Commission on Sustainable Development

Commission on Sustainable Development
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Formation	1992
Type	Intergovernmental organization
Headquarters	New York City, United States
Membership	N/A
Language	N/A
Leader title	N/A
Leader name	N/A
Website	N/A

The Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) was established in December 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly to ensure effective follow-up of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the Earth Summit. The CSD was tasked with monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the Agenda 21 and other Earth Summit agreements.

History

The Commission on Sustainable Development was created in response to the growing global awareness of the need for sustainable development practices. The Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, was a landmark event that brought together world leaders to discuss and commit to sustainable development goals. Following the summit, the CSD was established to provide a high-level forum for discussing sustainable development issues and to promote the integration of environmental, social, and economic policies.

Mandate and Functions

The CSD's primary mandate was to review progress at the international, regional, and national levels in the implementation of sustainable development commitments. It served as a platform for sharing best practices and lessons learned, and for promoting dialogue and partnerships among governments, major groups, and other stakeholders.

The Commission also played a crucial role in preparing for and following up on major international conferences related to sustainable development, such as the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) held in Johannesburg in 2002.

Structure

The CSD was composed of 53 member states elected by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for terms of office of three years. The membership was based on equitable geographical distribution, with seats allocated to African States, Asian States, Eastern European States, Latin American and Caribbean States, and Western European and other States.

Achievements

Throughout its existence, the CSD facilitated numerous initiatives and dialogues that contributed to advancing sustainable development globally. It helped to raise awareness of critical issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Transition to the High-level Political Forum

In 2013, the functions of the CSD were transferred to the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), which was established to provide political leadership, guidance, and recommendations for sustainable development. The HLPF meets annually under the auspices of ECOSOC and every four years at the level of Heads of State and Government under the auspices of the General Assembly.

Also see

• Agenda 21
• United Nations Conference on Environment and Development
• World Summit on Sustainable Development
• High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development
• Sustainable Development Goals