Issues related to nature preservation began to be effectively discussed in the 70s. Thus, two years later (1972) the United Nations Conference on Man and the Environment took place in the Swedish capital, Stockholm. In it, contradictions linked to development and the environment emerged. That same year, a group of entrepreneurs applied to the renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA), a study on the conditions of nature, which was called “development zero".
The study found that there were a series of environmental impacts of an international scope, caused by the established capitalist development model. In it, the total stagnation of economic growth was proposed as a way to prevent environmental tragedies of great proportions in the world. A solution that did not please the underdeveloped countries that aspired to obtain development in order to guarantee a better quality of life for their populations.
Due to this impasse, the conference was marked by the dispute of “zero development”, defended by developed countries; and the “development at any cost”, defended by underdeveloped nations.
At the Stockholm conference, topics such as acid rain and the control of air pollution were addressed. The discussions were attended by 113 countries and over 400 governmental and non-governmental institutions.
After long speeches and research presentations, an important document related to environmental issues, preservation and use of natural resources was created, in a global sphere. This conference was very important, as for the first time the world turned to the volume of the absolute global population, atmospheric pollution and the intense exploitation of natural resources.
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By Eduardo de Freitas
Graduated in Geography
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
FREITAS, Eduardo de. "Stockholm-72"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/geografia/estocolmo-72.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.
