The issue of economic growth versus environmental conservation has raised concerns since the late sixties. The global environmental debate has often been seen as a debate between the developed and the developing countries. The emphasis of the industrialized world on green issues is seen as undue interference by the developing countries. In the absence of a global authority, an attempt has to be made to coordinate the actions through international agreements, institutions and regimes. The problem is how to restrict industrial production to levels consistent with a sustainable environment. The state actors need to act against their own national interests and adopt farsighted and sustainable economic activity. The major landmarks in the global environmental movement have been the World Commission on Environment and Development, the Rio Conference, the Kyoto Protocol and the Johannesburg Summit. They have addressed the issues of environmental sustainability, conservation of biodiversity, stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations, and adaptation to and mitigation of climate change.