the concept of sustainable development came into existence marked by the iucn publishing its world conservation strategy referencing sustainable development as a priority in 1973.
when did the concept of sustainable development come into existence marked by the iucn publishing its world conservation strategy referencing sustainable development as a priority?
1973
in 1975 iucn started work on the "world conservation strategy". the drafting process – and the discussions with the un agencies involved – led to an evolution in thinking within iucn and growing acceptance of the fact that conservation of nature by banning human presence no longer worked. (the debate about the balance between strict nature protection and conservation through sustainable development would, however, continue within iucn well into the 1990s.) the "world conservation strategy" was launched in 35 countries simultaneously on 5 march 1980. it set out fundamental principles and objectives for conservation worldwide, and identified priorities for national and international action. it is considered one of the most influential documents in 20th century nature conservation and one of the first official documents to introduce the concept of sustainable development. the strategy was followed in 1982 by the "world charter for nature", which was adopted by the united nations general assembly, after preparation by iucn.
international union for conservation of nature
in 1991, iucn (together with unep and wwf) published "caring for the earth", a successor to the world conservation strategy. it was published in the run-up to the earth summit, the 1992 un conference on environment and development in rio de janeiro. the "world conservation strategy", "caring for the earth", and the "global diversity strategy" (also published in 1992 by unep, iucn, and wri) are considered hugely influential in shaping the global environmental agenda. they lay the foundations for the convention on biological diversity, a new global treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity developed by unep with support from iucn, the framework convention on climate change and agenda 21.
international union for conservation of nature