Johannesburg - South Africa announced yesterday that it had been chosen by the United Nations to host the Earth Summit in 2002, 10 years after the first one was held in Rio de Janeiro.
The Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi, said 42,000 delegates were expected to attend the event in Johannesburg, for a 10-year review that will focus on accomplishments since Rio de Janeiro.
"Earth Summit 2002 should review the successes and failures of countries in meeting their commitments made at Rio in a frank manner and reinvigorate the global commitment to sustainable development," said a ministry statement.
"Bringing the Earth Summit to South Africa is a major boost for Africa," Ms Mabudafhasi told a news briefing. She said the summit's location would place the issue of sustainable development firmly on the African agenda.
"It is significant . . . that this should take place in the developing world where the issues of development and the environment are fundamental to the daily struggle against poverty," she said. The summit is a big boost for South Africa's image after it narrowly lost its bid to host the 2006 soccer World Cup finals.