Anders Wijkman was a bourgeois member of parliament when the model for this year’s UN conference was held in Stockholm 50 years ago. It was the world’s first major international environmental conference and was of great importance for continued environmental cooperation. It also led to the creation of the UN Environment Program UNEP and the establishment of a World Environment Day, on 5 June each year.
– This means a unique opportunity to look back on 50 years of environmental work. How did it go, have we succeeded? Unfortunately, we do not have that, almost all indicators point in the wrong direction.
The Minister does not share the picture
EU Minister Hans Dahlgren (S) was also present at the Stockholm Conference in 1972, then in the role of journalist at SVT’s Aktuellt. Today he is involved in arranging Stockholm 50+.
He also sees the significance of the 1972 meeting, and emphasizes, among other things, the principle that was introduced then; that a state does not have the right to use its resources in such a way that the environment of another state is harmed.
– This principle of consideration that was established then – do-no-harm as it is called – is still very much alive, says Hans Dahlgren.
This year’s conference has several broad goals. To get started with environmental work again after the pandemic, and speed up the climate goals. And also; to coordinate and work to achieve the UN’s sustainability goals by 2030.
Hans Dahlgren does not think that the criticism of vague goals is justified.
But this meeting is between two climate meetings, it may not mean a very sharp resolution. What does it really mean for the environment?
– That the world governments confirm that this is an overall responsibility that everyone has together. There is nothing that we can handle individually, for example, we can not handle the climate issue here in Sweden. That is why it is absolutely necessary to have this international cooperation, and to stick to the commitments that have been made in the past.
Demands more from rich countries
Anders Wijkman thinks that more is needed.
– What is needed above all is a more dynamic relationship with all poor countries. We still have four billion poor people in a world where wealth and income are so high. These countries need help with technology that is different from what we have had, when we have destroyed much of the planet. The technology is there, but money is needed to invest. And that money must come from us.