The Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, or Stockholm Declaration, was adopted June 16, 1972 by the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment at the 21st plenary meeting as the first document in international environmental law to recognize the right to a healthy environment. In the declaration, the nations agreed to accept responsibility for any environmental effects caused by their actions.
Breakdown of Declaration
Within the document, seven proclamations cover the global nature of environmental problems and state that they will require extensive cooperation among nations to resolve. These proclamations conclude that efforts for environmental preservation and improvement will benefit all people and their posterity. The declaration then states twenty-six principles to guide the nations through their responsibilities. The action plan is split into three categories including an environmental assessment called Earthwatch, environmental management, and 109 supporting measures.