For many of those who were lucky enough to be there, the first United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, held in Stockholm, Sweden, from 5-16 June 1972 was truly memorable. Stockholm in high summer is a magical place, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It was a wonderfully appropriate setting for what would turn out to be a transforming event not just for the United Nations and its system of agencies, but for the world as a whole.