Rio Declaration On Environment and Development: An Assessment

This was essentially from GA Resolution 44/228. The last phrase
“cannot be considered in isolation from it” was resisted by the North
on the ground that environmental concerns will be made subject to
developmental priorities. The G77 and China position was that in
taking steps to protect the environment, the development issue had
to be considered at the same time.
Alternative language from the various Northern groups centred
around the integration of environment and development. Since the
G77 proposal was in essence the same, the objection of the North was
not sustained.
Principle 5
All States and all people shall cooperate in the essential task of
eradicating poverty as an indispensable requirement for sustainable
development, in order to decrease the disparities in standards of
living and better meet the needs of the majority of the people of
the world.
Principle 5 originally stated that the special needs and situation
of developing countries, their right to achieve their full economic
potential and the eradication of poverty shall be fully taken into
account in any international action on environment and development.
Canada, Japan, Russia and the US wanted this to be deleted. Some of
them argued that it was not global enough. The East European States
and Russia wanted to include the economies in transition. The US
proposed that States should consider the special situation and needs
of developing countries in achieving sustainable development and
technological and financial assistance should be provided by States
with adequate means, as may be appropriate. The EC put forward
a different principle covering the combating of poverty, elimination
or avoidance of unsustainable production and consumption
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