From Rio to Rio via Kyoto and Copenhagen
Contents
1.Introduction
The utilization of energy sources has already a long history in the world. When James Watt improved the steam engine, the first industrial revolution began in Great Britain, which meant that the development of human society entered into a period of fossil fuel. However, with the advent of the internal combustion engine, machines began to use petroleum and gas as the main fuel.
As the extensive use of fossil fuels, entire human have been confronted with a series of environmental crisis, such as, acid rain, greenhouse effect, and air pollution, therefore, environmental issues have already become the most pressing task on earth.
In recent years, the system construction has to turn into a popular topic in the field of global environment and sustainable development. United Nations Former Secretary General Kofi Annan at the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) stressed: 'sustainable development, social development and environmental protection at the local, national, regional and global levels are the key of 'Agenda 21 ' ( World Summit on Sustainable Development, 2002).
This essay will review the development process of several international environmental events, including Rio Summit, Kyoto Protocol and Copenhagen Climate Conference. Besides, it will analyze its background, formation, and main actors, focusing on the challenges of the international environmental institutions and reform issues.
2. Development process of international environmental events
According to the current signs and data display, excessive emission of carbon dioxide leads to global greenhouse effect, hence, global warming and climate disasters are becoming increasingly severe threat to human environmental condition, and human have to pay more attention and consider about the climate change issues of the planet.
In 1972，United Nations Conference on the Human Environment Conference was the
1.Introduction
The utilization of energy sources has already a long history in the world. When James Watt improved the steam engine, the first industrial revolution began in Great Britain, which meant that the development of human society entered into a period of fossil fuel. However, with the advent of the internal combustion engine, machines began to use petroleum and gas as the main fuel.
As the extensive use of fossil fuels, entire human have been confronted with a series of environmental crisis, such as, acid rain, greenhouse effect, and air pollution, therefore, environmental issues have already become the most pressing task on earth.
In recent years, the system construction has to turn into a popular topic in the field of global environment and sustainable development. United Nations Former Secretary General Kofi Annan at the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) stressed: 'sustainable development, social development and environmental protection at the local, national, regional and global levels are the key of 'Agenda 21 ' ( World Summit on Sustainable Development, 2002).
This essay will review the development process of several international environmental events, including Rio Summit, Kyoto Protocol and Copenhagen Climate Conference. Besides, it will analyze its background, formation, and main actors, focusing on the challenges of the international environmental institutions and reform issues.
2. Development process of international environmental events
According to the current signs and data display, excessive emission of carbon dioxide leads to global greenhouse effect, hence, global warming and climate disasters are becoming increasingly severe threat to human environmental condition, and human have to pay more attention and consider about the climate change issues of the planet.
In 1972，United Nations Conference on the Human Environment Conference was the
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