Understanding RIO+20
If you have a free moment today, try searching for the Rio+20 conference online. The sheer mass of responses will astound you.
It is evident that the upcoming June 2012 event, to be conducted by the United Nations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has been fervently discussed by multiple international news organisations. It has also grabbed the attention of innumerable government bodies, NGOs and UN agencies. However, while it is true that Rio+20 has generated enthusiasm and interest around the globe, the concept behind this much awaited conference may seem a little obscure. In this article we hope to clarify the event’s purpose, and to explain its intentions.
Rio+20, so named because it marks the 20th anniversary of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), is a meeting which will encourage governments from around the world to continue pursuing sustainable development. It will also assess the progress made towards such development up until 2012, and will identify the related challenges and problems that still need to be addressed. To make sense of these objectives, we need to define ‘sustainable development’.
On a basic level, sustainable development is development which helps meet the needs of the current generation without compromising the ability of future generations to fulfil their own requirements. In other words, it is development that addresses the social, economic, political, cultural and environmental requirements of the current generation around the world, while proving equally beneficial to future generations. Encouraging the construction of a coal-fired power station in a developing country may be considered unsustainable development, as such a course of action may have a detrimental effect on future generations, while promoting the use of environmentally-friendly solar power would be a more sustainable option. It has been recognised that sustainable development is the preferred approach to improving the lives of global citizens, and Rio+20 will help to reinforce this message.
Within its overall intention to promote sustainable development on a global scale, the Rio+20 conference has two main themes. The first is to encourage the creation of green economies around the globe, in which the health of the environment is not compromised for the sake of financial advancement. The development of such an economy represents an ideal example of sustainable development, one which can play an important role in the eradication of poverty. Meanwhile the second is to create an institutional framework for sustainable development, which governments can use to adjust their national policies accordingly.
Considering the fundamental importance of sustainable development in our evolving world, the significance of the Rio+20 conference cannot be overstated. In order to learn more about this ground-breaking event, please visit the Rio+20 website. We hope to see you in Rio!