Twenty years ago, IUCN was instrumental in voicing the needs for conservation and in drafting the conventions resulting from the 1992 Earth Summit. IUCN was central in drafting the World Conservation Strategy in 1980 which then served as the basis for subsequent international environmental policy. Following on the strategy, IUCN, along with WWF and UNEP authored “Caring for the Earth: A Strategy for Sustainable Living” in preparation for the Earth Summit in 1992.
The Union was also active in influencing the World Summit on Sustainable Development, ten years later, in Johannesburg. It elaborated and implemented the “Greening the Summit” Initiative in collaboration with UNDP, the GEF as well as other partners. It was also active in promoting the Type 2 partnerships, and organized several events including the IUCN business day, all held at the very visible IUCN Centre near the Summit venue. The Union was active in influencing governments on specific themes to be reflected in the Johannesburg Programme of Implementation and the Declaration on Sustainable Development.