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C O V E Rmate talks, comprising the Kyoto Protocoland the Bali Road Map (a mandateadopted in 2007 at the annualclimate talks in Bali, Indonesia).The Kyoto Protocol was savedfrom extinction by a decision bymainly European countries (the EUand Norway) to enter a second periodof emissions reduction commitmentsto start in 2013. The first commitmentperiod of cuts under the Protocol endsin December 2012.However, the Kyoto Protocolimplementation has been significantlyand perhaps fatally weakened. Japan,Russia and Canada have pulled outof a second commitment period, whileAustralia and New Zealand notifiedthat they may or may not join in.With only the European countriesleft, the Kyoto Protocol may live ontill 2017 or 2020, but by then it mayalready be overshadowed by the newdeal.The sketchy terms of reference ofthis new deal were remarkable forbeing so one-sided in favour of developedcountries, as the equity principlewas conspicuously absent, andthe implied principle was that allcountries had to take part, and takeon a high ambition for total emissioncuts.The Durban conference also finaliseddetails for a new Green ClimateFund, which will start operatingwith a Board and interim secretariatby early 2012.At times the Durban talks lookedas if they were going off-track, withdisagreements on many issues. Evenat the last session after the two-weektalks were extended by another day,there were grumbles about how theSouth Africans, who chaired and managedthe meeting, were trying to pushthrough resolutions and texts withoutallowing for changes.In the end, Durban may be rememberedfor phasing out climatechange frameworks based on equityand launching talks for a new treatywhose contours are yet to be defined.ÿuMartin Khor is Executive Director of the SouthCentre, an intergovernmental policy think-tank ofdeveloping countries, and former Director of theThird World Network.By Chee Yoke LingIn 1992 the historic UN Conference onEnvironment and Development (UNCED,popularly known as the Earth Summit) held inRio de Janeiro, Brazil witnessed unprecedentedpolitical will and commitment amonggovernments to make a paradigm shift tosustainable development. Acknowledging the twincrises of poverty and the environment UNCEDconcluded that the prevailing economic modelwas unsustainable. The Rio Declaration onEnvironment and Development that emerged fromintense discussion, debate and negotiations wasthus the framework of principles adopted byHeads of States and Governments for thatparadigm shift.Almost 20 years later, as governments, civilsociety organisations and international institutionsprepare for the UN Conference on Sustainable ISBN: 978-967-5412-48-6 72 ppDevelopment in June 2012 to be held again in Rio,there is growing questioning by the North, and even rejection by some governments ofthe North, of some of the most fundamental of the Rio principles. The spirit of Rio1992 was generally one of multilateralism, cooperation and solidarity based on thefundamental principle of common but differentiated responsibilities even though theNorth had shown reluctance in crucial issues such as reforms in global economic systemsand taking the lead in changing consumption and production patterns. Today, that spiritis ebbing as competition and inequities dominate international relations. The objectivesof Rio+20 is “to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development”.We hope that this booklet that provides a summary of the negotiation history of the RioDeclaration can contribute to that objective.Price PostageMalaysia RM9.00 RM1.00Third World countries US$6.00 US$2.00 (air); US$1.00 (sea)Other foreign countries US$8.00 US$2.00 (air); US$1.00 (sea)Orders from Malaysia – please pay by credit card/crossed cheque or postal order.Orders from Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, UK,USA – please pay by credit card/cheque/bank draft/international money order in owncurrency, US$ or Euro.If paying in own currency or Euro, please calculate equivalent ofUS$ rate. If paying in US$, please ensure that the agent bank is located in the USA.Rest of the world – please pay by credit card/cheque/bank draft/international moneyorder in US$ or Euro. If paying in Euro, please calculate equivalent of US$ rate. Ifpaying in US$, please ensure that the agent bank is located in the USA.All payments should be made in favour of: THIRD WORLD NETWORK BHD.,131 Jalan Macalister, 10400 Penang, Malaysia. Tel: 60-4-2266728/2266159;Fax: 60-4-2264505; Email: twnet@po.jaring.my; Website: www.twnside.org.sgI would like to order .............. copy/copies of The Rio Declaration on Environmentand Development: An Assessment.I enclose the amount of .......................... by cheque/bank draft/IMO.Please charge the amount of US$/Euro/RM ..................... to my credit card:American Express Visa MastercardA/c No.: Expiry date:Signature:Name:Address:The Rio Declaration on Environment andDevelopment: An AssessmentTHIRD WORLD RESURGENCE No 255/25615