Question

Consider the following statements about the 1972 Stockholm Conference:

1. It was the first UN conference focused on environmental issues.

2. It led to the formation of the UNEP.

3. It resulted in binding legal treaties on carbon emissions.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 2 and 3 only
• C. 1 and 3 only
• D. All of the above

Answer 1

Answer:

A. 1 and 2 only

• Correct Answer: Option A (1 and 2 only)

• The 1972 Stockholm Conference, officially known as the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, was a landmark event in global environmental policy. Let's analyze each statement:

• It was the first UN conference focused on environmental issues - TRUE. The Stockholm Conference held in June 1972 was indeed the first major international conference dedicated specifically to environmental issues. It marked the beginning of modern international environmental diplomacy and brought global environmental concerns to the international stage.

• It led to the formation of the UNEP - TRUE. One of the most significant outcomes of the Stockholm Conference was the establishment of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which was created to coordinate international environmental activities and assist developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies.

• It resulted in binding legal treaties on carbon emissions - FALSE. The Stockholm Conference did not result in binding legal treaties specifically addressing carbon emissions. It produced the Stockholm Declaration, which contained 26 principles concerning the environment and development, and an Action Plan with 109 recommendations, but these were not legally binding treaties on carbon emissions. Binding international agreements on carbon emissions came much later, notably with the Kyoto Protocol (1997) and the Paris Agreement (2015).