A selection of news and event announcements, relevant to those interested in local sustainability worldwide in the context of Rio+20. 

Rio+20 Bureau and UN Member States convene a dialogue with Major Groups

In a meeting during the final preparatory meetings in New York, co-chaired by ICLEI's Susanne Salz and Ambassador Kim, Co-Chair of the Bureau, the Rio+20 Bureau and UN Member States met with the nine Major groups to exchange views just 52 days ahead of Rio+20.

Major Groups delivered a joint message urging for support with accommodation in Rio as well as calling for more active participation and speaking rights as laid out in the UN General Assembly resolution.

The dialogue was divided into three thematic clusters convened by three Major Groups each:

(A) Innovation in the context of Rio+20 by the Scientific and Technological Community, Business and Industry, and Local Authorities Major Groups,

(B) Ambitious and just Transitions to the Future we Want By the Women, Indigenous Peoples, and Workers and Trade Unions Major Groups, and

(C) Human Rights and Governance in the context of Rio+20 by the Farmers, Children and Youth, and Non-Governmental Organizations Major Groups. Members of the Rio+20 Bureau and UN Member states answered questions and commented on the many issues raised by the Major Group delegates.

The EU and Brazil were particularly active among the national delegations, while the Italian member of the Bureau was particularly supportive of the important role of Local Authorities.

Find out more about the ongoing negotiations at www.iisd.ca/uncsd.

Download the Local Authority Major Group intervention document here.

Local Government delegation meet UN Secretary General

April 25, 2012

On 23 April, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and UN-Habitat, with the support of Cities Alliance, brought together local and regional governments leaders and networks at a meeting in New York. They presented the key messages by Local and Regional Governments for Rio+20 to the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, United Nations officials and the Group of Friends of Sustainable Cities.
 
The document "Joint Messages of Local and Sub-national Governments", signed by ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, UCLG, Metropolis, C40, NRG4SD, FOGAR, with the support of the Ford Foundation and UN-Habitat, put forward eight recommendations to reach a sustainable urbanization, metropolization and regionalization.

For further information visit www.iisd.ca/uncsd/iinzod2/enbots/, read more at www.cities-localgovernments.org or read the speech by the UN Secretary General at www.un.org/sg/statements/index.asp?nid=6014.

Sustainable Development Dialogues Now Online

25 April 2012

The Government of Brazil is convening a Sustainable Development Dialogue series with the aim to bring together civil society, public and private sectors, the scientific community and academia to contribute ideas and suggestions on sustainable development. Conclusions and recommendations from the Dialogues will be conveyed directly to the heads of State and Government gathering in Rio June 20-22.  

These dialogues have already commenced online, and will culminate in a live event in Rio in the days prior to the UN Conference.  The online Rio+20 Sustainable Development Dialogues present a unique opportunity for civil society and non-state actors to contribute to the discussion and influence the process by sharing expertise and innovative recommendations for the historic Rio+20 Conference.

For more information, please visit the online platform at http://www.riodialogues.org.  Alternatively, find an overview of the Sustainable Development Dialogues here, and instructions on how to join the platform here.

84 days to Rio+20: What will it achieve?

28 March 2012

On the road to Rio+20, the final sprint has begun.

UN Member States are intensely negotiating each paragraph of the proposed outcome document. It is impossible to predict whether Rio+20 will reach its potential to be a historic moment for the planet and humanity. We need cities and local governments to be engaged and contribute to making it a success. ICLEI's Susanne Salz was present in New York this past week to advocate for cities and open doors for the future.

Will the world agree on ambitious Sustainable Development Goals? Should we agree to move towards a global Green Economy? How should the global institutions be designed to ensure we can make these things happen? The countries of the world are still debating these issues. Many delegates agree that cities and Local Governments have an important role to play in achieving sustainable development. ICLEI and its members have been acting, and it is likely our efforts will be acknowledged and encouraged at Rio+20.

More events

For a full list of meetings and events related to Rio+20, including regional preparatory meetings, click here.