What were the major political outcomes of the Rio Summit in 1992?

The Rio Summit in 1992 led to the creation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

The Rio Summit, also known as the Earth Summit, was a significant event in the history of international environmental politics. It was the largest gathering of world leaders at the time, with representatives from 172 governments, including 108 heads of state. The summit was convened to address urgent problems of environmental protection and socio-economic development. The major political outcomes of the summit were the establishment of two important international environmental agreements: the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

The UNFCCC was a landmark agreement that recognised the existence of human-induced climate change and gave the industrialised countries the major part of responsibility to stop it. The convention set no binding limits on greenhouse gas emissions for individual countries and contained no enforcement mechanisms. Instead, it provided a framework for negotiating specific international treaties (called "protocols") that could set binding limits on greenhouse gases.

The CBD, on the other hand, was a multilateral treaty that aimed to conserve biological diversity, ensure the sustainable use of its components, and promote the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. It was the first global agreement to cover all aspects of biological diversity: genetic resources, species, and ecosystems. It recognised, for the first time, that the conservation of biodiversity is a common concern of humankind.

In addition to these two conventions, the Rio Summit also led to the adoption of Agenda 21, a comprehensive plan of action to be taken globally, nationally and locally by organisations of the United Nations System, governments, and major groups in every area in which humans impact the environment. The summit also endorsed the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, a set of 27 principles intended to guide future sustainable development around the world.

In conclusion, the Rio Summit in 1992 was a pivotal moment in international environmental politics, leading to the creation of key conventions and agreements that continue to shape global environmental policy today.