4 ways to save Rio+20 summit on sustainable development
As 'Elders,' even our optimism is being seriously tested by the lack of urgency about the Rio+20 summit on sustainable development in June. To succeed, the summit must start by setting goals, just as the UN did with its 'Millennium Development Goals' – with some targets now being met.
The sun sets in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where the upcoming Rio+20 conference, billed as a 'historic opportunity' to build a greener future, appears to be going up in smoke. President Barack Obama won’t be there, and the leaders of Britain and Germany have bowed out. Entire delegations have canceled. The conference is the follow-up to the UN's 1992 Earth Summit, also held in Rio, which helped put climate change on the world agenda.
Felipe Dana/AP
London
As “Elders,” we have been involved in public life for quite a long time. We know that change takes time and don’t get too worried when progress seems slow.
But even our optimism is being seriously tested by the lack of urgency in the run-up to the UN Rio+20 summit on sustainable development June 20-22. The meeting provides a historic opportunity to chart a sustainable future for the world. But at the moment, there is a real chance that the opportunity will be thrown away.
Everything we have heard, thus far, suggests agreement on the way forward remains out of reach. Countries are divided on both goals and means. Unless these divides are bridged soon, the outlook for a successful summit seems bleak.
We are therefore deeply concerned. The success – or failure – of Rio will have deep repercussions, define the aspirations of today’s 3.5 billion young people, and shape the world we leave for future generations.
It was, of course, at the first Earth Summit 20 years ago in Rio that our generation of world leaders accepted that a focus solely on economic growth was no longer possible. In a remarkable break with the past, we recognized that, in a world of finite resources, economic development had to go hand-in-hand with social progress and protecting the environment – while also respecting every country’s right to develop.
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