United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development

United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. The conference, also known as Rio+20, was a major United Nations gathering that took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 20 to 22 June 2012, twenty years after the Earth Summit and ten years after the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa. It was attended by Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Dilma Rousseff, the President of Brazil, as well as representatives from European Union, China, India, and United States. The conference aimed to address the pressing issues of sustainable development, including climate change, biodiversity, and poverty reduction, with the participation of International Labour Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, and United Nations Development Programme.

● Introduction

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development was a significant event that brought together world leaders, including Barack Obama, Angela Merkel, and Vladimir Putin, to discuss the future of sustainable development and the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals. The conference was organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the United Nations Environment Programme, with the support of World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The event was also attended by representatives from non-governmental organizations, such as Greenpeace, World Wildlife Fund, and Oxfam, as well as academic institutions, including Harvard University, University of Oxford, and University of Cambridge.

● Background

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development was held in the context of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, which was adopted at the Earth Summit in 1992, and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, which was adopted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002. The conference aimed to review the progress made since the Earth Summit and to address the new and emerging challenges related to sustainable development, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and poverty reduction, with the participation of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The conference was also informed by the Millennium Development Goals, which were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2000, and the Paris Agreement, which was adopted at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference.

● Objectives_and_Outcomes

The main objectives of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development were to secure renewed political commitment to sustainable development, to assess the progress made since the Earth Summit, and to address the new and emerging challenges related to sustainable development. The conference resulted in the adoption of the Rio+20 Outcome Document, which outlined a set of commitments and actions to be taken by governments, international organizations, and civil society to promote sustainable development, including the Sustainable Development Goals, which were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015, with the support of European Commission, African Union, and Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The conference also launched a number of initiatives, including the Sustainable Energy for All initiative, which was launched by Ban Ki-moon and World Bank, and the Green Economy initiative, which was launched by United Nations Environment Programme and International Labour Organization.

● Participation_and_Representation

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development was attended by representatives from over 190 countries, including heads of state and heads of government, as well as representatives from international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and civil society. The conference also included a number of side events and parallel events, which were organized by governments, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations, including World Health Organization, United Nations Children's Fund, and International Committee of the Red Cross. The conference provided an opportunity for stakeholders to engage in discussions and to share their experiences and perspectives on sustainable development, including European Investment Bank, Asian Development Bank, and African Development Bank.

● Major_Issues_and_Agreements

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development addressed a number of major issues related to sustainable development, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and poverty reduction. The conference resulted in a number of agreements, including the Rio+20 Outcome Document, which outlined a set of commitments and actions to be taken by governments, international organizations, and civil society to promote sustainable development. The conference also launched a number of initiatives, including the Sustainable Energy for All initiative and the Green Economy initiative, with the support of G20, G7, and G8. The conference also addressed the issue of financing for development, including the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, which was adopted at the Third International Conference on Financing for Development.

● Follow-up_and_Implementation

The follow-up and implementation of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development are being coordinated by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the United Nations Environment Programme, with the support of World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The conference outcomes are being implemented through a number of initiatives, including the Sustainable Development Goals, which were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015, and the Paris Agreement, which was adopted at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference. The conference also established a number of follow-up mechanisms, including the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, which was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012, with the participation of International Labour Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, and United Nations Development Programme.

Category:United Nations conferences