sustainable development, supported free
market mechanisms and promoted self-regulatory approaches: UNTCMD (1992),
`TNCs and Sustainable Development: A Review of Agenda 21', New York; UNTCMD
(1993), `Follow-up to UNCED as Related to TNCs', New York, UN Doc
E/C.10/1993/13. For commercial perspectives, see Schmidheiny S./WBCSD (1992),
Changing Course: A Global Business Perspective on Development and the Environment,
Cambridge, MA: MIT Press; Willums J.-O. and Goluke U. (1992), From Ideas to Action:
Business and Sustainable Development, The Greening of Enterprise, Oslo: ICC
International Environmental Bureau.
UNCED's principal outcome ­ Agenda 21 (UNCED Report, UN Doc
A/CONF.151/26/Rev.1 (1992), Vol 1) ­ is a comprehensive global plan of action for
intergovernmental organisations, governments and others with respect to poverty
reduction, consumption, human health and settlement, deforestation, managing
ecosystems, agriculture, biodiversity and protecting the atmospheres, seas, land and
freshwater resources. The roles and responsibilities of `industry', `the private sector',
`business' and `transnational corporations' feature prominently throughout Agenda
21. See further, Integrating Environment and Development in Decision-making
(Chapter 8); Environmentally Sound Management of Biotechnology (Chapter 16);
Environmentally Sound Management of Toxic Chemicals (Chapter 19);
Environmentally Sound Management of Hazardous Wastes including Prevention of
Illegal International Traffic in Hazardous Wastes (Chapter 20); Environmentally Sound
Management of Solid Wastes and Sewerage-Related Issues (Chapter 21); Safe and
Environmentally ...