The World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg has just come to an end with most world leaders commiting themselves to participate in a major global undertaking to improve living standards while protecting the environment. However, various differences between the major players have not allowed all the important targets to be met, let alone set, and a great deal of work needs to be done. Fortunately, civil society, including our Maltese one, can take heart from some of the positive outcomes of the World Summit and continue doing its bit to live and assist sustainable development world-wide.