About Earth Summit

About SF

About Earth Summit

About Earth Summit 2010

Publications, Reports and Articles

About SF (with drop-down menu)

WHAT WE DO (INCLUDED IN DROP-DOWN MENU AND NEW PAGE)

Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future is an international multi-stakeholder organisation working on sustainable development; supporting the increased involvement of stakeholders in international and national governance processes. It is the lead organisation in the development and facilitating of multi-stakeholder processes for sustainable development.

Stakeholder Forum is now an independent organization with a small staffed secretariat based in London and staff, partners and consultants around the globe

OUR EXPERIENCE (INCLUDED IN DROP-DOWN MENU AND NEW PAGE)

Stakeholder Forum's involvement in UN conferences and Summits on environment and sustainable development dates back to its conception in 1987, as the first National Committee in the UK for the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP.

Stakeholder Forum’s involvement in the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 established the organisation as an important player in the field of international sustainable development. After the Earth Summit our offices were stacked with Agenda 21 reports which we sent out to policy- makers, local governments, think-tanks, NGOs, schools and all kinds of community-based organisations. In the years prior to the World Summit on Sustainable Development n Johannesburg in 2002, Stakeholder Forum together with governments facilitated discussions and co-ordinated workshops that built momentum for the Summit and prepared stakeholders for meaningful engagement. To learn more about Stakeholder Forum and its work in other areas, please visit our main website: www.stakeholderforum.org

PREPARING FOR EARTH SUMMIT 2012 (INCLUDED IN DROP-DOWN MENU AND NEW PAGE)

Stakeholder Forum will be co-ordinating a vast range of activities in the run-up to Earth Summit 2012. Activities will range from…. To find out more about Stakeholder Forum activities please visit the Activities page of the website (LINK)

About Earth Summit (with drop-down menu)

HISTORY (INCLUDED IN DROP-DOWN MENU - NEW PAGE)

Earth Summit 2012 will be the fourth Summit of its kind, and represents another milestone in ongoing international efforts to accelerate progress towards achieving sustainable development globally. Below you will find an overview of key international processes and events that have taken place in the last forty years.

For a helpful overview of all the major events and sustainable development outcomes since 1972, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) has produced a timeline that can be accessed here (LINK: Located at \\10.0.1.1\shared\REPORTS and PUBLICATIONS\Other Publications)

Stockholm 1972 (USE READ MORE FUNCTION – INCLUDE FIRST FEW SENTENCES ON THIS PAGE THEN OPEN INTO NEW PAGE WHEN CLICK ON READ MORE)

The concept of sustainable development dates back a long way, but it was at the UN Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm, 1972) that the international community met for the first time to consider global environment and development needs together. The Stockholm Declaration and Action Plan (LINK) defined principles for the preservation and enhancement of the natural environment, and highlighted the need to support people in this process. One of the decisions outlined in the Stockholm Declaration was the formation of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)

The Conference indicated that "industrialised" environmental problems, such as habitat degradation, toxicity and acid rain, were not necessarily relevant issues for all countries. In particular, development strategies were not meeting the needs of the poorest countries and communities. However, it was the pending environmental problems that dominated the meeting and led to wider public environmental awareness. LINKS AND DOWNLOADS (IN RIGHT HAND COLUMN)

The Stockholm Declaration The Stockholm Declaration outlined a range of principles and commitments for the preservation and enhancement of the natural environment

The Founex Report on Development and Environment 1971 (LINK TO SEPARATE PAGE)

The Founex Report helped lay the groundwork for the 1972 Stockholm conference in identified key environment-development objectives and relationships.

The Brundtland Commission (USE READ MORE FUNCTION – INCLUDE FIRST FEW SENTENCES ON THIS PAGE THEN OPEN INTO NEW PAGE WHEN CLICK ON READ MORE)

In the 1980s the UN set up the Commission on Environment and Development, also known as the Brundtland Commission, named after its Chair Gro Harlem Brundtland. The outcome of the Brundtland Commission was a comprehensive document entitled "Our Common Future", otherwise known as the Brundtland Report (LINK). This report framed much of what would become the 40 chapters of Agenda 21 and the 27 principles of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. The report defined sustainable development as development which: "meets the needs of present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

LINKS AND DOWNLOADS (IN RIGHT HAND COLUMN)

The Brundtland Report, ’Our Common Future’

The Brundtland Report was the outcome of the Brundtland Commission on Environment and Development, and was the first report to define sustainable development.

United Nations Conference on Environment and Development – Rio Earth Summit 1992 (USE READ MORE FUNCTION – INCLUDE FIRST FEW SENTENCES ON THIS PAGE THEN OPEN INTO NEW PAGE WHEN CLICK ON READ MORE) the 20th anniversary of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment took place in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro. The UN Conference on Environment and Development, the "Earth Summit", agreed to Agenda 21 (LINK) and the Rio Declaration (LINK) . These documents outlined key policies for achieving sustainable development that meets the needs of the poor and recognises the limits of development to meet global needs. "Needs" were therefore interpreted not solely in terms of economic interests but also as the prerequisites for a fully functional, harmonious, global system that incorporates both people and ecosystems.

Agenda 21 Agenda 21 was the comprehensive outcome document of the Rio Conference on Environment and Development in 1992. It represent a ‘blueprint for the 21st century’ and is still considered a seminal text on global sustainable development.

Rio Declaration The Rio Declaration outlined a set of principles to guide global sustainable development. Principle 10 commits to public participation in environmental decision-making, and is the basis for much of Stakeholder Forum’s work.

NGO Treaties (OPENS IN A NEW PAGE WHICH LISTS THE NGO DOCUMENTS FROM RIO 1992) In addition to documents and declarations representing commitments made by governments, there were also a number of statements and agreements released by non-governmental actors. Read more..

Peoples Earth Declaration (SHORT BLURB NEEDED HERE) Rio De Janeiro Declaration (SHORT BLURB NEEDED HERE) Earth Charter (SHORT BLURB NEEDED HERE) Ethical Commitments to Global Ecological Posture and Behaviour (SHORT BLURB NEEDED HERE) Complete list of Alternative Treaties (SHORT BLURB NEEDED HERE)

Rio Conventions and Commissions (USE READ MORE FUNCTION – INCLUDE FIRST FEW SENTENCES ON THIS PAGE THEN OPEN INTO NEW PAGE WHEN CLICK ON READ MORE)

The Summit brought environment and development issues firmly into the public arena. Along with the Rio Declaration and Agenda 21 it led to agreement on two legally binding conventions: the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) (LINK) and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (LINK). It also produced a Statement of Forest Principles (LINK).

The Earth Summit gave rise to a number of positive responses including the emergence of thousands of Local Agenda 21 initiatives (LINK) and an enhanced political profile for sustainable development issues on a national level. It led to the formation of the annual UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) (LINK) to monitor and follow up on the implementation and developments of Agenda 21. Many countries also set up their own sustainable development commissions (LINK to UK SDC) and created national strategies for sustainable development.

UN Convention on Biological Diversity (LINK)

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (LINK)

UN Convention to Combat Desertification (LINK)

OTHERS (SEE LEAGUE TABLES)

MEA League Tables (LINK) Since 2002, Stakeholder Forum has periodically put together ‘League Tables’ of signatories to the Rio Conventions. The League Tables rank countries according to how many Conventions they have signed and ratified.

Rio+5, 1997 (USE READ MORE FUNCTION – INCLUDE FIRST FEW SENTENCES ON THIS PAGE THEN OPEN INTO NEW PAGE WHEN CLICK ON READ MORE)

The description of sustainable development in Agenda 21 (LINK) called for a total shift in the status quo of prevalent value systems and institutional processes. Such global change could never have occurred over night. When progress was assessed at Rio+5 (New York, 1997) a number of gaps were identified, particularly with regard to social equity and poverty.

This was largely reflected by falling levels of official development assistance (ODA) and growing international debt along with failures to improve technology transfer, capacity building for participation and development, institutional coordination, and reduce excessive levels of production and consumption. The review meeting called for the ratification, reinforcement and stronger implementation of the growing number of international agreements and conventions which refer to environment and development.

Towards Earth Summit II Rio +5 (LINK TO SEPARATE PAGE)

This report was the result of a multi-stakeholder consultation by the Commission on Sustainable Development NGO Steering committee in the run up to the ‘Rio+5’ High Level Event on sustainable development in 1997, five years on from the 1992 Rio Earth Summit.

World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg 2002 (USE READ MORE FUNCTION – INCLUDE FIRST FEW SENTENCES ON THIS PAGE THEN OPEN INTO NEW PAGE WHEN CLICK ON READ MORE)

Stakeholder Forum and a number of governments worked from 1998 to 2000 to create momentum for an Earth Summit in 2002. South Africa hosted the Summit, beating South Korea, Brazil and Indonesia in the process. Between 2nd-5th May 2001, preceding the ninth session of the CSD, the first global preparatory committee (Prep Comm.1) for the Summit took place. Unlike the 1997 review, the Earth Summit 2002 preparations were undertaken well in advance of the Summit, at local, national, sub-regional, regional and global levels. There was considerable optimism and faith in the Summits' ability to get the sustainable development agenda back on track.

The Summit managed to get new commitments on sanitation and underlined yet again the need to address sustainable development as an interlinked agenda. The Summit also saw an increased ratification of environmental conventions, thus bringing them into force significantly strengthening international environmental regulation, first identified as necessary in Rio in 1992. The increased momentum also ensured the ratification of the Kyoto (LINK) and Bio Safety Protocols (LINK). A specific feature of the WSSD was the development of global partnerships for of sustainable development, placing emphasis on collaborative project-based implementation as a complement to international regulation. These partnerships became known as ‘Type II Partnerships’ (LINK) LINKS AND DOWNLOADS (IN RIGHT HAND COLUMN)

Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI) The Johannesburg Plan of Implementation was the outcome document from the World Summit on Sustainable Development 2002 (WSSD).

Earth Summit 2002 This paper is was the outcome of an informal discussion facilitated by the Stakeholder Forum and the Commission on Sustainable Development NGO Steering committee at UNEP governing council in 1999. The paper was produced to stimulate discussion and debate about issues to be addressed and progress that could be made at an Earth Summit in 2002

Earth Summit 2012 (USE READ MORE FUNCTION – INCLUDE FIRST FEW SENTENCES ON THIS PAGE THEN OPEN INTO NEW PAGE WHEN CLICK ON READ MORE)

The world has changed since the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development and the international community is now facing a number of critical and interrelated problems. Since 2007 the world has witnessed a major global food crisis, serious volatility in oil prices, increasing climate variability and the worst global financial crisis to for almost a century.

We are fast approaching a point beyond which the avoidance of catastrophic climate change will become significantly less likely. The majority of the planet’s ecosystems are degraded or under severe pressure as a result of human activity. If global economic growth continues at the current rate, humanity will have to find at least another two planets by the end of the century to sustain consumption patterns.

Facing these myriad problems, it is critical that global leaders come together to define a sustainable development pathway that secures a reasonable standard of living for the global population whilst preserving our ecosystems and resources. The current development paradigm cannot continue – reversing over 150 years of unsustainable economic development will require new thinking and innovative solutions, and it is hoped that the Earth Summit in Rio in 2012 will provide the time and space to do this.

The Rio+20 Earth Summit was agreed by a UN General Assembly resolution on 24th December 2009 (LINK).

LINKS AND DOWNLOADS (ON RIGHT COLUMN, OR BELOW) Donostia Declaration This Donostia Declaration was the outcome of a global multistakeholder workshop that Stakeholder Forum co-ordianted in San Sebastian in October 2008. It outlines the case for an Earth Summit in 2012, and provides recommendations on the focus of a Summit

UN General Assembly Resolution on Earth Summit 2012 The resolution calls for an Earth Summit in 2012 and was passed by the General Assembly on 24th December 2009. BACKGROUND TO EARTH SUMMIT 2012 (NEW PAGE, INCLUDED IN DROP- DOWN MENU FOR ‘ABOUT EARTH SUMMIT)

On 24th December 2009 the UN General Assembly passed a resolution agreeing to hold a ‘Rio+20’ Earth Summit in 2012. The resolution places great emphasis on the follow-up of previous international commitments on sustainable development, and also outlines the thematic focus of the Summit, which will cover the following areas:  Green Economy in the context of Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Development  Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development  Emerging Issues

The resolution was welcomed by governmental and non-governmental stakeholders alike, many of whom had been advocating for a Rio+20 Summit for over a year. Below Stakeholder Forum has listed in chronological order all the major milestones and developments in the run-up to the General Assembly resolution that agreed to hold a Summit in 2012.

Stakeholder Forum played a key role in organising a number of events and bringing together key stakeholders at crucial points, which are also listed below. For an overview of all Stakeholder Forum’s activities, please visit the Activities page (LINK)

**ALL ENTRIES BELOW SHOULD BE IN BLOG FORMAT, WITH THE FIRST FEW SENTENCES LISTED ON THIS PAGE, FOLLOWED BY THE ‘READ MORE’ FUNCTION**

FIND FIRST RESOLUTION ON EARTH SUMMIT 2012 UNGA 63/212

President Lula of Brazil proposes a 'Rio+20' Earth Summit in 2012

25th September 2007: Standing before the United Nations General Assembly one day after the High Level Event on Climate Change, the President of Brazil proposed convening in 2012 a World Summit on the environment, twenty years after the landmark UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio in 1992.

Lula called for the Summit to address the persistent problem of global inequality, stressing that ‘social equity is our best weapon against the planet’s degradation’. He highlighted Brazil’s efforts to tackle deforestation, and stressed the emphasised the importance of social, labour and environmental standards for biofuels.

For the full story, click here: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp? NewsID=23952&Cr=general&Cr1=debate

PM Han Proposes S. Korea Host 2012 Earth Summit

26 September 2008: In a speech given at the U.N. General Assembly Friday, Prime Minister Han Seung-soo proposed that South Korea host the proposed ‘Rio+20’ Earth Summit in 2012. He highlighted the important strategic role that South Korea could play in ‘bridging advanced and developing nations’. The Prime Minister pointed towards South Korea’s green growth strategy to emphasise the country’s commitment to sustainable development, and also drew attention to the tripling of South Korea’s Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) to developing countries since 2000.

For the full story, click here: http://english.kbs.co.kr/news/newsview_sub.php? menu=1&key=2008092606

G77 and China Support Brazil hosting a World Summit in 2012

27 October 2008: In a statement to the Second Committee of the UN Assembly, the Group iof 77 (G77) and China expressed their firm support for a Rio+20 Earth Summit in 2012. Highlighting the ‘multidimensional’ threats the world now faces, and stressing that many of the challenges identified in Rio in 1992 ‘still remain or have worsened’, the G77 and China called for the Summit to be hosted by Brazil in 2012 to ‘review and assess progress’

“Guided by the "Rio Spirit", a Rio-plus-20 Summit should provide the necessary political impetus for the range and level of action required to bridge the implementation gap. In this context, the G-77 and China supports and welcomes the offer of the Government of Brazil to host such a Summit in 2012.”

The group also drew attention to the importance of ‘sustainable patterns of production and consumption, with developed countries taking the lead.’

To read the full statement, follow this link: http://www.g77.org/statement/getstatement.php? id=081027b

G77 tables resolution to UN General Assembly Second Committee on a possible Rio+20 Earth Summit in 2012

4th November 2008: Antigua and Barbuda as Chair of the G77 has tabled a draft resolution for the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly calling for a World Summit in 2012. The resolution expresses deep concern that ‘although some progress has been achieved since the landmark Conference of 1972, the Earth Summit in 1992 and the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002, there is a persistent implementation gap, and many commitments by the international community have not been fully met’.

The resolution highlights the importance of a World Summit in 2012 to ‘renew political commitments at the highest level and for an overall review of the implementation of Agenda 21 and of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation’.

The resolution welcomes and accepts Brazil’s offer to host the Summit which will offer the opportunity to ‘review and appraise’ progress achieved, as well as ‘identify further measures’ for enhancing implementation of existing commitments.

LINKS AND DOWNLOADS (ON RIGHT) G77 Draft Resolution: Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (SEE: \\10.0.1.1\shared\WEB DEVELOPMENT\Earth Summit Website\Earth Summit 2012 server\GA_resolution_November_2008 Earth Summit 2012.pdf)

Brazil issues ‘Concept Paper’ on a possible Rio+20 Earth Summit in 2012

11th November 2008: The Brazilian government has released a Concept Paper outlining the kinds of issues to be addressed by a possible Rio+2O Earth Summit in 2012. The paper emphasises the need to promote discussion on the implementation of the Rio Principles outlined in the Rio Declaration from the UN Conference on Environment and Development in 1992.

Among other recommendations, the paper calls for the Summit to further debate international environmental governance and discuss how to improve ‘cooperation and coordination between international institutions and MEAs’. The paper also emphasises the importance of reviewing and monitoring the implementation of Agenda 21, the ‘blueprint for sustainable development in the 21st century’ which was agreed 20 years ago at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992.

The paper highlights the need for any Summit to address sustainable development as a holistic process, taking into account economic and social development in addition to focussing on the environmental component. In this context the paper calls for the consideration of the Millennium Development Goals and financing for development.

To read the full Concept Paper, please follow the links on the right.

LINKS AND DOWNLOADS (ON RIGHT)

Concept Paper on a Rio+20 Earth Summit, issued by the Brazilian Government (SEE: \\10.0.1.1\shared\WEB DEVELOPMENT\Earth Summit Website\Documents and Statements\Government Docs and Statements\Brazilian Govt Concept Paper Rio+20 Nov 2008.doc)

Stakeholder Forum Workshop hosts multi-stakeholder workshop on Rio+20 in San Sebastian

13th – 14th November 2008: Stakeholder Forum with support of the Basque Government hosted an informal multi-stakeholder workshop on 13th - 14th November 2008 in San Sebastian to kick-start discussions on the realisation of an Earth Summit in 2012.

The workshop convened representatives of governments, civil society, intergovernmental organisations and UN agencies to discuss the challenges that lie ahead. Nitin Desai, former Secretary General of the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002 contributed to the discussions via video-link, as did John Scanlon, Principal Advisor to the Executive Director at the United Nations Environment Programme. All participants expressed overriding support for the hosting of a Rio+20 Earth Summit in 2010, and the discussions and proposals that arose in the meeting were captured in the ‘Donostia Declaration’ – a document making the case for a Summit and providing recommendations as to its focus.

The Donostia Declaration has since been translated into five languages and is one of the only documents produced that was based on interaction between governmental and non- governmental stakeholders. Enshrined within the Donostia Declaration is the principle of multi- stakeholder dialogue and common vision.

The workshop in San Sebastian followed a similar pattern to those organised by Stakeholder Forum from February 1998 to April 2000, leading up to the World Summit in 2002.

In 1998 governments recovering from a less than successful Rio+5 were apprehensive about the need for a Rio+10. As governments attending the workshops discussed the possibilities of a Summit, that apprehension turned into enthusiasm. It became clear that the sustainable development agenda needed an influx of energy to focus governments, intergovernmental organisations and stakeholders into addressing why much of the Rio Agenda 21 was not being implemented, and, importantly, it was recognised that a Summit was needed to address new and emerging issues.

The workshops created a necessary space for discussion and drafted 'non-papers' identifying topics for the agenda, and also drafted decisions on the operational nature of the World Summit in 2002.

LINKS AND DOWNLOADS

Donostia Declaration – ALL LANGUAGES

European stakeholders call for an Earth Summit in 2012

21st November 2008: Civil society representatives meeting during the UNEP Regional Civil Society Consultation Meeting in Europe from 17th-18th November 2008 issued a statement outlining their support for a Rio+20 Earth Summit in 2012.

The statement stated that Summit in 2012 could offer the opportunity to address the growing crisis in environment, food and energy supply, poverty and sustainable development in general, in relation to the broader development and international finance agenda. The statement also pointed out the importance of a Summit in 2012 to raise the profile of sustainable development ahead of the negotiation of post-2015 Millennium Development Goals.

To read the full statement, follow this link: http://unep.org/civil_society/GCSF10/pdfs/Europe- Statement-CSO-2008.pdf

Stakeholder Forum hosts informal government dinner on Earth Summit 2012 in New York February 2009: During the Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting (LINK) for the 17th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, Stakeholder Forum convened a number of governments from North and South to informally discuss the possibility of an Earth Summit in 2012 and TO focus on the kinds of issues such a Summit could address.

That meeting was attended by 23 individuals from seventeen national governments, three non- governmental organisations, one independent consultancy and one university, all talking in their personal capacity under the Chatham House Rule. Representatives from the following governments attended the informal dinner: Austria, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Malaysia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USA. Discussion focussed on a number of areas, including Global Environmental Governance, common but differentiated responsibility, financial implications of a Summit, and how to avoid ‘Summit fatigue’.

Though many governments stated clearly that they had not yet developed positions, the meeting provided an opportunity to share and exchange ideas on the role a Summit could possibly play. A ‘Non-Paper’ was issued based on the discussions at the meeting – the ‘Non-Paper’ status conveys that the points outlined to not necessarily represent agreement from all who attended, but rather capture the discussions that took place.

To download the Non-Paper please use the links on the right.

LINKS AND DOWNLOADS (ON RIGHT):

Non Paper from Informal Meeting – SEE \\10.0.1.1\shared\WEB DEVELOPMENT\Earth Summit Website\Earth Summit 2012 server\Non-paper_on_2012_Summit_March_09.pdf

UN Division of Sustainable Development (UN DSD) invites governments to submit views for UN Secretary General’s report on a proposed Earth Summit in 2012

6th March 2009: UN DESA LETTER – DESA-09/0134 TO BE FOUND

Stakeholder Forum Executive Director Felix Dodds addresses Event on Rio+20 Earth Summit held at the 17th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD17)

17th May 2009: At a side event hosted by the Brazilian government during CSD17 (LINK), Felix Dodds presented his vision for a Rio+20 Earth Summit in 2012, building on many of the multi- stakeholder discussions and dialogues on a possible Summit that Stakeholder Forum has co- ordinated over the past year.

In his speech Felix Dodds outlined the importance of the Summit address the global transition to a green economy, pointing out the varying degrees of success in this objective across different nation states. He also pointed out the importance of addressing ‘human and environmental security’, as if current projections of global production and consumption patterns are correct, we will by 2030 need another planet to sustain the global population. He outlined the need for a positive global vision for sustainable development, and shared some suggestions that have emerged from workshops and informal meetings hosted by Stakeholder Forum, including a High Level Commission to address how to achieve a ‘Global Green New Deal’, as well as a concerted effort to promote progress on International Environemntal Governance, including the reform of UNEP.

He also addressed the importance of exploiting the full potential of new media to engage global stakeholders in any preparatory process for the Summit.

To read the full speech, please follow the links on the right.

Felix Dodds Speech to Rio+20 Side Event, hosted by Brazilian government at CSD17 (SEE: http://www.earthsummit2012.org/fileadmin/files/Earth_Summit_2012/csdspeechdodds.pdf)

Brazilian government responds to call by UN Division for Sustainable Development to submit views for Secretary General’s report on a possible Earth Summit in 2012

26th May 2009: The Brazilian government has submitted a paper on the possibility of a high level event on sustainable development in 2012, as a contribution to the report of the Secretary General of the United Nations, as invited by the Division for Sustainable Development.

The paper outlines a number of ‘areas for action’ for a high level event, drawing attention to the following themes as a priority focus:

 Review of Implementation: the event should seek to review progress towards Agenda 21, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation and the three Rio Conventions: the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (link), the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (link) and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (link)  International Governance for Sustainable Development: a conference in 2012 could offer the opportunity to debate the reform of the international institutional architecture dealing with environment and sustainable development, with a particular focus on the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)  Green Economy: an event in 2012 could provide the platform to consolidate thinking and debate on the ‘evolving paradigm of “green economy”, allowing for broad stakeholder engagement, including governments, civil society, business. Further global discussion is required on how to stimulate the world economy to promote sustainable consumptiom and production and create new investment opportunities including in ‘energy, transport, agriculture and infrastructure’.  Water – the fourth recommended focus area is water, calling specifically for the conference to stimulate action by nation states to take national measures aiming at universalizing access to water and sanitation, in accordance with Chapter 18 of Agenda 21. It also calls on the international community to ‘support those national efforts through cooperation, provision of financial resources – including new and additional financial resources – technology transfer and capacity-building.

The paper concludes that ‘The overall objective of the Conference will be to strengthen commitment to sustainable development. A crucial requirement for that goal to be achieved is the strengthening international institutions and organizations with activities related to sustainable development.

Comments Submitted by Brazil (SEE \\10.0.1.1\shared\PROJECTS\Earth Summit 2012\Papers\Comments submitted by Brazil maio2009 - final.pdf)

European Union responds to call by UN Division for Sustainable Development to submit views for Secretary General’s report on a possible Earth Summit in 201228th

May 2009: In a letter to Tariq Bunari, Director of the Division for Sustainable Development (DSD) within UN DESA, the Czech Republic on behalf of the European Union has announced that it is ‘open to discuss, with the wider UN membership, the UN Secretariat and all other relevant stakeholders, the possibility of convening a high level event on sustainable development.

The letter states clearly that in the event of the hosting of such an event, due regard should be paid to the timelines of other processes critical to sustainable development, including the Commission on Sustainable Development, the Millennium Development Goals and the Rio Conventions – the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.

Suggestions are made as to the focus of a high level event, with specific reference to the importance of addressing issues that contribute to ‘boost the green economy concept’. It also calls for policy coherence at ‘national and international levels across policy sectors’. The letter further points out that the essential prerequisites for sustainable development are poverty eradication, sustainable consumption and production and protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development.

To read the full letter, please follow the links on the right.

EU Presidency Letter to UN DESA, Tariq Bunari. SEE: \\10.0.1.1\shared\WEB DEVELOPMENT\Earth Summit Website\Documents and Statements\Government Docs and Statements\Letter EU to UNDESA Rio+20 (2).doc

Governments from North and South respond to call by Director of UN Division of Sustainable Development to make submissions for the UN Secretary General’s report on a proposed Earth Summit in 2012

May 2009: A number of countries have made submissions to the UN Secretary General on the possibility of an Earth Summit in 2012. The submissions vary in length and detail, but many offer views on the focus of the proposed Summit and the issues that need to be addressed.

Stakeholder Forum has produced a paper analysing in a matrix the different proposals from countries on the issues of the Green Economy, Governance for Sustainable Development, and International Environmental Governance: Paper 1: Focussing the Summit Agenda (LINK: http://www.earthsummit2012.org/fileadmin/files/Earth_Summit_2012/new_york/focusing_the_s ummit_agenda_rev_4_16_october.pdf)

To read the individual submissions from countries, please follow the links below:

Argentina Azerbaijan Brazil Canada Chile Colombia The European Union The G-77 and China Icleand Indonesia Japan Republic of Korea Mauritius Mexico Philippines Somalia South Africa Switzerland Turkey USA

Global Environmental Governance Forum: Reflecting on the past, moving into the future

June 28th –July 2nd 2009, Glion, Switzerland: The Global Environmental Governance Forum, hosted by the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy and the College of William and Mary brought together a range of leading thinkers in the field of environmental and sustainable development governance.

The Forum gathered participants from 26 countries engage in dialogue on the future of global environmental governance and generate possible options for reform in the context of the emerging international architecture for climate change. Five successive UNEP Executive Directors attended the event: Maurice Strong, Mostafa Tolba, Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Klaus Töpfer, and Achim Steiner

The Global Environmental Governance Forum: Reflecting on the Past, Moving into the Future took place from June 28th to July 2nd, 2009 in Glion, Switzerland and brought together several generations of environmental leaders, including all five successive UNEP Executive Directors (Maurice Strong, Mostafa Tolba, Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Klaus Töpfer, and Achim Steiner).

Discussions the opportunity presented by a possible Rio+20 Earth Summit in 2012 to move forward on Global Environmental Governance. Dr Toepfer floated the idea of reconvening the Brundtland Commission to address the transition to a Green Economy. Lars Goren Engfelt, former Swedish liaison officer in the Secretariat for the Stockholm Conference 1972, and former Bureau member for the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 1992, presented his new book ‘From Stockholm to Johannesburg and Beyond’ (LINK). The report from the Forum – Global Environmental Governance in the 21st Century: Way Ahead Wide Open – underscored that ‘the fortieth anniversary of the Stockholm Conference and the twentieth anniversary of the Rio Earth Summit in 2012 also present a rare opportunity for politicians and the public to make a reckoning of their environmental priorities.’ It called for the launching of a political process in preparation for 2012. To download the full report follow the links on the right.

LINKS AND DOWNLOADS (ON RIGHT) Global Environmental Governance in the 21st Century: Way Ahead Wide Open (SEE: http://environmentalgovernance.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/GEG-Forum- Report_Final2.pdf)

Global Environmental Governance Forum 2009: http://environmentalgovernance.org/gegforum2009/

Stakeholders in the United States meet to discuss the a Rio+20 Earth Summit in 2012

July 2009: Meetings were held throughout July in Washington DC to bring together a range of stakeholders to discuss and share ideas on the possible focus of a Rio+20 Earth Summit in 2012. International NGO Justice and Sustainability (www.justicesustainability.com) held a meeting on 6th July, which was followed by a meeting on 7th July hosted by US-based Natural Resources Defence Council (www.nrdc.org).

Stakeholder Forum Executive Director Felix Dodds and NRDC Director of International Program, Jacob Sheer, both presented on the need for an Earth Summit in 2012. Jacob Sheer pointed out the ‘implementation gap’ of international commitments on sustainable development, highlighting the failure to reduce unsustainable consumption and pollution in the industrialised world, as well as inadequate support for international sustainable development institutions and foreign assistance. He presented an Earth Summit in 2012 as an opportunity to address the lack of progress, and boost political will and improve governance to implement commitments.

Felix Dodds outlined discussions and progress towards a possible Earth Summit in 2012 to date, providing an overview of the Donostia Declaration (LINK), Brazil’s submission to the UN Secretary General (LINK) as well as elaborating on some of the possible themes for an Earth sUmmit – including sustainable development governance and the green economy. In his presentation, Felix Dodds called for US stakeholders to ‘start a country-wide conversation on how to create a green economy’.

Presentation by Jacob Sheer, Head of International Program, NRDC (LINK TO: http://www.earthsummit2012.org/fileadmin/files/Earth_Summit_2012/Jacob_Scherr_earth_sum mit_2012_july_14_2009_meeting.ppt)

Presentation by Felix Dodds, Executive Director, Stakeholder Forum (LINK TO: http://www.earthsummit2012.org/fileadmin/files/Earth_Summit_2012/Felix_Dodds_- _Rio_20_presentatiom_July_14_2009_nrdc.ppt) France endorses Earth Summit 2012

6th- 7th Sept 2009: In a statement issued after a State visit by France to Brazil on 6th – 7th September 2009, Nicolas Sarkozy has announced France’s support for an Earth Summit in 2012. The statement welcomes the strengthening in relations between Brazil and France, with both countries as actors in a ‘new global governance’. In this spirit, the statement highlights the opportunity afforded by an Earth Summit in 2012 to address global environmental governance.

“France fully supports the desire of Brazil to organize an Earth Summit in 2012, 20 years after the first Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. This new Summit will provide a unique opportunity to make decisive and necessary progress in international governance of the environment.”

To read the full statement (in French) please click on the links on the right.

LINKS AND DOWNLOADS

Joint Declaration from the State Visit to Brazil of the French President Nicolas Sarcozy (SEE \\10.0.1.1\shared\WEB DEVELOPMENT\Earth Summit Website\Earth Summit 2012 server\France Statement Supporting Rio+20.pdf)

France and Germany call for reform of Global Environmental Governance

21st September 2009: In a joint letter to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy have suggested that the ‘broad lines of agreement’ for Copenhagen need to be ‘clarified’. In particular they call for consensus on limiting global temperature increase to below pre-industrial levels, cutting GHG emissions by 50% on 1990 levels by 2050. To achieve this goal they have outlined the responsibility of developed nations to commit to binding targets of 80% cuts by 2050, but have also emphasised that emerging economies must reduce emissions growth below business as usual and that developing countries should commit to low carbon growth plans

The letter also points out two important elements for ensuring the effectiveness of a deal at Copenhagen, including measures to avoid ‘carbon leakage’, as well as the setting up of a ‘new institutional architecture to foster the development of international environmental law’. In a strongly worded paragraph, the French and German Heads of State suggest that ‘Environmental Governance must be overhauled’ and have specifically called for ‘the momentum provided by Copenhagen to make further progress towards the creation of a World Environmental Organization’.

For the full letter please follow the links on the right.

Letter from Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy to UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon (SEE: \\10.0.1.1\shared\WEB DEVELOPMENT\Earth Summit Website\Earth Summit 2012 server\german-french-letter-english version.pdf) US Coalition of NGOs and Civil Society Organisations deliver open letter to President Obama to support Earth Summit 2012

29th September 2009: A number of prominent civil society organisations have come together to deliver a letter to President Obama urging him to support the current proposal before the United Nations to host an Earth Summit in Brazil in 2012. Representing more than a million Americans, the group has invited Obama ‘to see the Summit as an opportunity to consolidate the gains made in your first Administration towards sustainable development and to catalyze actions worldwide to build a new green global prosperity’.

The letter calls for an Earth Summit in 2012 to focus strongly on the need for implementation of the many existing international commitments and agreements on sustainable development. It also suggests that ‘We need to reexamine and revitalize the various international institutions we have already put into place, such as the UN Commission on Sustainable Development.’

The letter is signed by the Directors and Presidents of thirteen organizations, including Greenpeace, the Natural Resources Defense Council and the National Wildlife Federation.

For the full letter please follow the links on the right.

Letter from US Civil Society to President Barak Obama (SEE: \\10.0.1.1\shared\WEB DEVELOPMENT\Earth Summit Website\Earth Summit 2012 server\Civil Society Letter_to_President_Obama 2009.pdf)

Stakeholder Forum and the European Economic and Social Committee host multi- stakeholder conference: ‘Uniting For Sustainability’: Towards a World Summit on Sustainable Development 2012

1st – 2nd October 2009: Together with the European Economic and Social Committee, Stakeholder Forum hosted a two-day multi-stakeholder conference on Earth Summit 2012 in Brussels. It was the first major event to be held in Europe to discuss a possible Rio+20 conference in 2012.

The conference was attended by a range of governmental and non-governmental actors, and there were presentations from a number of high-profile figures in the field of sustainable development and environmental governance.

After the event, the Swedish Presidency of the European Union issued a response to the conference in which it welcomed the focus on the Green Economy and Global Environmental Governance of a proposed Earth Summit or high level event in 2012. To read the full response, please follow the links on the right.

All the speakers’ presentations can be accessed below:

Lars-Göran Engfeldt, Former Ambassador, Sweden - Overview of the state of implementation of the sustainable development commitments taken in 1992 and 2002 Jacqueline McGlade, Executive Director European Environment Agency - "Environmental security – the other challenge for sustainable development"

Tom Spencer, Vice-Chairman, the Institute for Environmental Security - "Taking environmental security seriously: can we do so by 2012?"

Luc Bas, The Climate Group - "The Climate Group: States and regions alliance - contributing to environmental security"

Simon Le Grand, DG Development, European Commission - "The EU Development Context"

Felix Dodds, Executive Director of the Stakeholder Forum - "Sustainable Development Governance"

Mike Mathias, Chairman, CONCORD Policy Forum - Copy of M. Mathias's speech delivered in response to Franz Perrez, Deputy Head of the International Affairs Division, the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment

John Scanlon, Principle Advisor to the Executive Director on Policy and Programme, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) - "The Green Economy & International Environmental Governance"

John Hontelez, Secretary-General, European Environmental Bureau - "A European Eco-efficient economy"

Ida Edwertz, Division for International Affairs, Ministry of the Environment, Sweden - Speech in response to discussions on behalf of the Swedish Presidency of the European Union

Ricardo Neiva Tavares, Ambassadror of Brazil to the European Communities - Towards a World Summit of Sustainable Development 2012

Conference Programme English (SEE: \\10.0.1.1\shared\WEB DEVELOPMENT\Earth Summit Website\Earth Summit 2012 server\Programme SF&EESC workshop brussels 2009.pdf) Conference Programme French (SEE: \\10.0.1.1\shared\WEB DEVELOPMENT\Earth Summit Website\Earth Summit 2012 server\Unitiing for Sustainability Programme French.pdf) Biography of Speakers (SEE: \\10.0.1.1\shared\WEB DEVELOPMENT\Earth Summit Website\Earth Summit 2012 server\Unitiing for Sustainability Speakers List.pdf) Swedish EU Presidency Response to Conference (SEE: http://www.earthsummit2012.org/fileadmin/files/Earth_Summit_2012/brussels/Edwertz-en.pdf)

European Union calls for the Green Economy to be a major focus of an Earth Summit in 2012

6th October 2009: In a joint statement from the Third European Union-Brazil Summit in Stockholm, the EU has welcomed the Brazilian Government offer to host a United Nations high- level event on sustainable development in Rio de Janeiro in 2012. Both parties shared the view that the 'Green Economy' should be one of its main focus.

The EU and Brazil agreed that the event could renew political commitment towards this key issue of sustainable development and define appropriate new initiatives. They agreed that the event could also offer an opportunity to advance issues that have taken up prominent positions in the international agenda.

To read the full statement please follow the links on the right

Joint EU-Brazil Statement from Third EU-Brazil Summit in Stockholm, October 2009 (SEE: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/en/er/110440.pdf)

Stakeholder Forum Workshop Series in New York on Earth Summit 2012

October 2009: From 22nd- 24th October 2009 Stakeholder Forum facilitated two workshops to discuss the themes and focus of the proposed Rio+20 Earth Summit in 2012. The workshops sought to address the issues that will need to be addressed if the UN General Assembly agrees to a Summit. The workshops were designed for government participation only, and were made possible with the generous support of the Governments of Switzerland and France, and Skanska.

Stakeholder Forum prepared three papers for the workshop to focus discussions and stimulate debate on ‘Preparing the Summit:

Paper 1: Focussing the Summit Agenda (LINK: http://www.earthsummit2012.org/fileadmin/files/Earth_Summit_2012/new_york/focusing_the_s ummit_agenda_rev_4_16_october.pdf)

Paper 2: Organisational Options for the 2012 Sustainable Development Summit (LINK: http://www.earthsummit2012.org/fileadmin/files/Earth_Summit_2012/new_york/Summit_2012_ Organizational_Issues_Rev_3_11_October__3_.pdf)

Paper 3: Intergovernmental Roadmap to 2012 (LINK: http://www.earthsummit2012.org/fileadmin/files/Earth_Summit_2012/new_york/Preparing_the_ _Summit_roadmap.pdf)

Thumbnails and downloads of all the papers above available in right-hand column

Pakistan openly supports a proposed Earth Summit in 2012

November 2009: Pakistan has added its voice to the growing support for an Earth Summit in 2012. Dr Asad Khan, Minister at the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN stated:

"Clearly the challenge of sustainable development has become far too acute and big for any one country to tackle. The UN undoubtedly has a central role to play in this regard, particularly in advancing global sustainable development to meet new and emerging challenges in an increasingly globalized world”

A link should be made available to the full statement

India endorses a Rio+20 Earth Summit in 2012

November 2009: India has roundly endorsed the idea of a new summit and in a statement to UN Committee II (LINK) said "In this regard we also support the holding of a "Rio+20" event in Brazil in 2012 to comprehensively review progress made in implementing the sustainable development agenda."

A link should be made available to the full statement

Norway recognises the opportunities afforded by an Earth Summit in 2012

3rd November 2009: In a statement to the UN Committee II (link) Daniel Hirsch of the Permanent Mission of Norway to the United Nations has recognised the opportunity that a new Earth Summit could present. He noted in particular that a high level event might provide the momentum for reform of the International Environmental Governance system.

"A third proposal concerns reform of the International Environmental Governance system (IEG). This is not a new topic. The challenges faced by today’s system are well known. They include fragmentation, overlap, lack of coherence, multiple and costly administrative entities, combined with insufficient funding for environment and sustainable development action. The need for reform is obvious, but our ability to act has so far been inadequate. The outcome of the current Belgrade process initiated by the UNEP Governing Council may give an indication of whether there is sufficient political will and enough momentum to take the process further. If so, a high- level event may be the right forum”

To read the full statement, please follow the links on the right

Statement by Daniel Hirsch, Permanent Mission of Norway to the UN, to Committee II on the role a high level event on sustainable development in 2012 http://www.norway-un.org/Statements/Committe-Meetings/Sustainable-development/

G-77 propose Draft Resolution for the UN General Assembly on a Rio+20 Earth Summit in 2012 4th November 2009: Sudan on behalf of the G-77 and China has produced a draft resolution for the UN General Assembly addressing Earth Summit in 2012, Implementation of Agenda 21, and the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development

G77 Resolution \\10.0.1.1\shared\WEB DEVELOPMENT\Earth Summit Website\Earth Summit 2012 server\GA Resolutions\G-77_Draft_resolution_for_RiO_20_Nov_2009.pdf http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N09/647/86/PDF/N0964786.pdf?OpenElement

France and Brazil issue joint statement on climate change ahead of COP15 and call for international organisation dedicated to environment and sustainable development

14th November 2009: The governments of Brazil and France released a joint statement (LINK) today outlining a common position on climate change, within which they also called for the establishment of in international organization devoted to environment and sustainable development at the Earth Summit 2012 conference.

The statement has been released ahead of the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to be held in Copenhagen in December 2009. In it they both call for global temperature rises not to exceed 2 degrees, and for global emissions to be reduced by at least 50% on 1990 levels by 2050. The statement recognizes the responsibilities of Annex 1, Non Annex 1 and developing country Parties, calling on Annex 1 Parties to outline ‘emission pathways to reduce GHG emissions by 80% by 2050. Non-Annex 1 Parties should ‘pursue low carbon growth by implementing Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs)’ and developing countries are called upon to deviate from business as usual.

The statement emphasises the importance of the provision of financial resources for the implementation of the Convention, calling for a scaling up of international public financing for mitigation and adaptation actions in developing countries – particularly for poor and vulnerable countries in Africa, Least Developed Countries, and Small Island Developing States.

The statement represents an effort on the behalf of Brazil and France to build bridges between industrialised and developing countries for a positive outcome from Copenhagen, as well as a credible plan for progress on global sustainable development beyond COP15.

Brazil and France also concur in the need for the establishment of an international organization devoted to the environment and sustainable development, which would give coherence to the efforts of the international community in these areas. They are convinced that the impetus should be given in Copenhagen in December so that the organization could be established at the Rio+20 Conference in Rio de Janeiro in 2012.

LINKS AND DOWNLOADS (ON RIGHT) France-Brazil Joint Statement ahead of COP15 (\\10.0.1.1\shared\WEB DEVELOPMENT\Earth Summit Website\Earth Summit 2012 server\French and Brazil Climate Change Statement English.pdf )

Press Release on France-Brazil Joint Statement (http://www.franceonu.org/spip.php?article4233)

Commonwealth Civil Society Statement at Port of Spain supports Rio+20

22nd November 2009: Representatives of civil society organsiations across the Commonwealth have emphasised their support for a Rio+20 Earth Summit in 2012. At the Commonwealth Civil Society Forum, held ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Port of Spain, civil society groups issued a statement endorsing the Summit, which included a call for ‘the Green Economy to be the major focus of a Rio+20 Earth Summit in 2012.

To read the full statement please click on the links on the right.

Commonwealth Civil Society Statement Port of Spain http://www.commonwealthfoundation.com/uploads/fckeditor/00000206_CPF_2009_ %20Final_Statement.pdf

UN General Assembly passes resolution to hold a UN Conference on Sustainable Development at ‘the highest level possible’ in 2012

24th December 2009: The UN General Assembly has passed a resolution with unanimous approval to hold a conference on sustainable development in 2012 at the ‘highest level possible’. The resolution builds on the previous resolution tabled by the Chair of G77 to the 63rd session of the General Assembly in 2008, and has been enhanced significantly through consultation, debates and submissions since the idea for a Rio+2O Summit in 2012 was first proposed by President Lula of Brazil in 2007.

The most significant part of the resolution reads as follows:

20. Decides to organize, in 2012, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development at the highest possible level, including Heads of State and Government or other representatives, and in this regard accepts with gratitude the generous offer of the Government of Brazil to host the Conference, and also decides that:

(a) The objective of the Conference will be to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development, assessing the progress to date and the remaining gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development and addressing new and emerging challenges; the focus of the Conference will include the following themes to be discussed and refined during the preparatory process: a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication and the institutional framework for sustainable development; (b) The Conference will result in a focused political document; (c) The Conference and its preparatory process should take into account the decision taken at the eleventh session of the Commission to carry out, at the conclusion of the multi-year programme of work, an overall appraisal of the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation;

(d) The Conference, including its preparatory process, should ensure the balanced integration of economic development, social development and environmental protection, as these are interdependent and mutually reinforcing components of sustainable development;

(e) It is important that there be efficient and effective preparations at the local, national, regional and international levels by Governments and the United Nations system so as to ensure high-quality inputs without placing undue strain on Member States;

(f) It must be ensured that the Conference and related preparations do not adversely affect other ongoing activities;

For the full text, please click on the links on the right.

Report of Committee II to 64th Session of the UN General Assembly: Draft resolution III - Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (p20) (SEE: \\10.0.1.1\shared\WEB DEVELOPMENT\Earth Summit Website\Earth Summit 2012 server\GA Resolutions\Report of Committee II to UN GA 64.pdf) Key/Recent developments – this includes all developments since the GA Resolution

 UNEP release draft Ministerial Declaration in support of Rio+20

The final Declaration will be agreed at UNEP governing council meeting which will be held in Bali in February 2010.

 Thematic Focus of Earth Summit 2012- this provides some background info on the themes. (opens as separate sub pages when clicked)

 Green Economy

 Sustainable Development Governance

 Emerging Issues

 Review of Commitments

 Major Groups and Stakeholders – Agenda 21 coming from the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992 recognised the need to engage a diverse range of stakeholders, as they will be the ones most affect by change and also the group likely to instigate the changes needed to achieve sustainable development. It officially recognised the concept of Major Groups. These are key-stakeholders who should participate and be involved in the process. The 9 Major Groups are

 Indigenous Peoples

 Farmers

 Workers & Trade Unions

 Local Authorities

 Business and Industry

 Science and Technology Community

 Women

 Children & Youth

 NGOs

"One of the fundamental prerequisites for the achievement of sustainable development is broad public participation in decision-making" Agenda 21 Chapter 23

Within each major group as it relates to Sustainable Development, either an Earth Summit or the Commission on Sustainable Development, there will be a focal point (either one or two) who will facilitate the inputs of the Major Group stakeholders into the process

Activities

Stakeholder Forum has been involved in discussion surrounding an Earth Summit in 2012 for a number of years, we have been working and engaging with governments and civil society on the need for an earth summit and the possible areas which an earth summit may address. You can find out more about our activities in the run up to the General Assembly Resolution below

 Informal meeting organised by Stakeholder Forum in New York on Earth Summit 2012

Between 22nd and 24th of October 2009 Stakeholder Forum with the support of the Governments of Switzerland and France and Skanska facilitated a number of workshops around the proposed summit. The informal workshops looked at the issues that will need to be addressed if the UN General Assembly agrees to a Summit. Stakeholder Forum produced three papers on organisational issues, focus of the summit and the roadmap to the summit.

 This workshop looked at the issues that will need to be addressed if the UN General Assembly agrees to a Summit. Stakeholder Forum has produced three papers on organisational issues, focus of the summit and the roadmap to the summit. You can read these papers below

Stakeholder Forum produced an outcome document from this meeting which you can read here

 US Stakeholders meet to discuss Rio+20

Executive Director Felix Dodds presented the case on the need for the Rio Earth Summit in 2012, at an event organised by US Stakeholders in July 2009, the 2 day event was hosted by Justice and Sustainability and National Resource Defence Council. You can download Felix’s presentation here

 CSD 17th May 2009

Side event takes place on Rio 2012, Felix Dodds Executive Director of Stakeholder Forum delivers speech on why we need this event and themes and issues that could be addressed

Various major groups and civil society write about the need for an earth summit in stakeholder newsletter “Outreach Issues”. You can read the individual articles here

 Preparatory meeting CSD 17 February 2009

In February 2009 during the IPM for CSD-17 Stakeholder Forum convened an informal dinner to stimulate discussion on the possibility of a summit. On the back of those discussions, a Non-Paper was produced

 Stakeholder Forum Workshop 13th -14th November 2008

Stakeholder Forum with support of the Basque Government hosted an informal workshop on 13th - 14th November in San Sebastian, to kick-start discussions on the realisation of an Earth Summit in 2012.

The workshop convened representatives of governments, civil society, intergovernmental organisations and UN agencies to discuss the challenges that lie ahead.

The Donostia Declaration was an outcome of this workshop

 13th -14th November 2008 Stakeholder Forum with support of the Basque Government hosted an informal workshop on 13th - 14th November in San Sebastian, to kick-start discussions on the realisation of an Earth Summit in 2012.

The workshop convened representatives of governments, civil society, intergovernmental organisations and UN agencies to discuss the challenges that lie ahead.

The Role of Workshops in Agenda-Setting

The workshop in San Sebastian followed a similar pattern to those organised by Stakeholder Forum from February 1998 to April 2000, leading up to the World Summit in 2002.

In 1998 governments recovering from a less than successful Rio+5 were apprehensive about the need for a Rio+10. As governments attending the workshops discussed the possibilities of a Summit, that apprehension turned into enthusiasm. It became clear that the sustainable development agenda needed an influx of energy to focus governments, intergovernmental organisations and stakeholders into addressing why much of the Rio Agenda 21 was not being implemented, and, importantly, it was recognised that a Summit was needed to address new and emerging issues.

The workshops created a necessary space for discussion and drafted 'non-papers' identifying topics for the agenda, and also drafted decisions on the operational nature of the World Summit in 2002.

- Workshops – all info on the Donostia Workshop, the New York and European workshops. Key downloads on the right

- Informal Meetings – all info on informal dinners hosted by SF. Again, minutes and downloads on the right

- Side events and speeches – e.g. Felix’s CSD17 speech

News –

this should be an archive of all news. Latest news should simply go on the home page.

Statements and Publications Key documents and publications relating to Earth Summit, including Donostia Declaration in all languages, outcomes from meetings, the ‘primers’ that Richard wrote. Also all government statements. Any more thematic reports should go in the thematic sub-pages

 Donostia Declaration

 Outcome of Informal meeting NY workshop

 Letter from US stakeholders to Obama

 GA resolution

 UNEP resolution on Rio+20

 France and Brazil Statement

 G77 draft resolution

 Individual country submissions on idea of Earth summit

Historical Documents – INCORPORATE THESE ABOVE IN THE HISTORY SECTION. PERHAPS ALTERNATIVE PAGES?

The Stockholm Declaration

The 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment focused on the 'human' environment. The conference issued the Declaration on the Human Environment, a statement containing 26 principles and 109 recommendations (now referred to as the Stockholm Declaration) from which body of international environmental law has now developed. The creation of an environmental agency was also approved, now known as UNEP. In addition, there was the adoption of a Stockholm Action Program. There were no legally binding outcomes resulting from the Stockholm Conference. Principle 21 of the Declaration was a restatement of law already in existence since Roman times, namely that of 'good neighbourliness' (Wikipedia). The Stockholm Declaration is the first document to explicitly recognise the right to a healthy environment, the declaration places great emphasis on protecting both species and their habitat.

The Brundtland Report, ’Our Common Future’

In 1987 there was this report coming from the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED), chaired by Gro Harlem Brundtland held in 1983. The Report defined Sustainable Development as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". The report highlighted three fundamental components to sustainable development: environmental protection, economic growth and social equity. The concept of sustainable development focused attention on finding strategies to promote economic and social development in ways that avoid environmental degradation, over-exploitation or pollution, and sidelined less productive debates about whether to prioritize development or the environment. Agenda 21

The full text of Agenda 21 was revealed at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development UNCED or Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, 20 years after the 1st world environmental summit. 178 governments voted to adopt the programme, which had four main sections

 Social And Economic Dimensions  Conservation and Management of Resources  Strengthening the role of Major Groups  Means of Implementation

Agenda 21 is a comprehensive plan of action to be taken globally, nationally and locally by organizations of the United Nations System, Governments, and Major Groups in every area in which human impacts on the environment. The Commission on Sustainable Development was set up to monitor and ensure affective implementation of the agreement.

Rio Declaration

Also produced at the Earth Summit in 1992 was the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development which set out 27 guiding principles for sustainable development throughout the world. It states that the only way to have any form of long term growth that this must be grounded in the environment. For example principle 15 advocates the use of the Precautionary Principle.

Johannesburg Plan of Implementation

In 2002 the representatives of 191 governments gathered in Johannesburg, South Africa for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), with the aim of examining the progress made on the outcomes of the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, and also to reinvigorate the world’s peoples toward true sustainable development. The result was a 54 page agreement divided into 11 sections on a specific focus. The Plan of Implementation set out specific timetable to address some issues including reducing the rate of loss of biodiversity by 2010 and half the number of people without access to drinking water by 2015. The Johannesburg Plan of Implementation strengthened the role of the Commission on Sustainable Development in continuing international oversight monitoring progress on sustainability agreements.

NGO Reports and Papers

THE FOUNEX REPORT ON DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT - 1971

This report play a critical role in laying the ground work for the 1972 Stockholm conference, and came from the Founex seminar held at in Founex Switzerland. The report was the first to identify key environment-development objectives and relationships, and contributed to identifying and bridging the policy and conceptual differences that separated developed and developing countries. Towards Earth Summit II Rio +5

This report is the result of a consultation by the Commission on Sustainable Development NGO Steering committee and a range of Stakeholders who were involved in sustainable development, both its monitoring and its implementation. It was produced in the run up to the 5 year review of the Rio Earth Summit and includes recommendations and actions in a number of areas.

Earth Summit 2002

This paper is the result of an informal discussion facilitated by the Stakeholder Forum and the Commission on Sustainable Development NGO Steering committee at UNEP governing council in 1999. The paper was produced to stimulate discussion and debate about issues to be addressed and progress that could be made at an Earth Summit in 2002

NGO Treaties – INCORPORATE INTO SECTION ABOVE

 1992 Rio Treaties

Peoples Earth Declaration

Rio De Janeiro Declaration

Earth Charter

Ethical Commitments to Global Ecological Posture and Behaviour

Complete list of Alternative Treaties

· Alternative Treaties

· Declarations and General Principles

 1 - People's Earth Declaration  2 - Rio de Janeiro Declaration  3 - The Earth Charter  4 - Ethical Commitments to Global Ecological Posture and Behaviour

· Education, Communication and Cooperation

 5 - Treaty on Environmental Education for Sustainable Societies and Global Responsibility  6 - Communication, Information, Media and Networking Treaty  7 - Treaty for Non-Governmental Organization Cooperation and Sharing of Resources  8 - Treaty on a Technology Bank Solidarity System for Technological Exchange  9 - Rio Framework Treaty on NGO Global Decision Making  10 - Code of Conduct for NGOs · Alternative Economic Issues

 11 - Treaty on Alternative Economic Models  12 - Alternative Treaty on Trade and Sustainable Development  13 - Debt Treaty  14 - Treaty of the People of the Americas  15 - Capital Flight and Corruption Treaty  16 - Treaty on Transnational Corporations: Democratic Regulation of their Conduct

· Consumption, Poverty, Food and Subsistence

 17 - Treaty on Consumption and Lifestyle  18 - Poverty Treaty  19 - Food Security Treaty  20 - Sustainable Agriculture Treaty  21 - Fresh Water Treaty  22 - Fisheries Treaty

· Climate, Energy and Waste

 23 - Alternative Non-Governmental Agreement on Climate Change  24 - Treaty on Energy  25 - Treaty on Waste  26 - Treaty on the Nuclear Problem

· Land and Natural Resources

 27 - Forest Treaty  28 - Treaty Regarding Arid and Semi-Arid Zones  29 - Treaty on "Cerrados" (Scrubland)

· Marine and Ocean Issues

 30 - Pollution of the Marine Environment  31 - Minimizing Physical Alteration of Marine Ecosystems  32 - Protecting the Sea from Global Atmospheric Changes  33 - Marine Protected Areas  34 - Resolution Concerning Guanabara Bay: Humankind's Heritage

· Biodiversity and Biotechnology

 35 - Citizens' Commitments on Biodiversity  36 - Marine Biodiversity Treaty  37 - Draft Protocol on Scientific Research Components for the Conservation of Biodiversity  38 - Citizens' Commitments on Biotechnology

· Cross-Sectoral Issues  39 - A Global Women's Treaty for NGOs Seeking a Just and Healthy Planet  40 - Treaty on Population, Environment and Development  41 - Youth Treaty  42 - Treaty in Defense and Protection of Children and Adolescents  43 - International Treaty between Non-Governmental Organizations and Indigenous Peoples  44 - Treaty Against Racism  45 - Treaty on Militarism, the Environment and Development  46 - Treaty on Urbanization

- Link to Felixs blog, back to SF blog and media page, and other blogs

Home Page Centre Piece

 The Centre Piece would then have an intro statement, the GA resolution, what SF thinks the Earth Summit is about e.g. “sustainable development- the peace of the future” or a new blurb, highlighting that SF was instrumental in pushing for a resolution

 Below this a feature: Videos of Maurice Strong and Lars on the need for Rio, to be put in News section once more information and activities take place arrives

 A call for people /organisations to submit links and articles

 Sign up to newsletter

Right Side

Under this latest news and documents, which I would think should be kept to no more than 4, then moved to the News sub-page, which is accessed through the left tab, Poss link to latest news section on main website

Thematic Focus Move this to the Thematic Focus sub-page, which will list all the thematic Areas of the Summit. Each one has a link to separate subpage with a blurb, within these sections there will be links to:

 Papers and Publications

 Processes (CBD, UNCCD, UNFCCC etc..)

 Briefing Papers (existing papers but also some to be written by SF)

 Key Dates

 Organisations

In the following areas:

 Green Economy

One of the themes of the 2012 Earth Summit is the Green Economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty reduction.

The current manifold of crisis facing the world currently affects everyone, but some more than others. The financial crisis, water crisis, food crisis and climate crisis are all interlinked. Concrete efforts are needed at a global scale to address these issues.

A "Global Green New Deal" has been put forward by many as a solution to move beyond the current failing paradigm to create a more equitable and sustainable future.

UNEP Green Economy Initiative

New Economics Foundation nef Green New Deal

HSBC Climate Change Centre of Excellence and UN Global Compact "Building a Green Recovery"

ITUC Just Transition concept in the move to a low carbon economy

Tim Jacksons of the Sustainable Development Commission report Prosperity without Growth

The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) Policy makers Report

 Key Dates ?

 Organisations

UNEP Green Economy Initiative

HSBC Climate Change Centre of Excellence

Sustainable Development Governance

In recent years there has been a lot of debate around the role of governance, and way of implementing and strengthening global governance. It is a must used cliché but global problems require global solutions. The Rio Summit in 1992 and the launch of Agenda 21 showed that with high level commitment and the inputs of stakeholders innovative and progressive solutions can be made. In September 2009 the governments of France and Germany wrote to Secretary General Ban Ki Moon calling on reform of International Environmental Governance

Historically Stakeholder Forum has been involved in drawing together a number of actors and stakeholders to discuss issue on governance. We have been involved in a number of key activities around an array of international and intergovernmental conferences. ieg-dossier was an initiative of Stakeholder Forum dedicated to providing information on intergovernmental negotiations and processes related to the strengthening of the United Nation’s environment and development architecture. ieg-dossier focuses on providing insightful information regarding current or future negotiations related to UN reform, outlining: the status of reform negotiations; developing country proposals; developed country proposals; the UN system’s response; intergovernmental proposals; and NGO and Major Group proposals. Stakeholder Forum has produced a number of papers on reform of international institutions

WSSD Plan of Implementation

UN Secretary-General's High-level Panel on System-Wide Coherence's Report "Delivering as One”

IUCN Paper Governance for Sustainability United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies International Sustainable Development Governance Report

Governance Structures for National Sustainable Development Strategies

UN DESA, CSD, GA

 Key Dates

UNEP governing Council Bali

Proposals for a Sustainable Development Institutional Initiative

Governance for Sustainable Development

 Organisations

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) section on Governance

United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies International Sustainable Development Governance Report

Centre for the Study of Global Governance at the London School of Economics

Emerging Issues

It is our belief that one of the most important and cross cutting issues in relation to sustainable development is environmental security. This section is focused on this area as Stakeholder Forum believes that these themes will be reflected within the Emerging issues thematic area.

Within the academic sphere environmental security is defined as the relationship between security concerns such as armed conflict and the natural environment. A small but rapidly developing field, it has become particularly relevant for those studying resource scarcity and conflict in the developing world.

The Millennium Project defines environmental security as environmental viability for life support, with three sub-elements: · preventing or repairing military damage to the environment, · preventing or responding to environmentally caused conflicts, and · protecting the environment due to its inherent moral value.

But Environmental Security is about more than that it is about protecting the environment and the multifaceted benefits it gives. A damaged and exploited environment will have knock on effects on the population that live within it. Environment Security has many components

 Water  Food  Climate  Energy  Migration  Health  Biodiversity  Papers and Publications

Report on the Roundtable Workshop on Environment and Security “Environment and Security: Challenges for Change"

Executive Summary of the Millennium Projects "2009 State of the Future”

? UNFCCC

 Key Dates

Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future has produced two books edited by Executive Director Felix Dodds in relation to the emerging security themes,

Human and Environment Security: An agenda for Change available buy from Earthscan publications

Climate Change and Energy Insecurities available to buy from Earthscan publications

 Organisations

Institute for Environmental Security

SUBPAGES OF ENVIRONMENT AND SECURITY  Water

Water is the fundamental resource on the planet, integral to all ecological and societal activities. It is bound with food and energy production, transportation industrial development and human health. Freshwater is abundant globally but distributed unevenly with many areas of the world facing water scarcity issues. Water and water supply infrastructure are already under increasing stress.

Water World Report Why the global climate challenge is the global water challenge

Water Day Link

World Water Development Report 'Water in a Changing World'

Water for Life Community Water Security

UNFCCC, CSD

 Key Dates

 Organisations

UN Water

 Food

With the global population estimated to increase from just over 6 billion to 9.2 billion by 2050, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that global food production will have to increase by 70% compared to 2005-7 levels.

Food supply relies heavily on scarce global resources such as soil, water and biodiversity, it is important that efforts to achieve global food security over the longer term are underpinned by sustainable natural resource management, taking account of climate impacts, a growing population, demographic changes and societal changes such as changing dietary habits. The United Nations Secretary-General established the Task Force on the Global Food Security Crisis in April, 2008. Composed of the heads of specialized agencies, funds and programmes, the Bretton Woods institutions, and relevant parts of the UN Secretariat, the Task Force is chaired by the UN Secretary-General, with FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf serving as Vice-Chairman. Assistant Secretary-General David Nabarro was appointed Coordinator of the Task Force in January 2009

International Assesment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) "Agriculture at a Crossroads"

World Summit on Food Security

Technical Papers from Expert meeting on How to Feed the World

 Key Dates

 Organisations

 Climate

The environment is the planetary support system on which all human activities depend on, a well function and healthy environment is essential for human security. Climate change is a long term global security problem. Climate change involves the interaction of many systems, such as the atmosphere, hydrosphere and the biosphere and is a macro driver a range of environmental change such as coastal erosion, increased storm intensity and species migration etc. Climate change is a symptom of unsustainable development, due to the exploitation of non renewable resources, and the unsustainable lifestyles based on mass production and consumption.

The full effects of climate change are not yet know but we are already seeing evidence of a changing global environment. There is a danger of high impact events such as melting glaciers and large scale shifts in the El Nino Southern Oscillation phenomenon (Barnett and Adger, 2007). A stable climate is crucial as climate change has the potential to undermine human security by reducing access to and the quality of natural resources that are important to sustain livelihoods (Barnett and Adger, 2007). The potential for increased famines, floods and disease can lead to mass migration; increased completion for natural resources, food, arable land and energy can also lead to economic crises. The kinds of human insecurity that climate change may affect can increase the risk of violent conflict. A UNEP report in 2007 suggested that the conflict in Darfur has in part been driven by climate change and environmental degradation. Climate Change is a security issue because if we do not deal with it people will die and states can fail and conflict may increase.

The issue of climate change was for the first time discussed by the UN Security Council when in April 2007 a debate was held on climate change as a serious threat to security, peace and future stability. Although no action was taken, its placing as a matter of debate in the UN Security Council reveals a concern for potential social unrest as a result of the effects of climate change.

It will be the poorest of the world that is hardest hit when it comes to the effects of climate change and this is already being felt across the world. The effect of climate change has the potential to undo positive development work already achieved. Climate variability and shifting weather patterns will have a huge affect on the ability of communities to develop in a sustainable way.

Copenhagen Accord

AWG LCA and KP texts

"Climate Change as a Security Risk" German Advisory Council

Greening the Security Council: Climate Change as a Threat to International Peace and Security

Executive Summary of Confronting Climate Change: Avoiding the Unmanageable and managing the unavoidable

UNFCCC, UNCCD

 Key Dates

BONN & COP 16

 Organisations

 Energy

The International Energy Agency in its World Energy Outlook has summarised the issues of energy security facing the world as insufficient and secure supplies at affordable prices • environmental harm caused by consuming too much fossil-fuel energy

• the need to diversify production and consumption both by geographical location and fuel type

• the impact of rising oil and gas demand increasing the vulnerability of consumers to disruption and price shock

Energy Security can have a large affect politically on a countries and regions as a lack of access to energy can have potentially devasting affects. An over reliance on energy from another nation or region can put a nations development in jeopardy.

Access to clean, reliable and renewable sources of Energy are needed to move to a low carbon economy and secure sustainable societies into the 21st century

World Energy Outlook

Launching an Energy Revolution in a Time of Economic Crisis

Energy Security and Renewables

Renewables Global Status Report

 Key Dates

 Organisations

Energy Security in a Multipolar World, a research group collaboration between the University of Exeter and the University of Sussex

 Migration

Human migration is the movement of a group of people from one district to another. A range of differing types of migration can take place; there can be internal migration within an area, or external between areas. Migration can be forced, economic, seasonal, urban to rural or rural to urban. It can have a profound affect positive and negative on both the area suffering out migration and in migration.

The International Organisation on Migration describes environmental migrants as "persons or groups of persons who, for compelling reasons of sudden or progressive change in the environment that adversely affects their lives or living conditions, are obliged to leave their habitual homes, or choose to do so, either temporarily or permanently, and who move either within their country or abroad”. (IOM 2007)

Currently there are about 192 million people living outside their place of birth, which is about three per cent of the world's population.

This means that roughly one of every thirty-five persons in the world is a migrant. Between 1965 and 1990, the number of international migrants increased by 45 million-an annual growth rate of about 2.1 per cent. The current annual growth rate is about 2.9 per cent.

Climate Change, natural disasters and human displacement a UNHCR perspective

Migration in an Interconnected world: New Directions for action

 Key Dates

 Organisations

International Organisation on Migration

Environmental Change and Forced Migration Scenarios (EACH-FOR)

Global Forum on Migration and Development

 Health

The environment has a large affect on the health of communities and individuals. Water and Air pollution can have a large affect on a population particularly children. Currently 1.8 billion people a year die from water borne diseases. The use of chemicals and waste can also have an effect on a population if not properly used or disposed off. The WHO estimates that a quarter of all preventable illnesses which are directly caused by environmental factors, can be stopped by sound environmental management. It is often the case that the poor and marginalised in society live suffer from greater environmental degradation impacting on their health and their development potential.

'Health and the Environment'

Invest in Health, build a safer future

 Key Dates

 Organisations

Global Health Security Initiative

 Biodiversity

Biodiversity is the variety of living organisms that exist on Earth, and is fundamental to the function of all ecosystems. It is often defined as the variety of all forms of life, from genes to species, through to the broad scale of ecosystems. This biodiversity must be protected an enhanced to protect the future of our planet. Biodiversity can affect the resilience and productivity of ecosystems.

Although it is recognised that biodiversity plays a hugely important role in making the planet habitable, there is a lack of knowledge of how organisms interact and the complex nature of relationships. In one shocking fact while we know how many stars are in the Galaxy we live in, we do not know the number of species that exist on the planet we live on.

There are number of treaties and international organisations that exist to protect this biodiversity.

The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety seeks to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology. The protocol contains reference to a precautionary approach and reaffirms the precaution language in Principle 15 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. The Protocol also establishes a Biosafety Clearing-House to facilitate the exchange of information on living modified organisms and to assist countries in the implementation of the Protocol

2010 is the international year of Biodiversity and is run through the Convention on Biological Diversity

Convention on Biological Diversity

Cartagena Protocol

Global Environmental Outlook 4

The 2nd Global Biodiversity Outlook

The precautionary principle in biodiversity conservation and natural resource management

Ecosystem Services: A Guide for decision makers

 Key Dates

 Organisations

World Resource Institute

TEEB Review of Commitments ??????????????????

 Key Dates

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PUBLICATAIONS, REPORTS AND ARTICLES (WITH DROP-DOWN MENU)

OUTREACH ISSUES (NEW PAGE AND IN DROP-DOWN MENU)

Blurb about Outreach

Links to all the issues of Outreach that have included articles calling for an Earth Summit in 2012

SEE: http://www.earthsummit2012.org/index.php?id=633