Sustainable Tourism Law

FROM TOURISM TO SUSTAINABLE TOURISM 77 which “ sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs ” 82 . Environment and Development: The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development In 1992 the United Nation held in Rio de Janeiro the UN Conference on the Environment and Development (UNCED), known as Earth Summit 83 . 108 heads of State were present and 172 Government were represented. An impressive document was produced, that covers almost all the aspect of “Sustainable Development”, focusing on social and environmental aspects. The Document asserts 27 Principles, and establishes an Agenda. With reference to the compromise between growth and sustainability, Principles 3 and 4 reads that “ the right to development must be fulfilled so as to equitably meet developmental and environmental needs of present and future generations” and that “In order to achieve sustainable development, environmental protection shall constitute an integral part of the development process and cannot be considered in isolation from it ”. Sustainable Development In 1997 was held the Kyoto Conference on climate change 84 , considered by many a relevant result of the 1992 Rio Conference. The Kyoto Conference approved the text of the Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC), that came into effect in 2005. The goal of the Convention – that mainly deals with the limitation of the emissions of greenhouse gases – was and is “ to promote sustainable development ” 85 . 82 It could be interesting to note that, in the Report, Tourism is quoted only two times, the first with reference to Parks, and the second with reference to “more promotion of wildlife-based tourism”. 83 The Rio Declaration starts reaffirming the 1972 Stockholm Declaration, and had the goal of “establishing a new and equitable global partnership” … “which respect the interests of all and protect the integrity of the global environmental and developmental system”. Again, the document does not mention tourism. 84 The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, on 11 December 1997 and entered into force on 16 February 2005. It is an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which commits its Parties by setting internationally binding emission reduction targets. 85 For a comment see Clare BREIDENICH, Daniel MAGRAW, Anne ROWLEY and James W. RUBIN, The Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change , in American Journal of International Law , 1998, page 315, published on line in 2017, at https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/american-journal-of- -international-law/article/div-classtitlethe-kyoto-protocol-to-the-united-nations-framework-convention-on-climate- -changediv/963B9A4FEEB7342563BFE2A5B17AD188. For an historical introduction see Daniel BODANSKY, The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change: a Commentary , in Yale Journal of International Law , 1993, page 452, available at http://digitalcommons.law.yale.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1626&context=yjil.