7 Jun 2012, EFI news - The world continues to speed down an unsustainable path despite over 500 internationally agreed goals and objectives to support the sustainable management of the environment and improve human wellbeing, according to a new and wide-ranging assessment coordinated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The fifth edition of the Global Environmental Outlook (GEO-5), launched on the eve of the Rio+20 Summit, assessed 90 of the most-important environmental goals and objectives and found that significant progress had only been made in four. These are eliminating the production and use of substances that deplete the ozone layer, removal of lead from fuel, increasing access to improved water supplies, and boosting research to reduce pollution of the marine environment. With regard to forest issues, the report states that there has been slight slowing of deforestation but the rate is still high. The deforestation is concentrated in the tropics while temperate areas are experiencing some forest regrowth.