The Johannesburg summit reached some major milestones and hit some hold-ups on the journey to sustainable development:
Water and sanitation
Agreement to halve the number of people in the world without access to water and sanitation by 2015. Failure to constrain the privatisation of water.
Biodiversity
Aim to reduce biodiversity loss significantly by 2010. Previous tough language in the clause was substantially weakened.
Chemicals
Agreement to control chemicals that are harmful to humans and the environment by 2020. A significant step, though some NGOs pushed for the deadline to be 2010.
During the summit, the South African Parliament ratified two international conventions restricting the use of toxic chemicals.
Global warming
China, Russia and Canada undertook to ratify the Kyoto protocol on greenhouse gases, which means the treaty is on course to become law by early next year. Australia has undertaken to reconsider its refusal to sign — leaving only the United States refusing to sign.
Poverty
Aim to halve the 1,2-billion people who live on less than $1 a day adopted.
Critics expect results will be slow to emerge.
Marine resources
Commitment to restore fish stocks by 2015 and to extend biodiversity protection to the high seas.
Sustainable consumption
Agreement to develop an action programme in 10 years, publish indicators to measure progress, and give shoppers informative eco-labels. This was seen as the Holy Grail of the summit, and green groups were delighted to see the US defeated.