|
Earth Summit > Background
> Agenda 21
Agenda 21
At the 1992 Earth Summit, the world committed itself
to act in two key ways. The first was through a series of environmental
agreements; the second was through Agenda 21, a plan for increased
assistance to the developing world.
The world's governments also committed themselves
to increasing foreign aid and addressing the problem of ballooning
debt in the developing world.
At Rio, it was estimated that $US125 billion would
be required each year in aid, but very little money was actually
committed. Even the modest goal of 0.7 percent of Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) dedicated to foreign aid has not been met.
Only Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway
and Sweden have honoured their commitments to 0.7 percent of GDP
going to foreign aid.
The Worldwatch Institute says that foreign aid
has dropped since 1992, from $US69 billion per year to $US53 billion
per year in 2000. Since Rio, the developing world's debt has increased
by 34 percent.
|
