The UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 20-22 June 2012. It was being held 20 years after the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), where countries adopted Agenda 21 – a blueprint to rethink economic growth, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection.
At Rio, world leaders, and thousands of participants from governments, the private sector, NGOs and other groups, were coming together to draw up a new strategy to reduce poverty, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection to create the future we want. The Conference focussed on two themes: (a) a green economy in the context of sustainable development poverty eradication; and (b) the institutional framework for sustainable development.
In parallel with and between the official events, there were numerous side events, exhibitions, presentations, fairs and announcements by a wide range of partners, most of while took place before the official conference.
The Club of Rome’s agenda focussed on the themes being raised at Rio and below are Club of Rome events and relevant documents.
The Future we want or the Future that we will get?
“Flying down to Rio: Global Public Policy per airmile accumulated and GHG produced” – The outcome of the Rio+20 negotiations are an agreement between the least interested and the least committed. We know we can do better and for the sake of our future humanity we must do better. A Club of Rome Blog contribution by Ian Johnson. More…
New Economics for a New World
“Rio+20: where it should lead” - In the pamphlet on Rio+20 by the Green Alliance and RSPB, Ian Johnson questions whether the green economy narrative is a new focus for the Rio negotiations and examines how to make our current economic models fit for purpose. More…
Article by President Mikhail Gorbachev
“Rio+20: understanding the present in the light of the future.”: Click below to read the full article, written by President Mikhail Gorbachev, Honorary Member of the Club of Rome, ahead of Rio+20. More…
Events
Joint meeting between Club of Rome, Green Cross & Earth Charter on 21 June. More…
Values Project
The Club of Rome is launching a project on values. This kicks off with a brainstorming meeting in June, bringing together religious thinkers, economists, atheists and academics to outline what values are needed for a sustainable and equitable society, and how to integrate these into our daily life, our economy and our governance systems.
Relevant Club of Rome documents
2052: Can we create a sustainable future?
Over the next 18 months, the Club of Rome will be holding a debate on the future of the planet, addressing the same question as that behind the Rio negotiations – can the planet survive if we continue to over consume? More…
Money and sustainability
Bernard Lietaer summaries his new book, which argues that unless we change the financial system, which is based on endless growth and overconsumption, our current pattern of life will be unsustainable. More…
What can be done to change the course?
This article by Dr. Johannes Meier, European Climate Foundation, taken from the Club of Rome Change course campaign, says our current practice of extracting fossil fuels from beneath the earth has generated unimagined wealth and progress, but has resulted in growing levels of carbon dioxide and other ‘greenhouse gases’. More…
Links
- Official event notice
- Green Cross International
- Earth Charter Initiative
- UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)
- The Green Transition Scoreboard
