General Assembly - UN Documents

A/CONF.216/PC/2
VI. The way forward
97. Sustainable development is a bridge between different goals, countries,
stakeholder groups, knowledge systems and generations. It promises not only
harmonization between the economic, social and environmental dimensions, but
also a reasoned basis for international cooperation, a mechanism to engage the
private sector and civil society, a means of placing scientific knowledge in the hands
of policymakers and local communities, and a way of expressing our responsibility
towards future generations. At its advent, it created tremendous excitement and
mobilized the energies of a vast range of stakeholders. The present report offers a
balanced assessment of the history since 1992, which provides important pointers to
issues that may need attention. Today, as the challenges have become more urgent,
the world is again in need of the “spirit of Rio”. The United Nations Conference on
Sustainable Development offers a chance to revive the enthusiasm and the energy by
showing how to build upon the foundation that was laid in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.
30
10-30256