The Rio+20 document clarifies that the eradication of poverty is the top priority and shifting to green economy can't put extra financial burden on the emerging and developing economies, a point pushed very hard by the Indian delegation here working closely with China and summit host Brazil.

"It's a very balanced document. Now the challenge is for governments, private sector and civil society to convert this draft into actionable policies," R K Pachauri, chief of the Inter-parliamentary Panel on Climate Change, told TOI at the summit venue. "The Brazilians prepared a good draft that takes care of concerns of the developing countries."

For the host country, it was a day of triumph. On the final day of the three-day summit, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff made the last address at the summit, saying the final document is just the beginning of a transformation process. She also welcomed the participation of civil society at the conference. "We celebrate here the conference which has been more participatory in our history," Rousseff said, adding that there were more than a 1000 parallel events in the city during the conference and all people were able to express their views freely.

Earlier, in an important development the United Nations obtained pledges worth $513 billion from governments, private companies and multilateral agencies for projects aimed at reducing the strain on the planet's resources. "The 692 individual commitments from governments are for projects that cut fossil fuel use, boost renewable energy, conserve water and alleviate poverty," said Sha Zukang, secretary-general of Rio+20, in his address to the media a few hours before the conference closed.

According to UN officials, the voluntary pledges are the most important legacy of the Rio+20 meeting, marking two decades since the first Earth Summit. They may accomplish more than the official agreement from the meeting, Sha said. "Highest expectations are on governments, but they cannot get the job done alone," the Chinese diplomat said as three days of discussions concluded. "It is about concrete action."

In addition to these pledges, major development banks have committed $175 billion to the development of sustainable transport systems and private-sector companies have committed $50 billion to a UN-backed programme to provide energy to the world's entire population by 2030.

Though the European countries have been critical of the document for not pushing hard enough on the issue of green economy, the Rio+20 declaration reflects the concerns of countries like India as it clearly states that developing countries need additional resources for sustainable development and that "unwarranted conditionalities on Official Development Assistance (ODA) and finance should be avoided".

"We reaffirm that developing countries need additional resources for sustainable development," says the 55-page declaration that was adopted on early Saturday morning.

Earlier, in another important development that may have major impact for India's right to food plans, UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon asked the world leaders, business and civil society to step up efforts to end hunger. The UN chief made this appeal while launching a Zero Hunger Challenge at Rio+20 on Friday. Saying that an estimated 1 billion people still go to bed hungry each day, Ban said food security was a top priority.

"We can't rest while so many people are hungry in the world while there's enough food for all," said Ban. "Somehow this food is not distributed equally or fairly. Some people are living in prosperity while marginalised people are hungry. We know this has to change."

The top UN official praised the efforts of the Brazilian government to reduce poverty and hunger through its Fome Zero programme, launched in 2004. The initiative has lifted millions of people out of poverty by supporting local farmers and community kitchens and introducing social welfare policies such as the Bolsa Familia scheme.