It is now 20 years since United Nations landmark 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, where for the first time world leaders came together on one platform to debate on issues of development and environment. This year, UN is again bringing together governments, international institutions and major groups at the Rio+20, the short name for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, in Brazil from 20-22 June. This conference is an opportunity to review progress, define pathways to a safer, more equitable, cleaner, greener and more prosperous world for all.
Rio+20 is an opportunity for all governments to help achieve sustainable development and address the interrelated environmental, economic and social crises and ensure food, water and energy security for all. In this direction, WWF globally feels that world leaders must deliver on the following priorities:
Sustainable Development Goals (SCG): World leaders should launch an expert-led process to develop fully-funded Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with clear targets, timelines and indicators, and which must be integrated with the existing post-MDG review process. Governments should also agree on key thematic areas for the SDGs, including food, water and energy security for all.
Valuing Natural Wealth: World leaders should: 1) agree to set up clear and comparable methodologies for indicators to measure the quality of the environment, nature, biodiversity and ecosystem alongside existing economic (GDP) and social (IHDI) indicators; and 2) pledge to take fiscal, legal and regulatory measure to better embed the value of nature, biodiversity and ecosystem services in national accounts and corporate balance sheets.
Subsidy Reform: Governments should agree to transparent annual reporting and review on subsidy reform leading to the elimination, by 2020, of all subsidies that negatively impact the environment.
Ocean Governance: World leaders should initiate, as soon as possible, the negotiation of an implementing agreement to UNCLOS that would address the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
Food, Water and Energy goals: World leaders must agree to ambitious goals to deliver universal access to food, water and energy by 2030, with social, economic and environmental consideration embedded as objectives under each goal.
Keep up with news about the summit by following us on Facebook and Twitter as we bring to you updates in real time from the conference. Don’t forget to spread the word amongst your friends and families.
Show the world leaders what kind of sustainable lifestyle you want for the future, by uploading your own pictures at the United Nations ‘Pictures of the world’ website.
WWF’s Earth Book gives you the chance to tell us what you love most about the natural world, and couldn’t bear to lose! Over the next few weeks, the Earth Book will be filled with stories from people around the world about their experiences and connections with nature. Add your story here.
WWF’s Side Event at Rio+20: Sustainable and Affordable Access to Energy: From Field to Policy
17 June 2012
Access to economically viable and sustainable energy is fundamental for the economic, social and political development of a country. Today, it is estimated that 1.4 billion people live without access to reliable electricity and 2.7 billion without access to clean cooking facilities, which has several environmental and human health consequences.
The WWF side event will address these problems showing success stories from the field, and demonstration projects that depict energy access models complemented by presentations from governments thus creating a link between field work and national policy. In showing the way from pilots to policy, stakeholders in different countries will come on as partners and add their perspective of policy, governance, technology, and entrepreneurship in the given context of energy access in three selected countries, India, Uganda and Madagascar.
What are WWF’s global Asks from Rio+20?
Rio+20 is an opportunity for all governments to help achieve sustainable development and address the interrelated environmental, economic and social crises and ensure food, water and energy security for all. In this direction, WWF globally feels that world leaders must deliver on the following priorities:
Sustainable Development Goals (SCG): World leaders should launch an expert-led process to develop fully-funded Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with clear targets, timelines and indicators, and which must be integrated with the existing post-MDG review process. Governments should also agree on key thematic areas for the SDGs, including food, water and energy security for all.
Valuing Natural Wealth: World leaders should: 1) agree to set up clear and comparable methodologies for indicators to measure the quality of the environment, nature, biodiversity and ecosystem alongside existing economic (GDP) and social (IHDI) indicators; and 2) pledge to take fiscal, legal and regulatory measure to better embed the value of nature, biodiversity and ecosystem services in national accounts and corporate balance sheets.
Subsidy Reform: Governments should agree to transparent annual reporting and review on subsidy reform leading to the elimination, by 2020, of all subsidies that negatively impact the environment.
Ocean Governance: World leaders should initiate, as soon as possible, the negotiation of an implementing agreement to UNCLOS that would address the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
Food, Water and Energy goals: World leaders must agree to ambitious goals to deliver universal access to food, water and energy by 2030, with social, economic and environmental consideration embedded as objectives under each goal.
What you can do?
While the conference will be attended by world leaders and international organizations, you too can participate by making your voice heard, and ensuring our world leaders represent our views.Keep up with news about the summit by following us on Facebook and Twitter as we bring to you updates in real time from the conference. Don’t forget to spread the word amongst your friends and families.
Show the world leaders what kind of sustainable lifestyle you want for the future, by uploading your own pictures at the United Nations ‘Pictures of the world’ website.
WWF’s Earth Book gives you the chance to tell us what you love most about the natural world, and couldn’t bear to lose! Over the next few weeks, the Earth Book will be filled with stories from people around the world about their experiences and connections with nature. Add your story here.
WWF’s Side Event at Rio+20: Sustainable and Affordable Access to Energy: From Field to Policy
17 June 2012
Access to economically viable and sustainable energy is fundamental for the economic, social and political development of a country. Today, it is estimated that 1.4 billion people live without access to reliable electricity and 2.7 billion without access to clean cooking facilities, which has several environmental and human health consequences.
The WWF side event will address these problems showing success stories from the field, and demonstration projects that depict energy access models complemented by presentations from governments thus creating a link between field work and national policy. In showing the way from pilots to policy, stakeholders in different countries will come on as partners and add their perspective of policy, governance, technology, and entrepreneurship in the given context of energy access in three selected countries, India, Uganda and Madagascar.
