Can Rio+20 give us the future we want?
- By Helen Craig -
- Jun 21, 2012
In 1992, Rio de Janeiro hosted the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), which set out key principles for governments to work together on measures ensuring sustainable development, through Agenda 21. Twenty years later, Rio de Janeiro is again at the centre of the action, hosting The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD), better known as Rio+20.
Now world leaders, NGOs, business leaders and thousands of participants from governments are coming together to discuss the two key themes a green economy in the context of sustainable development poverty eradication and the institutional framework for sustainable development. From these discussions, Governments are expected to adopt clear and focused practical measures for implementing sustainable development, based on the many examples of success put into practice over the last 20 years.
Seven areas which need priority attention within these two themes have also been identified as decent jobs, energy, sustainable cities, food security and sustainable agriculture, water, oceans and disaster readiness.
Richard Branson, along with members of Virgin Unite; The Elders, Carbon War Room and The Ocean Elders will be at Rio+20 to highlight how business can be used as a force for good in the developing green economy and push for meaningful commitments on issues such as ocean protection.
Screwing business as usual is critical to creating change and we hope that leaders can turn our world around in pursuit of the future we want.
To find out more about the developments in Rio+20 visit www.uncsd2012.org.
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By Helen Craig. Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability at Virgin. Tweets @helcraig
