United Nations Commission on sustainable development was established by UN General Assembly in December, 1982 to ensure effective follow-up of United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) held in Rio

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June 2012 was one of the biggest international gatherings of 2012, and the largest event in the history of the United Nations. It presented an opportunity to re-direct and re-energise political commitment to the three dimensions of sustainable development: economic growth, social improvement and environmental protection. The outcome document 'The Future We Want', mandated the creation of an inter-governmental Open Working Group that will submit a report to the UN General Assembly containing a proposal for consideration and appropriate action to be taken for sustainable development goals. Following are some commitments adopted under Rio+20 outcome document: Poverty Eradication: poverty eradication should be given highest priority within UN agenda. Food Security and Nutrition and Sustainable Agriculture: commitment of the right of everyone to have access to safe, sufficient and nutritious food, importance of sustainable agriculture and recognition to the importance of addressing the access of rural communities to credit, financial services, markets, land tenure, health care and social services. Energy: critical role of energy in sustainable development - access to sustainable modern energy contributes to poverty eradication, saves lives and improves health, essential to social inclusion and gender equality. Sustainable transport: importance of environmentally sound, safe and affordable transportation as a means to improve social equity and health. Support development of sustainable transport systems, notably public mass transportation systems. Sustainable cities: well planned and integrated cities can be economically, socially and environmentally sustainable - including housing, safe and healthy living environment for all, particularly the vulnerable; affordable and affordable and sustainable transport and energy, promotion and protection of safe and green urban spaces, water and sanitation, air quality, decent jobs and improved urban planning and slum upgrading. Recognize importance of mixed-use planning and non-motorized mobility - including by promoting pedestrian and cycling infrastructures. Health and population: Health is a precondition for an outcome of and an indicator of all three dimensions of sustainable development. Sustainable development cannot be achieved in the presence of high burden on communicable/non communicable diseases. Commit to strengthen health systems toward the provision of equitable, universal coverage and promote affordable access to prevention, treatment, care and support related to NCDs, especially cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes. Commit to establish or strengthen multi-sectoral national policies for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases. Reaffirm the full right to use TRIPS provisions and Doha Declaration on TRIPs to promote access to medicines for all and encourage development assistance in this regard. Call to strengthen health systems through increased financing and the recruitment/training/retention of health workers, improved distribution and access to medicines and improving health infrastructure. Commit and consider population trends in development policy, emphasize need for universal access to reproductive health, including family planning and protection of human rights in this context. Commit to reducing maternal and child mortality, gender equality and protection of human rights on matters related to sexuality, and work to ensure health systems, address sexual and reproductive health. Promoting full and productive employment, decent work for all, and social protections: need to provide productive employment and decent work for all. Recognize importance of job creation. Workers should have access to education, skills and healthcare, including occupational health and safety.