Farooq Ullah, Stakeholder Forum
The Zero Draft of the Outcome Document represents a strong starting point for effective and successful negotiations. The UN Secretariat has synthesised an honest and fair record of the conversations to date. But there remains much to play for. Currently the Zero Draft lacks the urgency, ambition, and detail required to use Rio as an opportunity to re-imagine our socio-economic systems and the way in which they work in harmony with nature, to deliver greater well-being for all, now and into the future.
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By Peter Bosshard, Policy Director of International Rivers
Milestone birthdays are opportunities to take stock of our family, health and financial situation. So how is Planet Earth doing 20 years after the historic UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro? The planet’s economic output has more than doubled since 1992. Some members of the global family are doing extremely well, but the number of hungry people is increasing. And the planet’s health is steadily deteriorating, with vital ecosystems nearing the point of collapse.
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Catherine Pearce, World Future Council
Humanity and the environment faced the same problems last year, the year before that and the years before that… and they are growing exponentially. Rio+20 deliberations are running the risk of approaching the problems we face in the very same way that they have been caused. By considering each issue in isolation, without giving deeper attention to how they are interlinked or how the solutions can be mutually beneficial, we could further exacerbate this perfect storm of financial, environmental and fuel crises.
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Kaarin Taipale, Ph.D. (Urban Studies)
The Rio process is unique within the UN system, in its provision of space – even if limited – for ‘civil society’. The composition of the nine Major Groups, however, has always caused debate. For example, why are local governments called ‘local authorities‘ and considered non-government? Similarly, ‘business and industry’ sit uncomfortably in the role of an NGO. Although individual firms are represented by their umbrella organisations, much like in the other Major Groups, companies don’t have the opportunity to represent themselves at a session of the CSD.
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Dr Daniel Hale is Campaigns Oficer, Progressio
‘The critical importance of water resources for sustainable development’ is marked out in the Zero Draft as a cross-sectoral priority challenge, second only to food security. The task for negotiators will be to maintain and develop this encouraging language as negotiations gather momentum. But how?
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Polly Higgins, environmental lawyer and barrister, founder of the Eradicating Ecocide campaign
Rio+20 is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create targets for sustainable development. I applaud the aspirations of Sustainable Development Goals, they are our starting point. To make these aspirations a reality, international law that places people and planet first is necessary to establish a level playing field for everyone around the world. Achieving this requires a commitment to outlawing destructive business practices and creating laws that prioritises green, clean, and life-enhancing business. One law that does just that is my proposal to make Ecocide a crime. [http://www.eradicatingecocide.com/thesolution/].
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Susan Salz, ICLEI-Local Government for Sustainability
If Rio+20 is to be a worthwhile multilateral conference, justifying the enormous financial and human resources invested in it, Heads of States and Governments have to be personally involved in jointly deciding upon and presenting concrete actions. The world needs more than just another declaration.
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Vicki Hird (Consultant on Humane Sustainable Agriculture, WSPA)
It’s been very clear – from the submissions to the Rio+20 compilation document, the
statements at Rio+20 preparatory meetings, and in numerous research papers- that food security and sustainable agriculture need serious attention at the Rio+20 Conference in June. A commitment to resilient and equitable food system must be the goal.
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Olimar Maisonet-Guzman, Rio+20 SustainUS Delegation
Water will be a central component of the Rio discussions due to its role in the green economy. A strong unified front from the water community is needed to guarantee that the agreements made at Rio produce positive and lasting results for water resources.
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