"The 1992 and 2002 conferences were held in a context of rising public and media pressures to address a list of well-documented social, economic and environmental problems. On paper, at least, their outcomes were comprehensive and compelling. Rio's agenda 21 and Johannesburg's plan of implementation offered a clear (if dauntingly long) list of challenges and responses. The problem was, however, that few of the political commitments made have been implemented." (Quoted from article)