UPSC Prelims 2015 Q43: Environment & Ecology – International Environmental Treaties & Summits
What is Rio+20 Conference, often mentioned in the news?
- (a) It is the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
- (b) It is a Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organization
- (c) It is a Conference of the Inter - governmental Panel on Climate Change
- (d) It is a Conference of the Member Countries of the Convention on Biological Diversity
Answer: (a) It is the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
Explanation
Rio+20 Conference
Rio+20 was the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, held at Rio de Janeiro in June 2012.
It came 20 years after the Earth Summit of 1992.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Outcome document | 'The Future We Want' |
| Two themes | Green economy; institutional framework for sustainable development |
| Big decision | Start the process to frame the Sustainable Development Goals |
| New body | High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development |
The Rio series:
| Year | Meeting |
|---|---|
| 1992 | Earth Summit, Rio de Janeiro |
| 2002 | World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg (Rio+10) |
| 2012 | Rio+20 |
It was not a meeting of the WTO, the IPCC or the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Answer: (a) United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. Rio+20 is the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (2012).
- (b) Incorrect. It was not a Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organization.
- (c) Incorrect. It was not a conference of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change.
- (d) Incorrect. It was not a meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Key point
Rio+20 (2012): UN Conference on Sustainable Development; outcome 'The Future We Want'; began the SDG process; green economy theme.
Remember
Rio+20 = 2012 = 'The Future We Want'.
Common mistakes
- Reading '+20' as a group of twenty countries.
- Confusing Rio+20 with the 1992 Earth Summit itself.
- Forgetting that the SDG idea was born here.
Exam tip
Rio+20 = Rio 1992 plus 20 years = 2012.
Sources
- United Nations — The Future We Want: Outcome document of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (2012)
- United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs — Rio+20