Environmental Laureates and Rio+20

The European Environment Foundation sponsored the 1st International Covention of Environmental Laureates from 8-11 March 2012 with 63 participants from 37 States convening in Freiburg (Germany. The meeting concluded with the adoption of the "Freiburg Call for Action" in relation to UNCSD (Rio+20) calling upon the Conference to come up with actionable means to achieve sustainable development in the following critical areas:

• We urge governing bodies on all levels, as well as business and civil society, to become pioneers of change and successful social innovators;
• We have to move towards equitable budgets per capita for energy, emissions, land use, water and resources;
• To be sustainable, economic development must reduce overconsumption, be based on an ethical and fair financial system, eradicate poverty, and be in harmony with nature;
• Sustainable Development is a key security issue for all nations and has to be treated and funded as such.

"Natural Resources Forum": Special Issue on Rio+20

This online issue of the journal Natural Resources Forum: a UN Sustainable Development Journal compiles articles addressing sustainable consumption and production (SCP) and the relationship between a green economy and sustainable development, among other topics.

UNECE: Conference on Eco-innovation

The international conference titled: "Promoting Eco-innovation: policies and opportunities," took place in Tel Aviv (Israel) from 11-13 July and gathered policy-makers, academics and private sector representatives, who reviewed policy experiences in varying UNECE member States. Among the  ideas presented, speakers emphasized the need to embrace a broad concept of eco-innovation, going beyond a focus on research and development to include life-cycle considerations and the environmental impact of consumption patterns. Participants also discussed how eco-innovation policies should not be seen as a niche area, but rather as a mainstream strategic concern with multiple ramifications. The conclusions  are expected to provide an input to the UNCSD (Rio+20)
Conference Presentations

Nordic activities at CSD-19

The Nordic Council of Ministers and its Finnish chairmanship held a side event at CSD-19 titled "Sustainable Consumption and Production – the building blocks for a Greener Economy".

Video and materials from the event are now online. To watch or read presentations from the Nordic side event go to www.norden.org/csd19.

Rio+20: Making it Happen, Volume 2, Issue 9

The latest issue of the newsletter from the Secretariat of UNCSD (Rio+20) features the upcoming thematic debate in the UN/GA on the green economy as a pathway to sustainable development, as well as information about a side event on the role of sustainable consumption and production (SCP) and the role of women in the economy, held during CSD-19 and four intergovernmental meetings: CSD-19; a Summit taking place in the Republic of Congo on sustainable management of rainforests; the global launch of the UN Decade of Biodiversity; and an informal workshop on “Keeping the Green Economy Blue” at UN Headquarters.

CSD-19: No Consensus

Regardless of a 24 hour final meeting from Friday through Saturday, CSD-19 concluded without adopting decisions on the thematic cluster of issues. In the waning hours delegates were presented with a Chair’s proposed text and also considered convening a resumed session in June, but did not adopt either. The folowing is a short insight into what happened in the final hours:

Friday
Convenes in the morning for a Ministerial Dialogue on moving towards sustainable development: expectations from Rio+20. Negotiations continue during the morning and through lunch under Working Groups 1 and 2 on means of implementation, transport, chemicals and waste management, in order to resolve outstanding issues in the text.
4:12 pm Plenary convenes to address remaining procedural issues on the agenda and the first plenary of CSD-20 opens to elect members of its Bureau.
4:26 pm Plenary suspended, pending resolutions of outstanding issues, as negotiations on means of implementation, chemicals and waste management not yet concluded.
6:00 pm Plenary still not reconvened.
10:27 pm The plenary remains suspended with no indication of when they might reconvene.
Saturday
12:10 am The plenary remains suspended as of midnight, with no indication of when they might reconvene.
12:30 am A new Chair's text circulated via the "e-room" and hardcopies follow shortly.
2:07 am Several negotiating groups remain in consultations and no indication when plenary to reconvene.
2:52 am Plenary resumes and Chair Borbély proposes adoption of the Chair's text prepared under his authority. The G-77/China opposes adoption as is and makes proposals for numerous changes to the text and the League of Arab States opposes adoption without reference to the rights of peoples living under foreign occupation. The US, EU and Japan support adoption of the Chair's text.
3:36 am Plenary suspended for further consultation.
4:12 am Parties reiterate their positions.
4:47 am Plenary is suspended to continue consultations to attempt resolution of impasses on language on foreign occupation and MOI, among others.
5:10 am Plenary remains in suspension. 
7:18 am Plenary reconvenes and debates a possible resumed CSD session.
8:52 am After adjourning and reconvening again, delegates discuss the possibility of a resumed session. However, due to lack of a quorum no decision could be taken and CSD-19 closes having failed to agree on a resumed session or an agreed outcome.

An in-depth report on the outcomes of CSD-19 will appear in Issue 41.3 of Environmental Policy and Law: The journal for decision-makers.

Read the IISD Summary of the session including the "brief analysis" toward the end for a greater insight into what has been termed a "debacle".


Chair, László Borbély implores delegates to accept the text

UNEP: Results of Sustainable Lifestyles Survey

UNEP's Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) Branch has released the results of its Global Survey for Sustainable Lifestyles included in the report titled “Visions for Change: Recommendations for Effective Policies on Sustainable Lifestyles.”