Rio [Earth] Summit + 20

We urgently need governments to seriously fund education for sustainable development (ESD) at local level in order to meet the huge challenges that lie ahead.

The Rio Plus 20 Conference (or Summit) is scheduled to be held on 4-6 June 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 

This is a follow-up, twenty years later, to the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), held in Rio de Janeiro, 3 - 14 June 1992 -informally titled The EARTH Summit. 

While, the 1992 Earth Summit's message — that nothing less than a transformation of our attitudes and behaviour would bring about the necessary changes — was transmitted by almost 10,000 on-site journalists and heard by millions around the world. And while the message reflected the complexity of the problems facing us: that poverty as well as excessive consumption by affluent populations place damaging stress on the environment. And that governments recognized the need to redirect international and national plans and policies to ensure that all economic decisions fully took into account any environmental impact.  And while some say the message has produced results, making eco-efficiency a guiding principle for business and governments alike----the evidance is very clear in today's world of 7 billion people and rising that unfortunately, that same message has been lost in today's world dominated by financial concern of a crimimal nature, increased poverty, rising sea levels, decimation of species-rich forests, waste, unprecedented loss of species of fauna and flora and food shortages. We must realise that the goods and services of the natural world is the backbone of economic development and therefore must be placed higher on the political agenda.

The Rio Earth Summit Agreements of 1992 (reviewed and appriased 1997)

In Rio, in 1992, Governments — 108 represented by heads of State or Government — adopted three major agreements aimed at changing the traditional approach to development:

• Agenda 21 — a comprehensive programme of action for global action in all areas of sustainable development;
• The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development —a series of principles defining the rights and responsibilities of States;
• The Statement of Forest Principles — a set of principles to underlie the sustainable management of forests worldwide.

In addition, two legally binding Conventions aimed at preventing global climate change and the eradication of the diversity of biological species were opened for signature at the Summit, giving high profile to these efforts:

• The United Nations Framework  Convention on Climate Change
• The Convention on Biological Diversity

The Rio [Earth] Summit + 20  of 2012

It is being described within UN circles as the last policy opportunity for promoting green governance and institutional reform. Unfortunately the political climate does not seem favorably disposed towards supporting the ambitious goals of advancing a “green economy” as provisionally laid out in the Conference agenda. More on this most urgent and most important event of 2012

Durban COP 17  of 2011

At the recent United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP 17) in Durban, South Africa, 28 November - 9 December 2011, world leaders punted once again. Instead of taking meaningful action on climate change today, they put off creation of a global emission treaty until 2020 -- a commitment few believe will be honored without massive public intervention.

World Agroforestry Centre Perspective December, 2011

“In a time of climatic, economic and social change, forest ecosystems have to continue to provide services that are essential to our everyday lives now and in the future. Water, climate regulation, low carbon goods and energy and jobs for millions of under- and un-employed, are all key ingredients for our survival and prosperity” said Achim Steiner, Executive Director of United Nations Environment Programme.

CI calls on Rio+20 to implement UN guidelines on sustainable consumption

Drawing on two decades of work of sustainable development, Consumers International (CI)  is calling on the Rio+20 process to put consumers and consumption patterns at the heart of decision-making on sustainable development.

Center for International Forest Research (CIFOR) 

The recent mass fruiting of forest trees in Borneo is an urgent wakeup call: existing policy instruments, financial mechanisms, and forestry infrastructure are inadequate to take full advantage of these infrequent opportunities for forest restoration and conservation.

The Northern Alliance for Sustainability position for Rio + 20 

Twenty years on from the ground-breaking UN Earth Summit in 1992 that lead to everything from climate change negotiations to the creation of ANPED, the upcoming Rio + 20 event in 2012 faces many challenges. Dark clouds are accumulating above the next Summit, as governments are not willing to show political will and leadership as they did 20 years ago. But despite short-sighted policymaking and indifference there are still opportunities for promoting ideas around progressive socially-just sustainable development. Civil Society has to take this role and show responsibility!

The CIVICUS World Assembly

A global gathering for civil society, donors, governments and businesses to find common solutions to the challenges facing humanity.

What a 'sustainable' lifestyle could look like by Dr. Alan Knight

The most basic but largely unanswered question in the world of sustainable development is what can a sustainable lifestyle look like? This is more than just a academic exercise because if businesses are to help provide that lifestyle through their products and services, they need to have a design specification and a direction of travel. In other words they need a brief.

See the World Deforestation Clock at http://www.cifor.org/defclock.

The 'Rhode to Rio + You'

-we mean 'business' walk-

EARTH Day 22nd April, 2012

We must persuade our Taoiseach, Mr. Enda Kenny, T.D.,  to go to Rio de Janeiro in June and join other heads of State in making the difficult decisions needed to ensure a healthy planet for generations to come.

Why Rhode to Rio?

Who's HEAD anyway?

RIO and environmental 'services'

23 February 2012: Members of STOP Climate Chaos calls on the Taoiseach to attend RIO + 20
	Stop Climate Chaos Letter to Taoiseach Enda Kenny re. Rio +20.pdf (498.37 KB)