Show Originally Aired: 9/4/2002 CALL 1 800-423-TALK
The World Summit on Sustainable Development
World Summit on Sustainable Development conference in session, Johannesburg, South Africa Email to friend
The World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa: successor to the oh-so promising "Rio Earth Summit" a decade ago. Back then, world leaders and NGOs alike gathered hopefully to chart water resources, to curb climate change, and to promote environmental responsibility.
This year, the same crowd considered similar issues, but somehow, there's a sour taste here at the close, a sense not much progress is being made, environmentalists railing against U.S. resistance, developed nations prickling at the notion they're not doing enough for the poor.
Summits either hoist or suppress lofty goals, act as either networking heaven or a wasteful junket. Question is, do they work? Johannesburg et al, requisite or ridiculous?
