Opening session of the Rio+20 Conference
“We share the same planet. We face the same challenges. We share a common responsibility towards the future generations.” President Barroso said in his speech. He reiterated EU's strong commitment to sustainable development
At the opening session of the Rio+20 Conference President Barroso expressed "Europe's unwavering commitment to sustainable development, to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals, and to deliver with all of you a clear message on a common vision and an agenda for change".
He insisted on the need to agree on common, specific and quantifiable goals and to decide on the best ways to get there. He reminded that, for the European Union, the green economy is about "changing the way we consume and produce today to adapt our economies to the boundaries of our planet and allow future generations to meet their own needs tomorrow." He said: "we believe that promoting the right kind of growth that is inclusive and environmentally friendly, is the most effective pathway to achieve sustainable development".
Rio+20 is the occasion to better mobilise and focus the resources – national and international, public and private – necessary to meet our priorities. President Barroso stressed three aspects the efforts should focus on to deliver concrete results:
- putting in place self-sustaining domestic policies in each country;
- providing the right financing instruments;
- fostering skills, know-how and technology diffusion (as the EU is already doing by opening its programs to researchers in developing countries)
"Finally, better and more efficient global governance is strongly needed to move towards a greener and more sustainable economy and to eradicate poverty" - concluded the President.