Rio+20 – the biggest UN conference ever held

The conference venue hosted more than 45 000 people during nine days, where 500 events were organized. More than 100 leaders from Government,  12 000 delegations participated from 188 countries and three observers, more than 9000 NGOs, 4000 plus Media covering the events.
Besides being the biggest, has it been also been the greatest? The most important event for the future we all want? These days, many articles are featuring different opinions. I read the outcome document and I found topics which are high of my social responsibility agenda. I liked seeing the emphasis on the role of good governance, stakeholders’ engagement, education on sustainable development.

 “The Future We Want”  outcome document of Rio+20 summit has been published  and analysts are studying it. It has 282 paragraphs structured in five sections. There are many call to actions and a detailed framework for implementing these actions. Besides declarations which have an acknowledgement sense, introduced by “we recognize”, “we emphasize”, ‘we agree”, “we reaffirm” , there are also concrete measures on fundamental issues, like financing social development initiatives (like paragraph 256. An intergovernmental committee, comprising 30 experts nominated by regional groups, with equitable geographical representation, will implement this process, concluding its work by 2014).  EurActiv has been covering the UN conference in a special report , we may find topics and positions here: http://www.euractiv.com/specialreport-rio20

 Here is what I have selected from the final declaration of Rio+20 summit (excerpts from outcome document http://daccess-ods.un.org/access.nsf/Get?Open&DS=A/CONF.216/L.1&Lang=E , emphases are mine).

 –          10. We acknowledge that democracy, good governance and the rule of law, at the national and international levels, as well as an enabling environment, are essential for sustainable development, including sustained and inclusive economic growth, social development, environmental protection and the eradication of poverty and hunger. We reaffirm that to achieve our sustainable development goals we need institutions at all levels that are effective, transparent, accountable and democratic.

–          The importance of engaging major groups and other stakeholders: governments and legislative bodies, broad public participation (women, children and youth, indigenous peoples, non-governmental organizations, local authorities, workers and trade unions, business and industry, the scientific and technological community, and farmers, as well as other stakeholders, including local communities, volunteer groups and foundations, migrants and families as well as older persons and persons with disabilities.)

–          72 . We recognize the critical role of technology as well as the importance of promoting innovation, in particular in developing countries. We invite governments, as appropriate, to create enabling frameworks that foster environmentally sound technology, research and development, and innovation, including in support of green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication.

–          We recognize that the younger generations are the custodians of the future and the need for better quality and access to education beyond the primary level. We  therefore resolve to improve the capacity of our education systems to prepare people to pursue sustainable development, including through enhanced teacher training, the development of sustainability curricula, the development of training programmes that prepare students for careers in fields related to sustainability, and more effective use of information and communications technologies to enhance learning outcomes.

–          233. We resolve to promote education for sustainable development and to integrate sustainable development more actively into education beyond the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development.