Stockholm+Conference

AKA the Stockholm Declaration or First Earth Summit (Adopted June 16, 1972)

 * Why was the Stockholm Declaration so important?[[image:41DUTwYYhGL._SL500_AA300_.jpg align="left"]] **

The Stockholm Declaration was the first document to be made in **// international //** environmental law. In it there were 26 principles and an action plan agreed upon by 113 countries to improve living standards and environmental conditions.

The meeting was called to order for several reasons. A major reason was space travel. With the new information coming from photos from space, people for the first time saw the **earth wasn’t infinite**, and it was actually pretty tiny. The widely distributed books: //Limits to Growth// and //Blueprint for Survival// drew further attention to that fact. They discussed the pressure on Earth’s natural resources due to humans. And another major reason was the **build up of nuclear weapons and chemicals**. The United Nations began to see that the chemicals had a very bad impact and held a meeting.
 * Why was it necessary? **


 * What does it do? **

The Declaration highlighted problems with pollution, destruction of resources, endangerment of species, and overall damage to the environment. It asked all countries to agree to **improve living standards** of the people, and **live sustainably**. It also guaranteed the **right to a healthy environment** for present and future generations. The goal of this Declaration is to preserve and improve the environment internationally.


 * How it’s changed the world ** :[[image:Earth-Australia-IndianOcean-Antarctica-India.jpg width="165" height="165" align="right"]]

The Declaration **spiked interest and research around the world**, which helped for **understanding of global warming** and other environmental problems. It’s also led to the creation of many programs and making of other laws like the Kyoto Protocol. It also established a **World Environment Day** (June 5) for all countries. The Declaration also included that there would be **nuclear weapons tests** to minimize the use of weapons and chemicals. This will reduce the amount of radiation.


 * Keeping it going: **

With the establishment of the Declaration the United Nations also created a branch to enforce and regulate the document. It’s called UNEP or the **United Nations Environmental Program**.

Works Cited:
 * ====="Environmental movement - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. N.p., 10 Feb. 2011. Web. 14 Feb. 2011. . =====


 * ====="Key events in the evolution of sustainability." //CSR, sustainability & governance consultants//. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2011. . =====


 * "Stockholm 1972 - Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment - United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)." //United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) - Home page//. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2011. .
 * ====="United Nations Conference on the Human Environment - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. N.p., 6 Jan. 2011. Web. 14 Feb. 2011. . =====
 * ====="United Nations Conference on the Human Environment - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. N.p., 6 Jan. 2011. Web. 14 Feb. 2011. . =====