Background of the Stockholm Conference 1972

The Background of the Stockholm Conference 1972

The need for environmental protection first appeared at local and national levels where the effects of environmental deterioration were directly felt.

}Environmental protection had become a significant public and political issue in nearly all developed states.

◦Canada,

◦ Sweden,

◦Japan,

◦Great Britain

◦United States of America.

}More emphasis  on environmental protection by developed nations gave rise to the suspicion that:

◦ the environmental movement could be a new and concealed form of neo-imperialism and

◦ the developed countries of the world wished to keep the developing countries

–as a subservient supplies of low priced raw materials and

–consumer of industrial output of the developed countries.

}Environmental concerns were regarded as Western luxuries by developing countries.

}According to India’s PM, Indira Ghandi ‘Poverty is the worst form of pollution,’.

}‘We hold that of all things in the world, people are the most precious,’ said Tang Ke, leader of the Chinese delegation to the Stockholm conference.

}The official initiative for the Stockholm conference came from the Sweddish representative to the UN.

}It was considered by ECOSOC on July 30, 1968.

}which was followed by the establishment of a Preparatory Committee (PREPCOM) for Conference consisting of members from 21 countries under the guidance of Maurice Strong (Secretary-General of the Conference).

} The PREPCOM met four times to finalize the arrangements for the Conference. 

}The U N Conference on Human Environment for the Preservation and Enhancement of its quality met at Stockholm on June 6-16, 1972.