The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Coalition, representing $2 trillion in assets, is advocating for a UN convention on corporate sustainability reporting to be adopted at Rio+20. The coalition believes mandatory reporting, or explanation for non-reporting, is needed to transition capital markets to sustainability. However, the speaker is disappointed that draft documents lack commitments and specifics. Explicit commitments and a process for negotiations are needed post-Rio to establish reporting standards that will engage all companies in sustainability.

1. inside:
Earth Debates:
dissecting the green economy
Beyond Rio+20:
sustaining momentum and focusing action
a multi-stakeholder
magazine on
climate change
and sustainable
development
out reach. 03 May 2012
www.stakeholderforum.org/sf/outreach/ pic: IFPRI-IMAGES

2. contents.
1 Earth Debates: dissecting the green economy
2 It’s up to all of us: conclusions from the Closing Earth Debate
3 The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Coalition’s road to Rio
4
International Insights on the Green Economy 3
Feeding the Future: sustainable solutions for food security
5 Tapping into Carbon Money - The Mikoko Pamoja Project; Sustainable cities
Valuation of Ecosystem Services and its role in Green Economy and Society
6 Global Warning Poem
7 Beyond Rio+20: sustaining momentum and focusing action
8 The future we want for people and the planet
4
9 A generation seeks to mold the future
10 Incorporating intergenerational equity within international environmental law
11 Startgame
12 Only One Earth; Missing voices: green business leaders speak out about Rio+20
13 Pledge for a Better Planet; Rio+20 Side Event Calendar
8
14 Reflections on the negotiations
pic: James Cridland
OUTREACH IS PUBLISHED BY: Outreach is a multi-stakeholder publication on OUTREACH EDITORIAL TEAM
climate change and sustainable development. Editorial Advisors Felix Dodds Stakeholder Forum
It is the longest continually produced
stakeholder magazine in the sustainable Farooq Ullah Stakeholder Forum
development arena, published at various Editor Georgie Macdonald Stakeholder Forum
international meetings on the environment; Co-editor Amy Cutter Stakeholder Forum
including the UNCSD meetings (since 1997),
UNEP Governing Council, UNFCCC Conference Editorial Assistant Jack Cornforth Stakeholder Forum
of the Parties (COP) and World Water Week. Print Designer Jessica Wolf Jessica Wolf Design
Published as a daily edition, in both print
and web form, Outreach provides a vehicle Web Designer Thomas Harrisson Stakeholder Forum
for critical analysis on key thematic topics in Web Designer Matthew Reading-Smith Stakeholder Forum
the sustainability arena, as well as a voice
of regional and local governments, women, CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
About Stakeholder Forum indigenous peoples, trade unions, industry, Jim Kitchen Soil Association Krushil Patel Zoological Society of London
youth and NGOs. To fully ensure a multi-
stakeholder perspective, we aim to engage Noel N Mbaru Kenya Willice Okoth
Stakeholder Forum is an international Onyango Kenya Youth Network
organisation working to advance sustainable a wide range of stakeholders for article
Tomas Badura IEEP
development and promote democracy at a contributions and project funding. Martha Shaw 360º media
global level. Our work aims to enhance open, Laura Valente de Sustainability Policies and
If you are interested in contributing Macedo Management Consultant Naomi Kumazawa MGCY
accountable and participatory international
decision-making on sustainable development to Outreach, please contact the team United Nations NGO Liaison
Georgie Macdonald Stakeholder Forum Marion Dahan
(gmacdonald@stakeholderforum.org or Service
through enhancing the involvement
of stakeholders in intergovernmental acutter@stakeholderforum.org) Steve Waygood Aviva Investors Mary Turnipseed University of California
processes. For more information, visit: You can also follow us on Twitter: New Economics Foundation
Nicolò Wojewoda Road to Rio+20 Charlie Young
www.stakeholderforum.org @OutreachLive
Marie Rumsby Royal Society Martin Powell

3. Earth Debates: dissecting the green economy
Georgie Macdonald
Project Officer, Stakeholder Forum
Over the past 4 months, in the heart of London, the Natural (Carbon Disclosure Project). The discussions centred
History Museum, British Council and Stakeholder Forum on the inadequacies of GDP as a measure of societal
have hosted a series of debates to build momentum and progress and how it has led to an obsession with endless,
drive dialogue in the run-up to Rio+20. Last week saw uncontrolled growth, which doesn’t take into account the
the closing event, bringing together conclusions from the condition of its natural capital or the ecosystem services
series. Today’s Outreach will present insights from those provided by the environment. Panellists agreed that other
involved, on what they believe we should prioritise in our metrics and indicators need to supplement GDP and that
transition to a green and fair economy. a system should be developed with the involvement of
accountants who are often left out of the debate. Panellists
Panellists and guests represented a wide range of viewed Rio+20 as an opportunity to advance this agenda.
stakeholder group – including government, business,
academia, and civil society – ensuring a rich dialogue. Green cities in a green economy – how to pioneer a
To add energy to the discussions and maximise audience
participation, the debates were limited to an hour, sustainable transition? (14 March 2012)
replete with questions from observers both online and in With the majority of the world’s population living in
attendance. To reach beyond the studio, the debates were cities, they are fast becoming powerhouses for future
filmed and streamed live on the web, allowing audiences development and growth - planning their future will
around the world to engage in the discussions by Tweeting make or break a green economy. Panellists Prof Thomas
their questions directly to the Chair, Richard Black. Using Elmqvist (Stockholm Resilience Centre), David Stubbs
their extensive international network, the British Council (London 2012), Conor Riffle (Carbon Disclosure Project),
aired the debates in over nine countries, including Brazil, and Paul Toyne (WSP Group) defined green cities as
Germany, India, Sweden and Ethiopia. a ‘better place to live’, looking at the vital role of cities
in leading sustainable development. Individualism was
The four debates, summarised below, focused on core viewed as central to green cities’ success, developing
aspects of a green and fair economy. within a society’s structure and working with the local
habitat. Finally, public-private partnerships were viewed as
Ecosystems Economics – can we put a price on nature? critical in driving innovation and ensuring a city remains
competitive.
(25 January 2012)
Concentrating on the vital role that the environment Food security – how to feed the population in 2050?
plays within our economy, panellists Professor Sir
Robert Watson (Chief Scientific Advisor to Department (11 April 2012)
for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs), Will Is it possible to feed 9 billion people? The resounding
Evison (PricewaterhouseCoopers), Claire Brown (UNEP- answer given by panellists Sue Dibb (Food Ethics Council),
World Conservation Monitoring Centre) and Ian Dickie Barry Gardiner (UK Member of Parliament), John Ingram
(Aldersgate Group), discussed the valuation of nature, and (NERC) and Camilla Toulmin (IIED), was yes. Panellists
the responsibility of developed countries to compensate looked at issues surrounding agricultural practices,
poorer nations for becoming rich through the exploitation education, government policy and waste, and came to a
of the world’s natural capital. Bob Watson concluded, range of conclusions. Barry Gardiner noted that reforming
“the benefits that we get from nature, such as flood the food system is the most complex question of
control, pollination services and clean air have often been administrative justice that the world has faced, and that it
taken for granted because we get them for free...There should be seen as a matter of economics – the allocation
is a clear need to better manage our ecosystems, and of scarce resources. Equity was seen as central, given the
government, the private sector and the public will need to 2 billion without access to enough food and the converse
work together to ensure we protect what nature provides.” problem of obesity faced in developed countries. When
Beyond GDP – how to measure progress? population growth, but one of efficiency and equity .
looking at food scarcity, the problem is therefore not solely
(22 February 2012)
Measuring growth and progress, looking Beyond GDP ,
was tackled by panellists Hannah Ryder (Department for MORE INFO
International Development), Andrew Simms (nef), Emily Videos of all the debates are available at: www.nhm.ac.uk/
Benson (Green Economy Coalition), and Paul Simpson nature-online/biodiversity/earth-debates/watch/index.html
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4. It’s up to all of us:
conclusions from the Closing Earth Debate
We all share the responsibility in reducing our Concluding remarks from partners:
consumption and preserving our environment, but The science research and collections of natural history
leadership by governments and business is urgently museums contribute to the evidence of unprecedented
required, especially in the run-up to Rio+20. This was global environmental change facing both current and future
the overwhelming message communicated by the guests generations. However, scientific knowledge alone is not
at the Closing Earth Debates Dinner last Thursday (26th enough and a key issue is how it leads to new behaviour;
April). Attended by 150 global and local representatives especially when it points to the need for a significant,
from civil society, academia, government and business, mainstream restructuring of how people live. Natural history
the evening pulled together discussions from the previous museums are also trusted cultural organisations which can
four Earth Debates (see page 1). help inspire and influence through dialogue and the Earth
Debates is one example of finding new ways encourage the
Organised by partners the Natural History Museum, necessary debate and hopefully lead to the responses that will
British Council and Stakeholder Forum, the evening was ensure the future health, wealth and wellbeing of our fragile
sponsored by Aviva Investors. Aviva’s Chief Responsible planet, its living systems and humanity.
Investment Officer, Steve Waygood, opened the event
Bob Bloomfield, Head of Innovation and Special Projects,
by introducing their Corporate Sustainability Reporting
Natural History Museum
Coalition. Earth Debates Chair, Richard Black, then gave
an overview of the four debates, highlighting areas for
In the world today we are facing a number of global challenges,
further discussion. Guests were invited to continue
many of them related to sustainable development. In order
discussions on their table, with facilitation by 40 British
to face these challenges, we need to bring different players
Council International Green Ambassadors (see page 4),
together; scientists and entrepreneurs, policy makers and NGOs,
bought over especially for the event. The floor was then
community groups and businesses, because only by working
opened up for debate. Topics covered included:
together, to find integrated, society-relevant solutions, can we
• Consumption vs. population growth, labelled by achieve real progress on the road to good planetary stewardship,
one guest as ‘the elephant in the room’, followed by to the benefit of future generations. Furthermore, this needs to be
an overall agreement that these are both inextricably done on an international level, linking individuals and networks
linked. This discussion was supplemented with who share the same goals, wherever they may be. As the UK's
insights from The Royal Society’s People and the international organisation for education and culture, working in
Planet report; over 110 countries, we are pleased to have been involved in the
Earth Debates initiative and to have brought new voices from
• The urgent need for new prosperity measurements around the world into the discussion.
beyond GDP;
Claire McNulty, Director Science, British Council
• The importance of social science, both in
changing how we value wealth and happiness, and Although the negotiations towards Rio+20 are painfully
our obsession with short-term thinking; slow, there is an emerging consensus around the concept
of establishing Sustainable Development Goals to guide the
• The need to review current regulations, both world’s transition to a fairer, more sustainable economy over
nationally and within the UN, to ensure they are the next 20 years. Coupled with a determination to strengthen
effective, efficient and well understood, both by local, national, international and corporate capacity to deliver
governments and the public; these goals and implement sustainability, it is possible that
Rio+20 could give new momentum to addressing all the
• The lack of pricing structures for both nature and themes taken up in these debates and to advance sustainable
.
carbon, with concerns being raised over the denial development across the world.
of the rights of future generations and the failure
Derek Osborn, President, Stakeholder Forum
of current market structures to fairly price natural
resources; and
The opening remarks from Richard Black & Steve Waygood
• Lastly, there was an ardent call for all citizens to are available at: www.stakeholderforum.org/sf/outreach/index.php/
take responsibility for their environmental footprints riopodcasts
and to live within planetary boundaries; however it
was recognised that there is not enough guidance or
education on how to do this, and government input Sponsored by
here is pivotal.
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RIO+20

5. The Corporate Sustainability Reporting
Steve Waygood
Aviva Investors Coalition’s road to Rio
Rio+20 provides a historic The Coalition has been encouraged by the level of
support for the proposal from many nations and industry
global opportunity to create associations. We were also very pleased to see that much
a more sustainable future. of the proposal was included within the original Zero Draft
Outcome Document for the Rio+20, which was published
We urgently need to address in January. But as the negotiations have progressed, the
the sustainability of our Coalition has become concerned and disappointed with
the latest draft, which is far too passive.
capital markets. This is why,
in September last year, Aviva The latest version of the Outcome Document indicates that
no real action is intended. We need a greater commitment
Investors convened the Corporate
from the Rio agenda in order to move the corporate
Sustainability Reporting sustainability debate forward. We believe that the form
Coalition. of action needs to be much more explicit and state a
commitment to the establishment of a Convention. The
The Coalition now represents investors with assets under ‘comply or explain’ element of the proposal is also missing,
management of approximately US$2 trillion, as well as which is disappointing as we believe it is important for
financial institutions, professional bodies and NGOs. The those companies which opt-out of sustainability reporting,
Corporate Sustainability Reporting Coalition has a shared to explain their rationale to their shareholders, creditors
belief in the need for corporate sustainability reporting, and other stakeholders. And finally, if we are to really
due to the vital role it plays in the move towards more make progress in the transition to more sustainable capital
sustainable capital markets. markets, the follow-up process – post-Rio – should be made
clear. Following Rio, the General Assembly should convene
Investors have an important role to play in this transition to an ad hoc intergovernmental negotiating committee to
a more sustainable future, but in order to do so they need prepare this Convention for signature within two years.
information about the sustainability of the companies
which they own and invest in. Today, while investors have Currently, 75% of companies do not report on sustainability
information about a company’s profits and cash flows, issues at all. An international convention would level the
they don’t know about its sustainability. This is why playing field and engage more companies on the journey
the Coalition has come together to ask for UN Member toward business sustainability. The world now needs to move
States at Rio+20 to develop a Convention requiring all from the innovative and pioneering approach of a minority
listed and large private companies to either integrate of companies, to a true global mainstream practice for all
material sustainability issues within their annual report companies. Without this Convention – at the current rate of
and accounts – or explain why they have not done so. The progress – it will be decades before sustainability reporting
Convention would not dictate the form that the report is common practice across global markets. Unless this is
should take – this would be determined by corporate solved, we, as investors will not be able to play the part
boards using the considerable amount of guidance that which the international community would like us to play.
now exists and deciding for themselves what they believe
to be most appropriate for the firm and its prospects. If Rio+20 is to be successful in moving us towards a
green economy, sustainability reporting will not only have
to be a vital component, but there also has to be a clear
path to achieving this post-Rio.
With nearly a month to go we hope that nations will share
our concerns at the current direction of negotiations, and
seek to strengthen the wording of the Outcomes Document.
We also look forward to our continued engagement with
.
all stakeholders, to ensure that we make the most of the
opportunity that the Rio+20 Summit presents
MORE INFO
More information on the Corporate Sustainability
Reporting Coalition is available at:
www.aviva.com/earthsummit2012
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RIO+20

6. International Insights on the Green Economy
The following four articles are written by the British Council’s
Green Ambassadors who took part in the Closing Earth
Debate Dinner, details of which are on page 2. In order to
inject international perspectives into the Earth Debates,
British Council invited forty delegates from countries around
the world, to take part in an all day workshop on Rio+20 and
the Earth Debate. Participants discussed the topics covered
in the Earth Debates series – adding experiences from their
countries – and prepared short statements, which they
presented to their tables at the dinner in the evening. The
following two pages include short insights from some of
.
the Ambassadors on the aspects of a green economy they
believe to be most important
Feeding the Future:
sustainable solutions for food security
Jim Kitchen
Green Ambassador and Project Manager, Soil Association, Northern Ireland
Organic and other agro-ecological farming systems can cereals would be available for human consumption, enough
help the world feed itself, but in addition to changing our to feed an additional 1.2 billion people in 2050. Replacing
farming systems, we need to eat differently, waste less meat mainly fed on grains, with beef, lamb and mutton from
food and change how we feed our livestock. These are the animals grazing on grass, would not only provide better
main conclusions from a recent Soil Association report, quality meat, but also reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Feeding the Future.
Reducing food waste is also crucial. Globally, around one
Today we produce enough food to satisfy the nutritional third of the food produced for human consumption is either
requirements of every person on the plant. Yet nearly 1 billion lost or wasted. The majority of this wastage occurs in Europe
people are hungry and another billion are malnourished, and North America and food wastage low income countries
most of them living in poor rural areas of the Global South. is mainly caused by financial and technical limitations in
At the same time, at least a billion people are overweight or harvesting, storage, infrastructure and packaging.
obese, mostly resident in richer Western countries.
Scientists have modelled ways to feed 9 billion people
Predictions indicate that by 2050 there will be 9 billion in 2050 on healthy diets, in an environmentally
people in the world. Some have argued that, in order sustainable way. These models have shown that waste
to accommodate for this, we would need to increase reduction could reduce food demand by 25% in richer
our food production by 70%. This argument rests on countries. A further study found that organic agriculture
two assumptions; (i) that there will be no reduction in could feed a world population of 9.2 billion in 2050 if
the consumption patterns of the Global North, (ii) and relatively modest diets were adopted and equality in food
that the current Western diet, involving much higher distribution was assured. These scenarios assume that
quantities of meat and dairy products, will spread to the countries like the UK will both produce food differently
Global South. But there is another way.
A different system
.
and eat differently. It is clear, for both environmental and
health reasons, that diets must change
MORE INFO
Right now, 35–40% of all cereals produced worldwide are Our report 'Feeding the Future' provides a summary of the
fed to livestock, and this could rise to 50% by 2050 if meat latest research on how organic food can feed the world,
consumption continues to rise as predicted. If all cereals while our report 'Telling Porkies' looks in detail at claims
were fed to people rather than animals, we could feed an around the level of future food production needed.
extra 3.5 billion people. If meat and dairy consumption
were held at levels reached in 2000, 400 million tonnes of
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RIO+20

7. Tapping into Carbon Money -
Noel N Mbaru The Mikoko Pamoja Project
Kenya
Over-harvesting of trees and degradation of tropical forest But why mangroves for carbon money
land has been associated with 20% of greenhouse gas Although mangrove forests occupy only 0.1% of the earth’s
(GHG) emissions – the principal cause of observed climate continental surface area, the forests account for 11% of
change impacts in the world, including erratic rainfalls, the total input of terrestrial carbon into the ocean. KMFRI
desertification, floods, and disease outbreaks among scientists working with other partners have recently shown
others. A set of international policies known as Reducing that mangrove forests sequester six times more carbon
Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation than any other productive terrestrial forest. Most of this
(REDD+) is concerned with both reducing emissions and carbon is captured and stored into sediments. However,
enhancing carbon stocks through actions that address loss and transformation of mangrove areas in Kenya is
deforestation, forest degradation, forest conservation affecting local livelihoods through shortage of firewood
and sustainable forest management. Under the REDD+ and building poles, reductions in fisheries, and increased
mechanism, countries that are willing and able to reduce erosion. Market based mechanisms such as REDD+
emissions from deforestation and forest degradation will represent an important new mechanism to conserve and
be compensated for doing so. enhance mangrove forests and promote the livelihood of
the local communities who depend on them.
The Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute
(KMFRI) is implementing an innovative, small-scale carbon Mikoko Pamoja is a Project of the Natural Environment
project aimed at enhancing mangrove forest productivity Resource Council, UK. Other partners in include Kenya
and integrity, by carrying out activities that benefit local Forest Service, Earthwatch Institute, Aviva PLC and
communities and that could be eligible for attracting Universities of Napier, Bangor and Edinburgh in UK.
carbon investment. Dubbed Mikoko Pamoja, the project Mikoko Pamoja is an excellent example of linking research
will initially protect 107 ha of mangrove forest at Gazi with community development; as well as Public-Private
bay and replant 0.4 ha degraded forest per annum, over a
project time-scale of 20 years. Technical Specifications of
the project have been accredited by Plan Vivo Carbon to
parts of the Kenya and WIO .
Partnership. We hope to upscale this project to other
sell 3000t CO2 equivalent/year into the voluntary carbon MORE INFO
market, thus generating approximately US$15,000/yr. Mikoko Pamoja Project
The profits from selling carbon credits through Mikoko Cordinator: Noel N Mbaru
Pamoja are channeled directly to the community in order Mobile No: (+254) 0723131086
to finance further mangrove restoration effort, as well as Email: nmbaru@yahoo.com and nmbaru@kmfri.co.ke
to support community development projects. Project Email: mikokopamoja@gmail.com
Find Us online on www.eafpes.org
Sustainable cities
Laura Valente de Macedo
Sustainability Policies and Management Consultant, Brazil
In 2010, 84% of Brazilians lived in cities. More than 50% capacity of human beings to manage them. Reshaping the
of the Earth’s human population share space, systems, way urban dwellers consume, produce, communicate and
resources and rules – in cities. Consequently, encouraging the travel, must take this into consideration.
debate about this complex ‘human ecosystem’ is essential.
Sustainable cities are not an end, but a vision that guides
The first cities arguably originated about 12,000 years the search for human quality of life in harmony with the
ago. Since then, many characteristics have developed that Planet, now, and for generations to come. However, this
define what we now call cities. Drivers of their development transition has more questions than answers. Where does
include geographical situation, technical innovation and the energy we use come from? Where should our waste
population growth. According to UN estimates, by 2050 go? As well as more complex ones such as: how can we
there will be 6.3 billion people living in cities, about 70%
of the projected world population. Nonetheless, they will
continue to rely on limited natural resources, and the
the debate that will most likely shape our future.
manage a city in order to meet sustainability goals? This is
5
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8. Valuation of Ecosystem Services and its role
Tomas Badura
Policy Analyst, IEEP
in Green Economy and Society
The implementation of the valuation of
ecosystem services (VES) into policy-
Global Warning
making represents a great opportunity Martin Powell
to create a better, more equal and Poet and Earth Debates participant
greener society. Given the vast and
Tsunamis sweeping across the deep seas
often unrecognised reliance of humans Hurricanes howling with deafening breeze
on biodiversity and ecosystems, it Earthquakes shaking our tectonic plates
Volcanoes erupting ‘round Earth as it breaks
is crucial to appreciate the value
they bring to people and the economy. Dinosaurs died and allowed man to stand
Millions of years changed the face of the land
This is reflected in both the CBD
A new world was born and with life it did flourish
Biodiversity Action plan and the Enough natural resources to keep us all nourished
National Biodiversity Action Plan
For a long time the man and the Earth were as one
Strategies, and should be more widely We drank from its rivers, bathed in light from the sun
recognised in Rio+20. The soil was rich, and ideal for seeds
The planet attended to all of our needs
VES has a key role to play in the formation of national
green economy strategies and can help to identify But Earth for its pleasures could not comprehend
the sectors and issues that are crucial for economies, The mentality of its so newly found friend
environments and people, facilitating more transparent We used and consumed without fear, or care
and better informed decisions. We scarred and we butchered a beauty so rare
However, valuation practice should adhere to numerous Poisoning oceans and chopping down trees
principles, including the following: Re-laying landscapes to build as we pleased
Taking for granted our grand evolution
• A variety of valuation methods and approaches Seeds that were planted, replaced by pollution
should be used (including non-economic tools,
participatory approaches and ethical considerations) Have we not wondered why it’s so called “Mother Earth?”
to better evaluate the wide set of values associated Throughout all of history it has given birth!
with ecosystems and biodiversity. This bluish-green ball, gently floating through space
Has potential for life, quite like no other place
• The intrinsic value of nature and inter- and intra-
generational equity needs to be widely recognised.
It gives and it gives and has nothing to ask
• Caveats and assumptions of research should be To treat it with love and respect is our task
openly admitted and the quality of research needs For the moment the future we can’t comprehend
to be the guiding principle. Is the world that we know, may soon come to an end
• The communication of valuation results But there is still some time to undo what’s been done
represents a crucial challenge, as the complexities Requiring our species to all act as one
embodied in the VES and socio-ecological systems, With wind turbines turning and running on air
including environmental thresholds, need to be Solar panels sourcing our suns constant glare
widely understood.
We could cut our emissions and clean up with care
Make it our mission to heal and repair
The establishment of an open scientific platform, acting
Salvage and save for all that its worth
to support interdisciplinary research and the sharing of
Secure our existence as people of Earth
best practices, is important for promoting the wide and
.
transparent implementation of VES into policy-making,
and ultimately the shift towards a green economy
6
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9. Beyond Rio+20: sustaining momentum
Nicolò Wojewoda
Director, Road to Rio+20
and focusing action
Rio+YOU and MyCity+20 are enablers: they inspire and
inform, and get people hooked on this crazy idea that you
don’t need permission from anybody to start changing
the world, and make it more sustainable. But they’re just
the beginning, the first step in what is a locally-based,
globally-coordinated, and action-oriented long-term effort.
At Rio, through a couple of side events and other
conversations, we’ll engage fellow youth and other
stakeholders in dialogue and reflection about our
movement: where do we want to go after Rio? How are we going
to work together? What will we focus our efforts on? We’ll be
inviting key players from the main youth initiatives leading
up to Rio+20 to develop briefing notes on the possible
directions our movement can take after the summit. We’ll
be performing a much needed self-assessment of our
strengths and achievements, but also weaknesses and
shortcomings – and discuss how we can learn from them,
When we started our work, we knew we in order to give a new targeted boost to our post-Rio efforts.
were in for the long run. Rio+20 – as
Are we going to focus our energy on monitoring
much as we would like it to – is not governments’ commitments coming out of the Summit? Or
going to solve all of our problems are we going to lead the way on education and training for
sustainable development? Is our priority going to instead
at once. Whether the agreement is an
be growing a new generation of green entrepreneurs?
ambitious and inspiring one, or one Is youth involvement in shaping the SDGs the best way
of using our resources? And how can we do any of that,
that is watered down by compromise and
together, without going back to our sector-specific corners
special interests, on June 23rd the of climate change, food, employment, gender, and other
world will wake up to a hard reality: issues, that would fail to address the root causes of such
a complex interlinked system?
that a lot of work still needs to be
done, and that everybody has to pitch Last week, at Stockholm+40, Maurice Strong – former
Secretary General of the historical 1972 and 1992
in to do it. summits – said it clearly: “We need a revolution”. In
November of last year, when Liz Thompson, Rio+20
Throughout the last 15 months, our efforts have been Executive Coordinator, met with us at the UN, she was
based on the belief that the UN summit needs to reach out very clear as well, urging young generations to start a
to people everywhere – on the streets, and in living rooms ‘Global Spring’ for our planet.
around the world. Long-term responsibility for future
generations, and a sense of empowerment and urgency to We’re taking the challenges at hand very seriously, and
make a more sustainable future happen, will come about are excited to know that our role, as agents of change
only when people know how unique this UN gathering is, on the front lines of sustainable development, is now
and how fundamental the challenges it addresses are. more widely recognised. Now, we just need to give a more
Ours has always been a work of outreach, advocacy, and focused boost to our efforts, in order to better fulfill that
mobilisation. We have strongly supported and helped role. As Paulo Coelho wrote, “When you want something,
establish, grow action-focused outreach efforts such as
the Rio+YOU campaign and the MyCity+20 series of
events, because they allowed us to go boldly where Rio+20
Let’s keep conspiring at Rio, and beyond .
all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
hadn’t gone before: into the hearts and minds of people MORE INFO
outside of our committed (but often insular) community. Road to Rio+20, is a coalition of more than 90 partner
organisations, weaving together a global youth-led movement
On Earth Day, April 22nd, over 50 cities across the world to realsze the potential of the Earth Summit 2012.
organised Rio+YOU gatherings. The number of MyCity+20
events planned are over a dozen. And thousands of
supporters are engaged with our coalition’s initiatives
online, sharing stories, learning about sustainable
7
development, and forging collaborations.
RIO+20

10. The future we want for people and the planet
Marie Rumsby
Policy Adviser, Royal Society
On 26 April, the Royal Society
published its ‘People and the
planet’ report, the result of a 21
month study, conducted by 23 experts
from around the world, including
representatives from China, Brazil,
India, Malawi and Ethiopia. The report
focuses on the critical links between
population, consumption and the
environment, and what they mean for
sustainable development efforts.
This concept is not a new one; it has been recognised by the Deputy Permanent Representative to the UK Mission to
international community on several occasions. For example, the UN, His Excellency Philip Parham, said: “It is very
Principle 8 of the Rio declaration states: ‘to achieve welcome that the Royal Society has chosen to launch
sustainable development and a higher quality of life for all this report. The report is a very timely and valuable
people, States should reduce and eliminate unsustainable contribution to the Rio+20 process”.
patterns of production and consumption, and promote
appropriate demographic policies’. Yet there is a danger that Dr Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of UNFPA
Rio+20 will not make progress in this area in any way. offered his thoughts on including population in sustainable
development discussions. “People are at the centre of
The chair of the People and the planet report, Nobel sustainable development. It matters how many people we
Laureate Sir John Sulston FRS, spoke at a joint United are, how old we are, and where we live.”
Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Royal Society side-
event at the Rio negotiations in New York. John stressed As the people and the planet report shows, the world
that it is the combination of increasing consumption and is demographically diverse, and different regions of
increasing population, along with changing demographic the world are presented with a range of challenges and
dynamics, which presents us all with challenges: opportunities as their populations grow or decline, as
• Firstly, worldwide there are 1.3 billion people they become more urban or as they age. While policies
living in absolute poverty and this must be are not able to influence all of these trends, they are
addressed. This will mean that these individuals able to improve the wellbeing of individuals, by planning
need to consume more in order to achieve wellbeing. for change and ensuring that good infrastructure and
Global inequality must be reduced. support systems are in place.
• Secondly, in the most developed and emerging The wellbeing of individuals depends on these critical
economies, unsustainable material consumption must
be reduced, to ensure a sustainable future for all. .
population – consumption – environment links that are therefore
an essential component of sustainable development
• Thirdly, global population growth should be
slowed in a voluntary manner. It is estimated that MORE INFO
currently more than 200 million women worldwide The report is available at
have an unmet need for family planning. Meeting www.royalsociety.org/policy/projects/people-planet/report/
their needs will require political and financial
commitment from the international community.
Education and empowerment of women will also
play an important role here.
8
RIO+20

11. A generation seeks to mold the future
Willice Okoth Onyango
National Chairperson, The International Youth Council Kenya Chapter & Co-founder-Kenya Youth Network for Rio+20 and Beyond
‘We do not inherit the earth Prevailing challenges notwithstanding, the majority of
youth are eager to contribute meaningfully to sustainability
from our ancestors, we borrow it – from former communist bloc nations, to the pluralistic
from our children’ goes a Native and capitalist Americas; from the secular, progressive
European Union, to the deeply religious Middle East;
American Proverb. from tribal Africa to the diversity and energy of Asia. The
Rio+20 Summit is an opportunity to improve the wellbeing
As world leaders meet to make decisions on our future
and social equity of people, while reducing environmental
at Rio+20, they must consider that youth have the most
risks with young people at the centre. At The International
important voice, as the inheritors of the impacts of their
Youth Council of Kenya, we have mobilised and provided
decisions. Our involvement, participation and leadership
young people with a platform to substantively participate
are key in the development of climate change mitigation,
in the preparatory process for Rio+20, and to share and
adaptation, and sustainable development pathways. In
identify strategies for tackling sustainable development
light of this, it is critical that we retain the relevance of
challenges in the country. Through the Council, we are
youth voice before, during, and after the Rio+20 Summit.
engendering innovations with regard to the transition
This requires using targeted communication to decision
to a green economy and the institutional framework for
makers, defining terms, synthesising information,
sustainable development, enhancing good governance,
spelling out our vision, assessing the political landscape,
and public education towards achieving green economy.
coordinating with other stakeholders, strategising our
Our ongoing plans for sustainability include: Kenya
demands, and magnifying our voice. Ultimately, we aim to
National Rio+20 Student Essay Contest; recruitment and
increase our efficacy in calling upon the moral conscience
empowerment of youth Green Economy Ambassadors
of world leaders to move to a development module that
in every Kenyan district; awareness building among
safeguards the Earth and its people.
youth on opportunities available under green economy,
involving media in climate change and Rio+20 process;
The transition to a green economy is a staircase to
community clean-up, and a concert during Global Day of
sustainable development. It is critical, and yet pigeonholed
Action under a campaign dubbed ‘Rio+YOUth’, Rio+20
by low political will, weak governance structures, lack of
Kenya National Youth Music Contest.
institutional frameworks for sustainable development,
and corporate social irresponsibility. This has led to
Rio+20 is a once in a generation opportunity that requires all
uncertainty, unpredictability and volatility arising out of
stakeholders to agree on sustainable solutions to build the
inter-related food, fuel, energy, financial, environmental,
future we want. The International Youth Council of Kenya has
and climatic crises adversely exacerbating youth
been actively involved in the Rio+20 preparatory processes,
vulnerability to economic shocks. Our planet’s future
including our role drafting the Nairobi Declaration for
is in peril from unfulfilled promises. The youth witness
Rio+20 together with other youth organisations.
firsthand poverty, climate change, harmful pollution, and
depleting natural resources. We have watched warning
We recently organised The Green Economy Stakeholders
signs become reality. The trends and the science tell us
Workshop. It offered a perfect opportunity to discuss and
that we cannot wait another 20 years, until a Rio+40,
identify Kenya’s priorities and expectations for outcomes
before we act. The future we want starts NOW.
from the Summit, as well as the sustainable development
challenges affecting the country, in our efforts of
pic: PictureNarrative transition to a green economy. The workshop aimed to
identify green economy needs and ways to support the
efforts been made, as well as to share knowledge and
learn how to participate, by facilitating the transition
and addressing these needs. The workshop, made
possible with partnership from the Office of the Prime
Minster and Transparency International Kenya, brought
together young people, government officials, media, and
representatives from CSOs, NGOs, UN Agencies and
development partners to help enrich the Green Economy
discussions and offer concrete recommendations .
9
RIO+20

12. Incorporating intergenerational equity within
international environmental law
Mary Turnipseed
National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, University of California
The notion of intergenerational My coalition of legal scholars and ecologists have
proposed that a widespread but often overlooked
equity springs from the idea that it doctrine called the Public Trust Doctrine (PTD) could
is unfair for the current generation uniquely provide a legal foundation and implementation
framework for achieving intergenerational equity via
to limit the choices of future
enhanced governmental accountability. The PTD offers
generations by destroying natural the simple mandate that governments must manage
resources, and it appears throughout common natural resources in the sole interest of their
citizens and appears in the laws of many States, including
international environmental law. Canada, Eritrea, India, Kenya, Philippines, South Africa,
Since the 1972 Stockholm Declaration, Sri Lanka, Uganda, and the United States. Critically,
the beneficiaries of the ‘Public Trust’ are both current
international environmental and future generations; and governmental trustees may
instruments have repeatedly invoked not discriminate in favor of current generations in their
decision-making regarding the Trust.
the need to protect the interests of
future generations. However, doing so By requiring trustees to treat the interests of current
and future citizens equally in their decision-making
has proven difficult. about common natural resources, the PTD provides a
philosophical framework for structuring the relationship
Consequently, one of the key topics of conversation leading
among generations of citizens, governmental bodies,
up to Rio+20 has been how to secure intergenerational
and natural resources. Additionally, in States with strong
equity in international environmental governance. For
PTDs, the doctrine affords citizens a broad suite of rights,
example, the 2011 Nobel Laureate Symposium on
including the right to access information about the status
Global Sustainability discussed the pressing need for the
of trust resources, and the right to seek judicial relief
international community to explore new institutions to
when trustees alienate their duties.
“address the legitimate interests of future generations.”
Improving accountability of governments to citizens is
Because the PTD encompasses both the imperative
considered a linchpin in this endeavor. The UN Secretary-
of intergenerational equity and the need for greater
General’s High level Panel on Global Sustainability
governmental accountability to achieve it, the PTD could
discussed the intersection of governmental accountability
supply a strong legal basis to the proposed establishment
and intergenerational equity in the achievement of
of an Ombudsperson, or High Commissioner for Future
sustainable development:
Generations. A bold framework rooted in the notion
of ‘Public Trusteeship’ could also contribute key
Sustainable development demands substantially increased
accountability mechanisms to national and international
.
levels of accountability – not only for results in the short
institutions charged with protecting the rights of future
term, but also for the long-term consequences of our
generations to functioning ecosystems
actions, both for today’s generation and for those who will
inherit the world we have left for them.
The Zero Draft of the Outcome Document at Rio+20 MORE INFO
discusses the need to protect the interests of This article was adapted from Turnipseed, M., J. Berkman,
future generations and the possibility of creating M. Blumm, L. Crowder, D. Currie, K. Gjerde, R. Longest, G.
an Ombudsperson or High Commissioner for Future Osherenko, P Parenteau, S. Roady, R. Sagarin, P Sand,
. .
Generations within the United Nations to further this key and M. Wood. 2012. Policy Brief: The Public Trust Doctrine
goal. Previously, Principle 10 of the 1992 Rio Principles and RIO+20.
also emphasised the role of accountability in achieving
sustainable development, by citing the importance of Please direct correspondence to turnipseed@nceas.ucsb.edu.
public participation, information sharing, and access to
judicial remedy. The Zero Draft reaffirmed the necessity
for substantive ‘steps to give further effect to Rio Principle
10 at the global, regional and national level.’
10
RIO+20

13. Startgame
Charlie Young
Global Changemaker and Harvard student currently working for the New Economics Foundation
Rio+20 is just another conference. To the detriment of Wellbeing and progress
2011, 2012 is meant to be the year the world wakes up from It is common knowledge that GDP is de-coupled from life
its dopamine stupor and the tide turns. This year, we are satisfaction. We know human connection makes us happy,
led to expect, will deliver a 'sea-change' in our relationship material possessions are no substitute. We must provide
with the planet. In fact, Shakespeare's original use of the time, community structure and space for that to be
phrase is more applicable to our context - a slight shift, possible. That means modifying and replacing the metrics
or turn, over an extended period of time. And yet what we on which our society measures progress, spreading
need is systemic change beyond incrementalism, to build employment and working hours, re-skilling the population,
institutional capacity, and deconstruct the paranoia that and de-cluttering the mental environment by reducing the
holds back ideas from developing into the messy fabric of amount of advertising in public spaces.
realpolitik and physical reality. As Einstein reminds us, the
physical reality is after all the only truth we can awaken to.
Labour, work and time
Ownership of the workplace must be reconsidered if
The recalcitrant, cantankerous old men whose internal
we are to have a just and democratically sustainable
musings drove the latest economic revolution kicking and
economy. Mondragon and the Evergreen Project
screaming from the estate had no such qualms. Milton
symbolise the pragmatic utopian benefits of co-operative
Friedman, Friedrich Hayek and their gang of Mont Pelerin
culture, while enhancing local participatory democracy. In
scholars wanted their ideas to be globally embraced, but
Rio's home nation alone, 50m peasants, ex-convicts and
had little time for the childish quibbles of democratic
homeless people have formed self-sufficient co-operative
process. Successful movements build their support bases
communities of engineers, professors, activists, judges
and refine their thinking before trumpeting their ideas.
and spiritual leaders. This differential is also heavily
impacted by the pay ratio between rich and poor, one
Any theory and practice of change robust enough to
Plato said should never exceed 6:1 - which is now at least
facilitate systemic transformation, requires a rigorous
500:1 in the financial sector.
intellectual and clear moral framework and narrative.
One built around equity, wellbeing, ecological resilience,
plurality and justice. Buckminster Fuller argued that to Politics and agency
supersede a damaging, redundant system, we must make it While overall trust in institutions remains low around the
obsolete. The revelations of Occupy, the recent proliferation world, surveys also imply that individual agency over local
of new economic think tanks and collaboration between and national decision-making is decreasing. Peoples'
social justice, labour, and environmental organisations are courts, like the crowd-justice that arose from the ashes
in the formative stages of doing just that. of the Rwandan genocide, have much to teach any World
Environmental Court to combat Ecocide. Crowd-sourced
We need a coherent movement with a constituency to scientific knowledge and local decision making, along with
advocate for these ideas. the empowerment of community activists will be key to
the success of this movement.
Finance And the movement is gathering pace. Last month there
The recent financial crisis has proved not only that
was a high level UN summit on happiness and wellbeing,
investment and retail banking need to be separated, but
the UC Berkeley protests and Harvard Economics walk-out
also that the creation of money is central to any discussion
may see the beginnings of an educational revolution in the
of long-term social and environmental sustainability.
US. Governments are now paying more than lip-service to
Local and democratically controlled production of hard
Financial Transaction Taxes, local currencies, measures of
currency should be on the agenda at Rio. So should
wellbeing and Gross National Happiness.
reconnecting currency with physical produce.
As William Gibson famously quipped, “The future is already
Environment here - it’s just not very evenly distributed.”
We are passing 3 of the 7 known planetary boundaries,
markers of ecological resilience. According to the Stockholm Our responsibility is to engage with this, intellectually,
Institute, we are half way across the Rubicon. Our
frontiersman approach to wilderness, and the appropriation
of what is unfettered has driven extractive consumption
emotionally and, most importantly, physically in the
deepest possible sense. We have great work ahead of us .
beyond capacity. We must embrace cradle to cradle
technology, the regionalisation of manufacture, production,
and consumption, and reassert our notions of the commons
in the face of coming ecospherical crises. In order to
understand nature, we need to spend more time in it.
11
RIO+20

14. Only One Earth
Only One Earth, the new book “It is a privilege to review the recent
by Felix Dodds & Michael history of a remarkable initiative that
Strauss with Maurice Strong, changed attitudes and perceptions, and
will be released on 1st June introduced a new approach for determining the
future of Planet Earth. Written by outstanding
2012
players that contributed effectively to the
success of this major effort, it covers in
Forty years after the United detail scientific, diplomatic and strategic
Nations Conference on aspects of a process that peacefully brought
the Human Environment together all nations.”
in Stockholm, the goal of
sustainable development Henrique B. Cavalcanti, Former Federal Minister of
continues via the Rio+20 Environment in Brazil. Former Chairman of the UN
conference in 2012. This book Commission on Sustainable Development
will enable a broad readership
to understand what has been "The authors use their intimate experience of
achieved in the past forty years and what hasn’t. It shows the UN processes to detail the long and sometimes
continuing threat of our present way of living to the planet. painful journey from the Stockholm summit of
It looks to the challenges that we face twenty years from the 1972 towards Rio+20 in 2012. The distillation
original "Earth Summit" in Rio, in particular in the areas of of history would be useful to anyone new
economics and governance and the role of stakeholders. It to the issues. But more important is the
puts forward a set of recommendations that the international dissection of the various forces at play,
including trade, competitive development, aid
community must address now and in the future. It reminds
and environmental awareness. Those forces
us of the planetary boundaries we must all live within and
are still here, and will play a major role in
what needs to be addressed in the next twenty years for shaping the path towards global sustainability
democracy, equity and justice to survive. Finally it proposes - or not - well beyond Rio."
through the survival agenda a bare minimum of what needs
to be done, arguing for a series of absolute minimum policy Richard Black, BBC Environment Correspondent
changes we need to move forward.
Missing voices: green business leaders
Martha Shaw
Earth Advertising - 360º media
speak out about Rio+20
Nearly 100 sustainable business leaders crowded into the of CSRwire, made it clear that these are businesses that
10th floor of the UN Church Center on May 1st, to join have people and planet in their DNA. Around the world are
a conversation with Chantal Line Carpentier, Sustainable examples of mission driven business enterprises solving
Development Officer & Major Groups Program Coordinator many social and environmental problems, including
of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the eradication of poverty. This was compared to the
and other UN representatives. restraints of multinational corporations, who are bound
by law to act in the best interest of shareholder profits.
The topic was ‘Missing Voices’ in the Rio+20 process, in
reference to a sustainable business community comprised Many examples were given of supply chain relationships
of over 200,000 entrepreneurs, among organisations among green businesses and corporations going green,
including American Sustainable Business Council, Social which highlighted that other models do exist for ways
Venture Network, Business Alliance for Local Living the world can do business. Speaking engagements at
Economies (BALLE), B-Corporation, Green America, and Rio+20 were made, and the group learned more about UN
‘buy local’ green business networks. engagement and post Rio+20.
The meeting was hosted by The Temple of Understanding, to David Levine, CEO of the American Sustainable Business
explore ways that founders of socially and environmentally Network agreed to consult with its members about joining
responsible, ‘triple bottom line’ businesses might bring the Business & Industry Major Group. Tess Mateo, an advisor
their voices to Rio+20, and beyond. The definition of a
sustainable business was discussed and Joe Sibilia, CEO People Major Groups would also be good allies .
to DESA also pointed out that the Women, and Indigenous
12
RIO+20

15. Pledge for a Better Planet
Krushil Patel
Youth Coordinator Intern, Zoological Society of London
This June, world leaders, government planet for future generations. In 2002, 188 countries
promised to significantly reduce the rate of biodiversity
officials, the private sector and loss by 2010, but nothing changed. During the Conference
NGOs will gather in Rio de Janeiro for of the Parties UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
held at Nagoya in October 2010, 193 countries promised
Rio+20. This conference will provide
to halt the rate of loss by 2020.
world leaders and decision makers a
platform to discuss urgent issues Pledge for a Better Planet wants to ensure that these
promises are turned into binding commitments and that
facing the world including social governments are held accountable in meeting the goals.
equity, poverty and environmental The Youth Declaration demands a commitment to meet,
by 2020, the key targets agreed in Nagoya, particularly:
protection. In the build up to, and to reduce or stop the loss of biodiversity, to stop the
during, Rio+20, many initiatives extinction of species, to reduce pollution to safe levels, to
restore and safeguard ecosystems and the services they
and projects are being undertaken provide, to manage and harvest fish sustainably without
to involve the participation of damaging the marine environment and ecosystems, to
ensure that terrestrial and inland waters and coastal and
people from around the world. This marine areas are sufficiently protected and managed
contribution is essential to ensure sustainably, and to conserve and restore nature and living
organisms so that they can withstand and help to combat
that the voice of future generations
climate change and desertification.
is heard, and accounted for, in the
decisions that will be taken. Every generation has an equal right to all plants and
animals, and the ecosystems in which they live. It is
Oceans, biodiversity, ecosystems and conservation are key up to each generation to use the world’s species and
areas of discussion during the Rio+20 conference. Oceans ecosystems so as to permit equal use by all generations.
are an essential global resource - which helps to combat The excessive use of the earth’s resources is currently
global warming by absorbing 30% of CO2 produced by unsustainable and is adversely affecting all future life.
humans and supports over three billion people dependent It is the responsibility of this generation to take the
necessary steps to ensure that future generations have
.
on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods.
The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) in partnership the right to a healthy planet. Sign Pledge for a Better
with Client Earth has produced a Youth Declaration called, Planet to shape the future we want
‘Pledge for a Better Planet’, which is looking to gain a
commitment from decision makers to put in place and MORE INFO
implement practices that will ensure the right to a healthy To sign the pledge visit www.zsl.org/betterplanet
Rio+20 Side Event Calendar
Date Time Room Title Organisers
Towards an Inclusive Green Economy - A think exchange at the second
1:15-2:45 7 Federal Ministry for the Environment, Germany
03 May 2012
round of 'informal-informal' negotiations on the zero draft
1:15-2:45 3 Natural Wealth Accounting World Bank
Institute for Plenary Synthesis and Commons Action for
1:15-2:45 3 Creating a sustainable economy: top down and bottom up
04 May 2012
the UN
1:15-2:45 7 UN-Water Report on Water Resources Management for Rio+20 Summit UN WATER, UNEP
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RIO+20

16. Reflections on the negotiations - Wednesday, 2nd May
Marion Dahan Naomi Kumazawa
United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service MGCY/Environmental Partnership Council
The US moved to delete the role of States in the promotion of “Only six more days of negotiations…are we ever going to finish?”
investments in sustainable tourism, as much of this comes from Concerns were heard everywhere today as the negotiations this
the private sector. Despite some concerns, the G77 accepted this week have drastically slowed down, largely due to the Co-Chair's
deletion. The EU insisted on the importance of local communities real-time presentations of new text proposals and attempts to
and indigenous people, while New Zealand called for a mention come to agreements on the most critical issues for Member States.
of cultural tourism in addition to the eco-tourism.
Only six negotiating days... 21,000 children will die each day,
The US, EU, Kazakhstan, and the G77 stated that they were comfortable adding up to 1,008,000 in the 48 days until the Summit, all from
with Russia’s proposal to include road safety as an integrated part preventable causes. In the meantime, we are holding back money
of sustainable development. G77 asked for the deletion of transport and technology for the sake of national interest, in a world that
emissions, which the EU and the US strongly opposed. is divided up by invisible borders, and bracketing the future of
those who may not have a future.
On Harmony with Nature, the Holy See’s proposal to integrate
the language of the Rio Declaration was heavily criticized by I am very grateful for the amount of work Member State delegations,
New Zealand, Australia and Canada, who refused to single out the Co-Chairs and the Secretariat are putting into these two weeks. I
any Rio principle. The US, supported by Switzerland, Australia imagine they have endured almost no sleep or rest.
and Canada, also proposed to define harmony with nature as
a central challenge rather than ‘the most important challenge’. Is this really the best way to achieve the future we want? This is
urgent. Urgent because, once we do finally agree on commitments
On cities, Korea proposed to replace the mention of ‘slum for active participation of civil society – which was negotiated
upgrading’ with ‘urban regeneration’. The G77 seemed sceptical once again today – we are still at a starting point. Speaking as
of this notion, while the EU and the US expressed their will to a member of the Children and Youth Major Group, our sense
retain terms. The EU also called for a commitment to improve the of participation is mostly built through trust in individuals. Our
conservation and valorisation of the natural and cultural heritage, involvement and weekly online meetings across borders are not
the revitalisation of historic districts and the rehabilitation of city based on statistics or the categorisation of people, but through
centres. The US and the G77 asked for clarification on that point. respect of individuals. If a UN High Commissioner for Future
Generations is created, it may need time to function effectively,
The Women Major Group stressed the need to focus on rural but it is a first step towards change.
women, as well as the necessity to strengthen the commitments
on sexual and reproductive rights. Farmers urged governments to What I hope for Rio, is for people to come out of the conference
better recognise decent work for fishers. Indigenous Peoples called happy and confident that we will have a sustainable world for
for a clear recognition of the rights of Mother Earth. Lastly, Local
Authorities expressed their satisfaction about the strong efforts .
future generations. So, please, focus on the priorities of the
world and its people, and not only the countries.
.
related to cities, but asked for a greater recognition of local networks,
regional planning and the need to develop cohesive territories.
Outreach is made possible by the support of