World Summit on Sustainable Development

The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), also known as the Johannesburg Earth Summit 2002, was a pivotal international conference that took place in Johannesburg, South Africa, from August 26 to September 4, 2002. This summit was convened by the United Nations to address pressing global sustainability issues and marked the tenth anniversary of the landmark Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro.

Background

In 1992, the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro laid down the foundational principles of sustainable development and introduced critical instruments such as Agenda 21 and the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. Recognizing the importance of these frameworks, the WSSD was convened to assess progress and reinforce commitments towards sustainable development. The summit was informally dubbed "Rio +10" to signify its role as a follow-up to the 1992 conference.

Objectives

The primary objectives of the WSSD were:

To assess achievements and setbacks in the implementation of sustainable development initiatives since the 1992 Earth Summit.
To foster new partnerships between governments, civil society, and the private sector.
To address new challenges in the realm of sustainable development, including poverty eradication, access to clean water, and sustainable energy.

Key Outcomes

The WSSD did not result in new international treaties but was instrumental in launching over 300 "Type II" partnerships, which are voluntary, multi-stakeholder initiatives aimed at supporting the realization of the Millennium Development Goals. These partnerships were designed as innovative approaches to tackle global challenges collaboratively.

One significant outcome of the summit was the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development, which reasserted global commitment to sustainable development and outlined a comprehensive Plan of Implementation.

Notable Participants

The summit brought together leaders and representatives of governments, non-governmental organizations, businesses, and other stakeholders. Notable figures included the then United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and former South African President Nelson Mandela.

Legacy

The WSSD played a crucial role in shaping global sustainable development strategies and paved the way for subsequent international efforts, including the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in 2012, also known as Rio+20.

The summit's emphasis on partnerships influenced the creation of the Sustainable Development Goals, adopted in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.