Post Rio+20: Where Do We Stand 21 Months Later

Felix Doddswww.felixdodds.net

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From Rio+20 to a New Development Agenda

1. The run-up to Rio+202. My take on the outcome3. Where we are now4. The challenges 5. What could be achieved

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The run-up to Rio+20

• Election of President Bush • 9/11 impacts on the World Summit on

Sustainable Development• UN Commission on Sustainable Development

failures 2007 and 2011• President Mbeki's speech (2006)• President Lula to the rescue (2007)

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From Rio+20 to a New Development Agenda

• Financial crisis 2008 mid September 2008 Lehman Brothers

• G20 v G192• G77 tables resolution for Rio+20 (November 4th 2008)• United Nations Review Conference on Financing for

Development –Qatar starts November 29th 2008• Conference on the World Financial and Economic

Crisis and its Impact on Development 2009• Copenhagen Climate Conference (December 2009)• Rio+20 resolution December 24th 2009• July 2011 Solo Indonesia – SDGs put on the table

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Where we are now

• The objective of the Conference is to – secure renewed political commitment for sustainable

development, – assess the progress to date and the remaining gaps in

the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development, and address

– new and emerging challenges• The Conference will focus on two themes

– Green Economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication

– Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development

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Set up processes for

• Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development – High Level Political Forum– Reform of UNEP– Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable

Development Financing• Green Economy

• 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production patterns

• taking steps to go beyond gross domestic product to assess the well-being of a country; - Natural capital accounting

• Sustainable Development Goals

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SDGs---19 focus areas into 8 goals areas?

1. Poverty eradication – promote equality

2. Gender equality and women's empowerment, education, employment and decent work for all, health and population dynamics

3. Water and sanitation, agriculture, food security and nutrition

4. Economic growth, industrialization, infrastructure, energy

5. Sustainable cities and human settlements, promote SCP, Climate6. Conservation and sustainable use of marine resources, oceans and seas, ecosystems and biodiversity7. Peaceful and non-violent societies, rule of law and capable institutions8. Means of Implementation, Global partnership for sustainable development

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Term How it is Used in this Report

Goal Expresses an ambitious, but specific, commitment. Always starts with a verb/action.

Target Quantified sub-components that will contribute in a major way to achievement of goal. Should be an outcome variable.

Indicator Precise metric from identified databases to assess if target is being met (often multiple indicators are used).

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Challenges

• Means of Implementations• Nexus eg water-energy-food-climate• Financing – beyond traditional resources eg

capital markets – sovereign wealth funds 20 Trillion

• Corporate accountability – report on ESG

The Integrating Approach

Water Health Food security Inclusive economic

growth

Increase agricultural productivity by x%, with a focus on sustainably increasing

smallholder yields and access to irrigation.

Interlinkages: employment, water, food security

Bring freshwater withdrawals in line with supply and increase water efficiency in agriculture by x%,

industry by y% and urban areas by z%.

Interlinkages: Water and food security

Reduce by x% stunting, wasting by y% and anemia by z% for all

children under 5.

Interlinkages: health and food security

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What can be achieved?

• An agreed vision of what we are trying to achieve• 10 Goals to guide the world to a new form of

development• Integrated targets that change the way we live on

this planet• A REAL commitment to the Means of

Implementation to do the work above• A further reform of governance at all levels• A Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

Einstein

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”

or"Two things are infinite: the universe and human

stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.“Nexus Conference outcome:https://nexusconference.web.unc.edu/ Blog: http://earthsummit2012.blogspot.com/

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