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the first time. In the following periods, the principle would often be discussed
in United Nations conferences and the principle would be included in almost
every study related to environmental law.

1.2.2. The Primary Documents on Sustainable Development
a. Stockholm Declaration
The most significant organisation that allowed the conservation of
environment being addressed in the international level, is probably the
Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment, widely known as the
Stockholm Conference which was realised between June 5, 1972 and June
16, 1972, which is also celebrated today as “World Environment Day” (Güneş
2021:332; Yıldırım and Nuri 2018:7). In 1972, the Club of Rome, consisting of a
group of scientists led by Donald and Donella Meadows at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT), discussed the issue of development in a wide
scope by studying the relationships between limited resource supply, economy
and population growth by means of a computer simulation. Following that,
encouraged by the publication of Limits to Growth report (Gedik 2020:199)
and the Decree No. 2581 of the UN General Assembly; Stockholm Declaration
was prepared at the end of the Stockholm Conference which was held with the
participation of many environmental organizations and 113 states including
Türkiye, in addition to the action plan which included the resolution on
institutional and financial regulations and 109 recommendations (Skalar 2015:21).
The Stockholm Declaration and Action Plan which was emerged as a result of
this conference and considered as a milestone in the formation of international
environmental law, emphasized the destruction of the environment as a result
of human activities, the problems of economic development, the need for
international cooperation to protect the environment and the right of people
to live in a healthy and clean environment (Güneş 2021:332.). Moreover; 21st
principle among 26 principles specified in the Stockholm Declaration, which is
quite remarkable due to its content, takes into account the right of each state
to benefit from resources within its borders, and indicates each state’s global
responsibility to protect natural resources and the way to manage natural
resources in cross-border activities (Skalar 2015:22-23).
Although the concept of sustainable development was not used and did not
form the main theme of the Stockholm Conference, foundation of sustainable
development was established with the expressions in the preamble of
Stockholm Declaration that “The protection and improvement of the human
environment is a major issue which affects the well-being of peoples and
economic development throughout the world” and “Man has constantly to
sum up experience and go on discovering, inventing, creating and advancing.
In our time, man’s capability to transform his surroundings, if used wisely, can

42 Journal of Environment, Urbanization and Climate