Additional tools

• 
• 
• 

Rio+20: United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development

Towards a global Green Economy and better environmental governance

In June 2012 all eyes will be turning to  Rio de Janeiro, where 20 years after the first "Earth Summit", Heads of State and Government will convene to attend the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) or "Rio+20".

"Rio+20" offers a unique opportunity for our mutually interdependent world to secure renewed political commitment for Sustainable Development. It will assess progress made since Rio 1992 and Johannesbourg 2002, and address implementation gaps and emerging challenges. It will do so, in the context of two intertwined themes: "a Green Economy in the context of Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication" and "the Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development".

Rio+20 is expected to mark the start of an accelerated and profound, world-wide transition towards a green economy – an economy that generates growth, creates jobs and eradicates poverty by investing in and preserving the natural capital upon which the long-term survival of our planet depends. It can also launch the much-needed reform of international Sustainable Development governance.

As a basis for further dialogue with EU institutions, civil society, business and countries globally, the Communication from the Commission on Rio+20 sets out initial views on potential concrete outcomes.

 

• Communication: "Rio+20: towards the green economy and better governance"

• Press Release: the European Commission's policy orientations for Rio+20, 20/06/2011

• EU Submission to the UN's Zero Draft of the Outcome Document

• Zero Draft: The Future We Want

• European Council Conclusions
• Environment Council Conclusions:
  • 09/03/2012
  • 11/10/2011

• Speeches:

  • Janez Potočnik European Commissioner for Environment Rio +20: Oceans, land, water, fisheries Sessions on Rio +20 during the Informal Ministerial Roundtable on Climate Change, Brussels, 7-8 May 2012

  • "Rio+20 - Building on the pillars of life, development and poverty eradication", Meeting of the Committee of Infrastructure and Environment of the Dutch Parliament, The Hague, 11 April 2012

  • "Resource efficiency is not a choice, it is inevitable", OECD Ministerial Meeting of the Environment Policy Committee, Brussels, 30 March 2012

  • "Rio+20 - Making sure the future we want is the future we get", Workshop on Rio+20 high level conference – debate on green economy Rio de Janeiro, 16 March 2012

  • "Making sure the future we want is the future we get", 12th Special Session of the Governing Council / Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GC/GMEF) Nairobi, 21 February 2012

  • "Sustainable Consumption and Production as a Vehicle for Green Growth", Seminar on the results of SWITCH-Asia and its applicability to other regions in the world Brussels, 8 February 2012

  • "Go sustainable, be responsible!", European civil society on the road to Rio+20 Conference at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) Brussels, 7 February 2012

  • "EU objectives for Rio+20", Committee of Regions Plenary session Brussels, 15 December 2011

• Public Consultation

• Other Links:

  • United Nations Sustainable Development Conference website

  • Commissioner's website