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The Greatest Challenge of 2012: Can the World's Leaders Go from Zero to Planetary Heroes in less than 160 Days?

2012-01-13T15:00:00Z

Jacob Scherr, Director, Global Strategy & Advocacy, Washington, DC

It is the start of a new year and the time for making resolutions to change our ways. Yet we all know how hard it is to give up old habits. This reality was evidenced by the just released “zero” draft of the output document for the Rio+20 “Earth Summit”. Following a well-established pattern, the “zero” draft alone provides little promise that the gathering of world leaders in Rio de Janeiro June 20-22 will fulfill the UN’s desire to generate the political will needed to move the world off its current trajectory towards a degraded planet less able to meet human needs. Rio+20 must be about much more than just another document. The next Earth Summit needs to stimulate real accountable actions that put humanity on a more sustainable path.

The “zero” draft is truly just a very preliminary vision. It was prepared by a group of experienced diplomats and officials at the UN, based on submissions from a 100 governments and more than 500 civil society and other entities and two days of discussions at a December preparatory meeting. Over the next five months, this document could be expected to be the subject of hundreds of hours of intensive negotiations.

The 19-page “zero” draft optimistically titled “The Future We Want” already has too much jargon and repetition and too many abstract incremental promises and far off goals. Given the experience with past UN mega-conferences, there is a real danger that by the time the leaders get to Rio, they will be asked to endorse a document that will have ballooned in length to more than 100 pages. There will be strong pressures to accommodate the desires of various governments and interests to make sure that their issue or concern is at least mentioned. The few potential gems in the zero draft (my colleague Lisa Speer has blogged about the draft’s promising language on the high seas) could easily get lost in a deluge of vague promises. Worse yet, based on the record of the last four decades, there is little guarantee that governments will follow through on these negotiated grand plans.

So here is the plea NRDC has been making to officials, negotiators, and fellow civil society advocates: Make this summit different. Keep the final Rio+20 declaration short and sweet. We all need to focus on what will make this Summit transformative – let’s create the expectation that each of the leaders will come to Rio with commitments to specific actions which produce real near-term results for which someone can be held accountable.

Let’s not waste time arguing over matters that has been debated repeatedly over the last 40 years. Let’s ask the presidents and prime ministers to focus on a handful of truly international structural issues – such as upgrading the United Nations Environment Programme, setting clear and measureable sustainable development goals, and moving much more quickly to secure protections for our high seas.

It is the very first and very last paragraphs of the zero draft which gives me most hope that we can break with the routines of the past and make the next Earth Summit truly historic and ground-breaking. The first indicates that presidents and prime ministers will be expected to come to Rio+20. Our very top leaders need to make a powerful, clear showing that they are really serious about working together for a prosperous, secure and sustainable future for our people and our planet. They need to inspire governors, mayors, executives, and other leaders also to be engaged and take action. They need to instill real hope, particularly in young people, that we can make a very rapid transition to a low-carbon green economy.

The very last paragraph calls upon the Secretary General to create a registry of Rio+20 commitments as an “accountability framework.” Our hope is that hundreds, if not thousands, of such specific promises will be made in Rio on all of the various issues of deep concern to civil society. (See our list of deliverables.) And – as NRDC proposed at the UN in December – the Secretary General will use modern information technologies to let citizens around the world see what countries and others are pledging, what progress is being made, and where there are needs for more attention and action. Such a web-based directory (take a look at the mockup we presented at the UN) would help fulfill the Secretary General’s own New Year’s resolution when he said, “Technology outpaces our current thinking, peoples’ ideas and our current way of working…We have to make our Organization more nimble, more efficient and effective, and transparent and accountable.”

With less than 160 days left before the Rio+20 Earth Summit, each of our world leaders still has a chance to break the comfortable habits of the past and become a “hero” in confronting the greatest of challenges – improving the quality of human life and protecting our planetary home. This is one test where inevitably some leaders will do better than others, but we are all at risk if we do not demand that they all take real action now towards a future we want.

A Vision for A Different Kind of Earth Summit

2011-11-19T22:19:08Z

Jacob Scherr, Director, Global Strategy & Advocacy, Washington, DC

It now looks like we really are going to have another “Earth Summit” in Rio de Janeiro next June. The Brazilian Government has proposed pushing back the start of the “Rio+20”gathering two weeks to encourage the participation of as many presidents and prime ministers as possible. With this scheduling problem apparently resolved, the international community now has to begin in earnest to figure out what the leaders are actually going to do when they get to Rio on June 2Oth.

Already more than 600 governments, international agencies, and civil society groups have submitted their views to the UN as to the desired outcomes of the meeting. In mid-December, the negotiations will start at the UN in New York to hammer out over the next six months what the leaders will be asked to discuss and agree to at the conference.

At the first Earth Summit two decades ago in 1992, more than 100 presidents and prime ministers and other top officials pledged to take action to achieve “sustainable development” with its intertwined goals of economic improvement, social equity, and environmental protection. They adopted treaties on climate change and biodiversity and Agenda 21 – a 400-page “blueprint” of recommended sustainability measures. A decade later, world leaders gathered again at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa and adopted another 100-page plan.

It is generally acknowledged that inspite of some progress, governments have largely failed to fulfill their commitments to sustainability. My colleague Dan Lashof recently blogged that “the atmosphere doesn’t seem to have noticed the climate convention [adopted in Rio]. In fact, the heating effect of atmospheric pollution has increased by 29 percent since 1990; the year international climate negotiations were initiated. “UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has warned that we are headed towards “disaster” and are running out of time to ensure instead “sustainable climate-resilient green growth.”

So will Rio+20 be any different than previous UN mega-conferences. At a November 4th UN briefing, Sha Zukang, the Rio+20 Secretary-General, said the primary objective of the gathering would be “to renew political commitment for sustainable development” and that “Rio+20 should be a Conference of implementation." The rest of his remarks were less reassuring that the UN would not in fact fall back into the same old pattern. He said “By assessing progress and gaps in existing commitments by addressing new and emerging challenges we can figure out what our next steps should be.” It sure sounds like the start of yet another long agenda or plan.

In our submission, NRDC urged the United Nations to learn from past experience and make this meeting different: “The Summit must do more than just deliver another agenda with lofty goals for the distant future…Instead, Rio+20 should generate real actions on the part of governments at every level, as well as by businesses and civil society groups, to immediately deliver the necessary actions to put us all on a more sustainable path.”

We suggested that the Summit put the spotlight on individual and collective actions of presidents and prime ministers to move toward sustainable development. The Summit should:

Encourage all presidents and prime ministers to use their allotted time for speeches – usually about 5 minutes - to present on the specific sustainable development initiatives, challenges, and needs in their respective countries.
Create the expectation for new or substantially scaled-up commitments from all countries, which are specific and short-term; and identify partners for technical assistance and coordinating actions.
Produce a politically-binding outcomes document of not more than ten pages that recognizes the imminent threat of exceeding our planet’s natural boundaries, the need to move to a new green economy, and recommits governments to act on their promises to move towards sustainable development, and
Generate an appendix of country commitments to the outcomes document that provides a foundation for a registry of such commitments at a new global center for sustainability actions.

In the days just before the Summit, Governors, Mayors and other regional and local officials, CEOs, and civil society leaders would be asked to make their own specific promises which would feed into the Summit and the proposed global center for sustainability actions.

NRDC is not alone in calling for real progress next June in Rio. The U.S. Government recommended in its submission that each participant at Rio+20 present their own “compendium of commitments.” The UN Secretary General’s new initiative on Secure Energy for All is also seeking concrete pledges by Rio from governments and other stakeholders for efforts on energy poverty, energy efficiency, and renewables.

In our submission to the UN, NRDC outlines some 40 potential “deliverables” from the Earth Summit. My colleagues Jake Schmidt and Leila Monroe have recently blogged on some of these. Jake talks about phasing our fossil fuel subsidies and inefficient light bulbs among the measures we recommend to address climate change and energy. Leila addresses the need to end shark fining and stop marine plastic pollution, which are two of the results we want from the Summit to protect the oceans.

Something that I have learned from many years of advocacy is that change – big or small – is never easy and requires citizens to put real pressure upon our leaders. As a top Brazilian official said at a recent Wilson Center event, the engagement of civil society will be critical to the success of Rio+20. Now is the time to start working to make sure that the Earth Summit next June will be the moment when the world stopped talking and started acting to move us towards a more promising, sustainable future.

Race to Rio: 2012 Earth Summit News -- Sept. 30, 2011

2011-09-30T22:13:37Z

Jacob Scherr, Director, Global Strategy & Advocacy, Washington, DC

In the last six weeks, the pace of preparations for the June 2012 Rio+20 Earth Summit has really picked up – as has the coverage in new and social media. As a result, we have decided to change the focus of our periodic updates. We will continue to report news – and our views – on major developments worldwide while keeping a closer eye on what is happening in the "Race to Rio" in Brazil and Latin America.

CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS DEMAND ACTION-ORIENTED RIO+20 EARTH SUMMIT

The largest civil society gathering on Rio+20 to date – the UN Department of Public Information’s annual NGO Conference – took place in Bonn, Germany, on September 2-5. It concluded with a 17-page chair’s text that expresses both the diversity of the 1,400 participants and the common goal of making Rio+20 a transformative summit. NRDC’s Michael Davidson reports back:

Put over a thousand engaged members of civil society in one room and you are likely to get some really forward-thinking ideas about making real progress on sustainable development. That’s exactly what happened over these three days, with encouragement from governments and the UN who in an interesting role-reversal were “observers” to our conference.

We covered a lot of ground. One of the most interesting sessions for me was a green economy roundtable on Sunday where policy professionals and practitioners said in no uncertain terms: we need to make Rio relevant to the ordinary person (all the videos and presentations are available online; check out Constanza Martinez from IUCN). This means holding governments and corporations accountable to their commitments toward a green economy, and focusing on how we get there. Subsidies, public participation, green infrastructure...a lot of work remains.

The chair’s text – the outcome document – covers a lot of territory, but if you scan to the Rio+20 section on page 4, you’ll see the meat of what civil society is asking for: governments (represented by heads of state), businesses and all stakeholders to come to Rio ready to deliver on concrete commitments. Some suggestions for Sustainable Development Goals are outlined on page 12 (here is NRDC’s deliverables list). I expect the approach of identifying broad global goals and securing commitments from key countries on implementation and accountability will gain further steam in the months to come.

BRAZIL-US JOINT INITIATIVE ON URBAN SUSTAINAIBILITY TO PROVIDE MODELS FOR CITIES WORLDWIDE

In August, Brazil’s Environment Minister Izabella Teixeira and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson launched the Joint Initiative on Urban Sustainability (JIUS), reaffirming the two countries’ commitment to environmental collaboration. The initiative, which will initially focus on Rio de Janeiro and Philadelphia, will promote urban sustainability projects related to air quality, waste management, recycling, energy efficiency, sustainable construction, water efficiency, transportation and pollution. During the next couple of years Rio will host major world events, including the Rio+20 summit, and the hope is that investments for these events will serve as models of sustainability for cities around the world. Experts from the Rockefeller Foundation and the Fundação Brasileira para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável will help identify potential sustainability projects and present proposals to both governments.

(Translated from Portuguese)

BRAZIL’S MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT LAUNCHES NEW RIO+20 WEBSITE

The Brazilian Ministry of Environment launched a new website that provides updates on preparations for Rio+20, a schedule of planned meetings leading up to the summit and key documents and information. The page also provides a mechanism for the public and civil society to submit suggestions by September 25 as input for the proposal Brazil must present to the United Nations by November 1.

(translated from Portuguese)

LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES AGREE ON INPUT FOR RIO+20 NEGOTIATION DOCUMENT

Government representatives from Latin America and the Caribbean gathered in Santiago, Chile from September 7 – 9 for the Regional Preparatory meeting of the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20). Participants discussed the key themes for Rio+20, assessed progress on sustainable development in the region to date and agreed on a series of conclusions to submit as input for the Rio+20 negotiating document. While participants did not adopt a consensus position on the green economy nor on global institutional framework for sustainable development they reconfirmed the region’s commitment to work toward a successful outcome at Rio+20.

LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES SEEK TO PHASE OUT INEFFICIENT LIGHTING AT RIO+20

Latin American and Caribbean countries are moving toward greater lighting efficiency. On August 4th during a meeting of the en.lighten initiative delegates from the region adopted the Santo Domingo Declaration which encourages the phase out of incandescent lighting. The en.lighten initiative is a joint project of the Global Environmental Facility, UN Environmental Programme and leading global lighting manufacturers that seeks a global-scale transformation of the lighting market toward greater efficiency. During the event lighting assessments for twenty countries in the region were presented that indicated that replacing inefficient lamps in the region could reduce total electricity consumption by 4%, saving consumers $4 billion per year. The Dominican Republic called on the region’s officials to formalize the Santo Domingo Declaration at Rio+20 next June and agree to phase out incandescent lights by 2015.

AMAZONIAN INDIGENOUS GROUPS DRAFT DECLARATION FOR RIO+20

During the First Amazon Region Summit held in Manaus, Brazil, this August representatives from 30 indigenous groups from nine Amazon countries drafted a declaration which will be presented during Rio+20. The statement calls for “rights to land, the preservation of nature and ancestral knowledge and the distribution of benefits from the use of biodiversity”. To achieve these goals the groups believe it is necessary to revise the current economic model and existing public policies. The declaration also finds fault with major infrastructure projects they feel threaten the way of life of indigenous groups in the Amazon.

(Translated from Spanish)

BRICE LALONDE: “WE NEED BRAZIL’S LEADERSHIP”

Meeting with government officials and civil society in Brazil during August, Brice Lalonde, Executive Coordinator of Rio+20, called for the country’s leadership at next year’s Rio+20 summit noting that, “we need Brazil’s leadership, because traditional leaders are missing. If leadership does not come from emerging nations, there will not be enough leadership”. Lalonde, however, voiced concern that increased deforestation and discussions regarding Brazil’s Forestry Code could put in question Brazil’s environmental leadership. Lalonde also noted that renewable energy should be one of the primary themes at Rio+20 and a key result from the meeting should be the creation of a global coalition to reduce the cost of renewables making them more competitive with traditional energy sources.

(Translated from Portuguese)

Thanks to Michael Davidson, Carolina Herrera, and Marissa Rameriz for their assistance on this blog.

Carrying On for Wangari Maathai at the Rio+20 Earth Summit

2011-09-26T20:30:00Z

Jacob Scherr, Director, Global Strategy & Advocacy, Washington, DC

I awoke today to the sad news that Wangari Maathai, environmental leader and Nobel Prize winner, had died at age 71. I first had contact with her in the days running up to the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro almost 20 years ago. I was finishing up an unprecedented report with Human Rights Watch entitled Defending the Earth: Abuses of Human Rights and the Environment. We had gathered case studies of the harassment and suppression of environmental advocates around the world. The most compelling of them was Wangari’s confrontation with the Kenyan government over plans to build an office building in Uhuru Park in Nairobi. She was labeled a “subversive”, arrested and jailed, and then along with other protesters gassed and clubbed by the police. We had invited Wangari to join us at a press conference to release Defending the Earth at the June 1992 Earth Summit, but were uncertain whether she would be permitted to leave the Kenya where she had been scheduled to go on trial just days before the start of the Rio Summit.

She was finally permitted to travel to Brazil. As she spoke at the press event for our report, I was so impressed by her quiet dignity and immense courage. She was not afraid to speak out about her own struggle with the Kenyan Government – although not at all sure what would happen to her when she returned home. She did not hesitate for a moment to link her plight to environmental advocates from other nations whose rights were also being abused.

Over the next two decades, Wangari became a spokesperson not only for environmentalists in Kenya, but for all of us who are working to protect and preserve the Earth. In her 2004 Nobel Prize Lecture, Wangari said:

Today we are faced with a challenge that calls for a shift in our thinking, so that humanity stops threatening its life-support system. We are called to assist the Earth to heal her wounds and in the process heal our own – indeed, to embrace the whole creation in all its diversity, beauty and wonder. This will happen if we see the need to revive our sense of belonging to a larger family of life, with which we have shared our evolutionary process.

In the course of history, there comes a time when humanity is called to shift to a new level of consciousness, to reach a higher moral ground. A time when we have to shed our fear and give hope to each other.

That time is now.

It is disappointing that Wangari will not be with us at the next Earth Summit also to be held in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012, but I hope her words and actions will continue to inspire and motivate us. The work we did together in Rio twenty years ago to build cooperation between environmental and human rights groups continues to be as important as ever, and I blogged last June about Returning to Rio to Protect and Empower Environmental Advocates. Finally I could not agree more as we approach Rio+20 that the time is now to answer Wangari’s call for new ways of thinking to address our planetary challenges and to give real hope to each other for a sustainable future.

(Photo credit: Global Crop Diversity Trust)

Race to Rio: 2012 Earth Summit News, August 12, 2011

2011-08-12T16:03:29Z

Jacob Scherr, Director, Global Strategy & Advocacy, Washington, DC

2012 EARTH SUMMIT IS A PRIORITY FOR BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT

President Rouseff of Brazil (Photo Credit: Merco Press)

Speaking on August 5th at the Fourth Brazilian Symposium on Sustainable Construction, Minister of the Environmental Izabella Teixeira noted that Rio+20 “is a milestone” and politically the most important event in 2012 for the government of President Dilma Rousseff . Teixeira said the private sector should not view environmental issues as an impediment to growth. She also highlighted that the Brazilian government aims to engage the private sector, since this is an “essential pre-condition for sustainability.”

[Note: Translated from Portuguese]

U.S. FAR-RIGHT SEES CONSPIRACY IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

An August 4th article by Mother Jones linked Representative Michele Bachmann’s (R-Minn) opposition to energy-efficient light bulbs to a broader suspicion of Agenda 21 – the blueprint for sustainable development adopted at the first Earth Summit in Rio in 1992. “But to some conservatives, Agenda 21 became something far more nefarious – a gateway to a global government built on a radical doctrine of secular environmentalism,” wrote author Tim Murphy.

GREENPEACE CALLS FOR GOVERNMENTS AT 2012 EARTH SUMMIT TO PROTECT THE POOR, NOT POLLUTERS

“If returning to Rio is to make any sense, governments will have to get serious about implementing the many promises of Rio [1992] they have broken, business will have to seize the opportunity fair and clean development provides, and dirty lobbyists will have to be exposed for holding us back,” Greenpeace Political Director Daniel Mittler told IPS news on August 8th. Mittler described international conferences as “key hooks for global debates,” but emphasized the need for NGOs to hold governments and businesses accountable and to focus on results. He said: “NGOs must also resist just doing the kind of campaigns they did 10 and 20 years ago, simply because we have done it before.”

WWF SAYS UK GOVERNMENT REPORT ON THE GREEN ECONOMY IS A GOOD START BUT NEEDS ACTION

“Government vision is green, but lacking ambition,” said the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) on August 5th, commenting on the UK government’s new “roadmap” for transitioning to a green economy, which is a key theme of Rio+20. WWF praised the government for identifying the need to green all sectors of the economy, but criticized the report for failing to put forward any new policies. WWF warns that: “‘Business-as-usual’ is saddling future generations with the burden of financial and ecological debt. We’re undermining the natural systems on which our economy and wellbeing depend.”

GROWTH AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT CAN MAKE RIO+20 RELEVANT

“One of the most important questions Rio+20 has to answer...is how to make investment in clean solutions more attractive than investment in dirty ones, everywhere in the world, as quickly as possible, so that private money can be mobilized at scale,” wrote Michael Liebreich, Chief Executive of Bloomberg New Energy Finance, in July. Liebreich said that Rio+20 will become relevant when organizers accept the importance of economic growth in combating poverty; allow for significant private sector participation; and gain widespread support by shifting the discussion from ‘sustainability’ to ‘resource efficiency’.

RIO+20 NEEDS CONCRETE STEPS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION

“The governments participating in Rio+20 need a short list of actions that will advance environment quality,” wrote William Brown of the Brookings Institution on August 8th. Brown made nine recommendations designed to “set longer-term directions,” including carrying out an independent review of global sustainability trends; developing environmental indicators beyond GDP; and investing in science and education, particularly for women. Brown advised governments to avoid the deceptive or vague language that comes with international diplomacy. “But,” he reminded them, “that doesn’t mean think small.”

YOUTHS ORGANIZE FOR 2012 EARTH SUMMIT

“The Earth Summit will help determine the future of international policy on sustainable development,” according to a statement by SustainUS, a non-profit youth organization. “Young people from across the globe are organizing to bring a sense of urgency and rationality to the summit.” The SustainUS Agents of Change program is inviting youths aged 18-26 to apply to join their delegation to Rio in June 2012.

RIO 2012 MUST ADDRESS ECOSYSTEM PROTECTION TO FEED A GROWING POPULATION

On August 3rd, Janet Ranganathan of the World Resources Institute and Amanda DeSantis of Dupont blogged that the Earth Summit presents an opportunity for governments to deal with the interdependent challenges of farming, food security and protecting natural resources. Their suggestions included transferring knowledge to farmers through mobile technology; focusing on smallholders and women farmers; and creating a new, UN-led intergovernmental body to connect new scientific developments with policy. “If farmers, scientists, agricultural companies and policymakers can work together…we can preserve the ecosystem services that underpin global agriculture and human wellbeing, while feeding 9 billion people,” they wrote.

PACIFIC ISLAND NATIONS CALL FOR NEW WAY OF “DOING BUSINESS” at 2012 EARTH SUMMIT

Concluding the 14th annual Meeting of the Pacific Island Roundtable for Nature Conservation (PIRNC) on June 29th, in Lami, Fiji, members concluded that their governments should go to Rio+20 with the message that “Pacific island nations cannot move to a new economic development paradigm alone. The structure of the global economy as a whole must change to an economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable basis.” The PIRNC’s resolutions will be integrated into the Pacific island countries’ submissions for Rio 2012.

CELEBRITY GREEN AWARDS RAISE AWARENESS FOR THE EARTH SUMMIT AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Voting began on August 5th for the International Green Awards, which “aims to raise the bar around the ‘cult of celebrity’ and the ‘green’ agenda as the world counts down to the COP 17 Conference in Durban and the crucial Rio Earth Summit in 2012.” The public can vote online for the nominated celebrity that best uses his/her media power to promote worldwide sustainable development efforts.

Favorite Social Media Post:

She’s Alive…Beautiful...Finite…Hurting…Worth Dying for.

Compiled with Katherine Manchester

Please note that the linked articles and excerpts in this post are provided for informational purposes only and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Earth Summit 2012: What's in a Name?

2011-08-08T15:47:52Z

Jacob Scherr, Director, Global Strategy & Advocacy, Washington, DC

There are a lot of different views about what to call the gathering of world leaders planned for Rio de Janeiro just under 10 months from now. The event is officially labeled the “United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development” – or UNCSD.

Since UNCSD is not a very engaging moniker, the UN, Brazil, and others have dubbed the conference “Rio+20” to commemorate the “United Nations Conference on Environment and Development” - or UNCED - also held there in 1992.

UNCED was called - and is popularly known as - the “Earth Summit”. It attracted the participation of more than 100 Presidents and Prime Ministers and was considered a very successful and productive meeting. (See my forthcoming blog for more details.)

(Credit:UN Photo/Michos Tzavaros)

Some have suggested that the Rio+20 meeting should be instead called “Stockholm +40”, recognizing that the international community’s efforts to protect our shared planetary home actually began at the first UN Conference on the Human Environment in 1972.

(Credit: UN Photo/Yutaka Nagata)

Yet both these monikers are backward-looking and suggest that we should be reflecting on what has and has not been accomplished over the last decades.

So NRDC and other groups prefer to dub the Rio meeting next year as “Earth Summit 2012.” There is a whole new generation who have come of age in the last 2-to-4 decades and have no memory of Rio and Stockholm. It is the young who have the most at risk if we - their parents – fail to rise to the challenge of meeting the needs of now almost 7 billion people while protecting the environment.

There has been a lot of worry recently about financial deficits, but we need to focus as well on our overspending and overtaxing of natural assets. According to Johan Rockström, Director of the Stockholm Resilience Centre, “The human pressure on the Earth System has reached a scale where abrupt global environmental change can no longer be excluded. To continue to live and operate safely, humanity has to stay away from critical ‘hard-wired´ thresholds in the Earth´s environment, and respect the nature of the planet's climatic, geophysical, atmospheric and ecological processes.”

As NRDC’s President wrote recently, “Failure is not an option when it comes to protecting the natural systems that sustain us all. We have no choice but to try to make the Earth Summit a truly historic and transformative event that starts building the green future today.” Over the next months, let’s work hard to ensure that no matter what we label the gathering in Rio next June that we expect the Presidents, Prime Ministers, and world’s leaders to come ready to take action to move us towards a safer, more secure and prosperous world.

Race to Rio: 2012 Earth Summit News, August 3, 2011

2011-08-03T16:49:19Z

Jacob Scherr, Director, Global Strategy & Advocacy, Washington, DC

FRANCE COMMITS TO BE A LEADER ON Rio+20

On August 1st, France’s Ministry of Foreign and European Spokesperson announced that the country “will mobilize its efforts ahead of that [Rio+20] conference, together with the entire EU and many developing countries.” According to the statement, the 2012 Rio Summit is “crucial” for advancing a World Environment Organization; supporting a green economy and expanding socio-economic indicators beyond GDP; and prioritizing sustainable development within the UN. The Ministry also mentioned plans for a Paris meeting on January 31, 2012 to discuss the role of actors other than national governments in a new system of international environmental governance.

HIGH-LEVEL MEETING DRAFTS DECISION ON INSTITUTIONAL REFORM FOR 2012 EARTH SUMMIT

Concluding a high-level dialogue in Solo, Indonesia, on July 21st, Rio+20 Secretary-General Sha Zukang promised to make the ‘Solo Messages’ communiqué the draft for decisions on institutional reform at the 2012 Earth Summit. Environment Minister for Indonesia Gusti Muhammad Hatta described the Messages – which include calls for improved governance institutions at the national and global levels, and renewed political commitment – as “the most important result” ahead of Rio+20.

GROWTH AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT CAN MAKE RIO+20 RELEVANT

“One of the most important questions Rio+20 has to answer...is how to make investment in clean solutions more attractive than investment in dirty ones, everywhere in the world, as quickly as possible, so that private money can be mobilized at scale,” wrote Michael Liebreich, Chief Executive of Bloomberg New Energy Finance, in a July “VIP Brief.” Liebreich said that Rio+20 will become relevant when organizers accept the importance of economic growth in combating poverty; allow for significant private sector participation; and gain widespread support by shifting the discussion from ‘sustainability’ to ‘resource efficiency’.

[Full copy of article available only by subscription to Bloomberg New Energy Finance.]

RAISING AMBITIONS FOR RIO+20

On August 2nd, Policy Advisor for Oxfam-Great Britain Sarah Best wrote, “It would be a huge mistake to dismiss Rio+20…These challenges [of resource scarcity and environmental shocks] cannot be solved without global cooperation to share resources fairly and help people cope with crises.” Best noted particular potential for agreements on green growth. She suggested raising the profile of Rio+20 by focusing on visible scarcity issues like food and fuel prices; identifying politically feasible asks for the Summit; and focusing on emerging economies.

NEXT YEAR’S EARTH SUMMIT MUST BRING BACK THE 1992 ‘SPIRIT OF RIO’ TO REFORM SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTIONS

To meet global sustainable development goals, “agencies would have to 'greatly' strengthen the sustainable development architecture through Rio+20,” said Martin Khor, Executive Director of the South Centre, at a July 24th workshop of the Asia-Europe Environment Forum in Jakarta, Indonesia. Delegates concluded that development efforts are hindered by weak institutions, a fragmented UN system, and a general lack of implementation. According to Surendra Shrestha, team leader of the Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development within the Secretariat for the UNCSD (Rio+ 20), “all options [for UN institutional reform] are on the table.”

AT RIO+20, WORLD NEEDS TO ESTABLISH WORLD ENVIRONMENT ORGANIZATION

During a Rio+20 preparatory workshop from July 14-15 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Science Advisor to the Prime Minister of Malaysia Dr. Zakri Abdul Hamid called for establishing a World Environment Organization (WEO) “to help the poorest nations become partners in a green economy and not create a parallel development track, one for the haves and one for the have-nots.” Zakri criticized the current global environmental governance system for being overly complicated and leaving developing nations out of decision-making processes. He recommended forming a democratic WEO that is “not at all regulatory like the WTO.”

UN CALLS ON YOUNG PEOPLE TO INSPIRE ACTION AT RIO 2012 AND YOUTH DEBATE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

“The Rio+20 Earth Summit is possibly one of the most exciting things that’s happening in our lifetime, and it’s an opportunity for youths around the world to be involved at a level that we’ve never been involved in before,” said Kiara Worth, a key facilitator for the Major Group for Children and Youth at the UN Commission for Sustainable Development. In a July 26th YouTube video, Worth called for youths to use the arts and social media to “motivate[e] people forward in a totally new concept of what sustainable development should look like.” Meanwhile, from July 13-15, youths from the Asia-Pacific met in Singapore to debate green sustainability, and produced a position paper towards Rio 2012.

COMBATING DESERTIFICATION IS ON THE AGENDA FOR RIO+20

“We are the desert-making species on earth” said Luc-Marie Gnacadja, Executive Secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, on July 15th at the Caux Forum for Human Security in Switzerland. “We need to take action, but the good news is that people are taking action at a grassroots level,” Gnacadja noted. Negotiations at next year’s Earth Summit on sustainable development will include ways of preventing desertification, land degradation and drought.

2012 EARTH SUMMIT MUST CONSIDER EQUITY IN DISCUSSIONS OF GREEN GROWTH

Rajesh Makwana, Director of Share the World’s Resources, warned on July 26th that “Rio+20 might be one of the few remaining opportunities for policymakers to respond to the growing demands of civil society.” Makwana maintained that environmental and social concerns should be prioritized over corporate interests. “The aggressive pursuit of economic growth by governments can ultimately hinder progress on implementing Agenda 21,” he said.

Favorite Social Media Posts:

@andretrig André Trigueiro

A menos de 1 ano da Rio+20, desmatamento continua crescendo sem controle na Amazônia http://t.co/7eVISIt

[Translation from Portuguese: Less than one year until Rio+20, deforestation continues to increase unchecked in the Amazon.]

@francediplo France Diplomatie

La France s'engage dans la conférence de l' #ONU pour le développement durable "Rio+20" l'année prochaine: http://t.co/tLYUIzO

[Translation from French: France is committed to next year’s “Rio+20” UN conference for sustainable development.]

WE CANada GOOD NEWS FROM THE UN: The shortcomings of the GDP are well known, and a few days ago, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution titled “Happiness: Towards a holistic approach to development,” based on a draft text presented by the representative of Bhutan! Will indicators of wellbeing be a key element of the The 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development talks on the green economy?

Compiled with Katherine Manchester

Race to Rio: 2012 Earth Summit News -- July 25, 2011

2011-07-25T22:00:50Z

Jacob Scherr, Director, Global Strategy & Advocacy, Washington, DC

SECRETARY-GENERAL LINKS CLIMATE CHANGE TO SUSTAINABILITY AT SECURITY COUNCIL, SAYS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT WILL BE TOP PRIORITY

In his opening statement at a historic UN Security Council debate on climate change last week, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said:

“…nothing would build a lasting foundation for a more peaceful world than securing sustainable development for all of our citizens. In this regard, I urge all UN Member States to fully utilize the opportunity provided by next year's Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development…We must make sustainable development for all the defining issue of our time because it is only in that broader framework that we can address climate change and the needs of our citizens.”

Shortly after his reelection in June to a second five-year term, Ban Ki-moon told the World Trade Organization that “The United Nations’ top priority for this year and many years beyond will have to be sustainable development.”

BRAZIL LAUNCHES PLANNING COMMISSION FOR 2012 EARTH SUMMIT

On July 1st, the new Brazilian national commission for Rio+20 preparations gathered for the first time to discuss what issues Brazil would bring to the table next June. The Commission, headed by Minister of Environment Izabella Teixeira and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Patriota, includes 18 ministers, civil society representatives, and government entities. The commission is tasked with promoting dialogue between federal, state, municipal and civil society groups, and is expected to present Brazil’s proposal to the United Nations by November 1, 2011. [Translated from Portuguese.]

KAZAKH PRESIDENT COMMITS TO GO TO RIO

President of Kazakhstan N. Nazarbayev will come to the Earth Summit next year, making him one of the first Heads of Government to commit to the gathering. His Vice Minister of Environmental Protection announced that Nazarbayev will come to Rio to promote his new Green Bridge Initiative. The Initiative will foster collaboration between Europe, Asia and the Pacific on “green growth”, including sharing sustainable best practices and clean technologies, and maintaining shared ecosystems.

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO DISCUSS POTENTIAL EARTH SUMMIT INITIATIVES

The Globe Foundation of Canada is partnering with UNEP’s Finance Initiative to host a meeting in Vancouver this October for leaders of some 60 sustainable finance and responsible investment initiatives to discuss potential collaboration leading up to Rio+20. Confirmed speakers include former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Research in Motion's CEO, James Balsillie. The 2012 Earth Summit “is being viewed as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to show how far sustainable finance and responsible investment has travelled since the early 1990s,” according to the GLOBE Foundation.

LOOKING TOWARDS RIO+20, AFRICAN BANK PARTNERS WITH WWF

On July 20th, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) announced that they were partnering to work on sustainable development and green growth in Africa. One of their first steps will be to publish a report “taking stock of Africa’s biodiversity and footprint…in time for Rio+20 Earth Summit 2012.” AfDB president Donald Kaberuka said, “This cooperative agreement is not built on financial interest but truly on the synergetic potential and comparative advantage of the two organizations and their capacity to echo Africa’s voice.”

CALL FOR DIALOGUE ON GREEN GROWTH AHEAD OF RIO+20

“Discussion and action on green growth is too divided…But it’s on the agenda for next year’s Earth Summit in Rio (Rio+20) and so it is high time that countries explored the potentials and prerequisites from several angles,” writes Steve Bass, head of the sustainable markets group at the International Institute for Environment and Development. Bass’ July 13th blog examines three current policy approaches to green growth: large stimulus packages and incentives for corporations to make low-carbon investments; environmental regulations, standards and labeling; and new growth indicators beyond GDP to redefine progress.

NEW FILM ON OCEANS TO BE DEBUTED IN RIO

Famous French photographer and filmmaker Yann Arthus-Bertrand is planning to release his new film, Planet Ocean, at the Rio+20 Earth Summit. Arthus-Bertrand, best known for his aerial photography in Earth from Above, believes that “The key is to show the beauty of the planet, and thereby promote love for it.” He said the film will primarily depict “beautiful seascapes rather than ‘depressing’ footage such as those of marine pollution,” while also addressing global challenges like overfishing.

Favorite Social Media Posts:

@TAIGlobal TheAccessInitiative

Check out our #Rio+20 5Q story on the @tcktcktck blog http://bit.ly/obWXlV Thanks for the cross-post!

eclaires11 eclaires11

Looking toward #Rio+20: recognizing children as essential stakeholders in the #greeneconomy agenda http://t.co/hYnkWBI via @GEGproject

@ipecultural Instituto Ipê

Rio+20 vai definir metas de sustentabilidade para o planeta. http://t.co/7y8w3bo

[Translation from Portuguese: Rio+20 will define the sustainability goals for our planet.]

WE CANada

Great initiative by Canadian youth! P.E.D.A.L. Across the Americas is a cycling trip from San Francisco to Costa Rica to discover, record and share the good sustainability practices they encounter along the way, all in time for The 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)

www.pedalacrosstheamericas.com

Compiled with Katherine Manchester and Carolina Herrera

Race to Rio: 2012 Earth Summit News, July 12, 2011

2011-07-12T23:07:07Z

Jacob Scherr, Director, Global Strategy & Advocacy, Washington, DC

BRAZIL TO WELCOME MORE THAN 50,000 PEOPLE FOR 2012 EARTH SUMMIT

Rio de Janeiro is preparing to host over 50,000 visitors for next year’s UN Earth Summit – including 120 chiefs of state and government officials - according to a video released by the Brazilian Government on July 1st. The video highlights the success of the 1992 Earth Summit, as well as efforts to green Rio.

RIO+20 EXECUTIVE COORDINATOR URGES CIVIL SOCIETY TO BE BOLD

“Rio+20, it will be you…It’s up to you to convince your politicians to honor their promises,” Rio+20 Executive Coordinator Brice Lalonde told civil society groups during a July 4th conference in Paris, France. Lalonde highlighted the importance of international cooperation and coalition-building as political tools for holding leaders accountable. He added, “Young people are ready to rise up against the debts that we are leaving them…It’s up to you to help them, using the internet.” [Translated from French]

UK PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE STARTS REVIEW OF RIO+20 PREPARATIONS

On July 7th, the British Parliament’s Environmental Audit Committee launched an inquiry on preparations by the UK government for the 2012 Earth Summit. The Committee will examine “the objectives and roles the UK Government should assume in order to drive ambition in the run-up to the Conference and at Rio, including its part in the EU preparations and negotiations,” and “the ideal outcomes from Rio+20, and how any agreements should be subsequently monitored.” The Committee invites organizations and individuals to submit their opinions by August 26th.

NOW IS THE TIME! WHY “RIO+20” MUST SUCCEED

On July 4th, thirteen international sustainable development experts released a joint statement calling on world leaders to raise the stakes and pace of preparations for the Rio+20 Earth Summit. The statement organized by the German Development Institute urges governments to formulate a “tangible roadmap for action” for realizing a green economy. They also point to the need to strengthen UN capacity for addressing sustainable development, noting the options now under discussion: upgrading UNEP to a specialized agency, or creating an umbrella organization for sustainable development activities in the various UN agencies. If Rio+20 “fails to table big ideas and bold action plans…, a unique opportunity is bound to go to waste,” they caution.

AFRICAN HEADS OF STATE STRESS IMPORTANCE OF RIO+20 FOR CONTINENT

During an African Union Summit meeting on June 30th in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, African leaders emphasized the need for Rio+20 preparations to be based on a common African position on transitioning to a green economy and improving institutional frameworks for sustainable development. Heads of state and ministers from 53 nations agreed that “Africa be represented by a spokesperson for the purpose of negotiating with one single voice,” and “mandated the Republic of Congo to coordinate at the political level, in consultation with Member States, Africa’s preparation for Rio + 20.”

UN RELEASES DETAILED STUDY ON A GREEN TECHNOLOGICAL REVOLUTION TO INFORM RIO+20

The UN World Economic and Social Survey 2011: The Great Green Technological Transformation warns that “business as usual is not an option” and calls for a “fundamental technological overhaul” faster and farther-reaching than the first industrial revolution in order to avoid "a major planetary catastrophe." The report details the need for massive investments in sustainable agriculture and forestry, clean energy, and efficient production processes. It calls for increased government participation, international cooperation, and the commitment to greening the global economy within the next 30-40 years. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon points out that the report “can help advance the global debate on the critical role that a transformation in technology can play in ushering in a greener future,” and is “especially timely as the world prepares for next year’s Rio+20.”

THE EARTH SUMMIT CAN STRENGTHEN THE GLOBAL TREND TOWARDS RENEWABLE ENERGY

The 2012 Earth Summit offers a key opportunity “to accelerate and scale-up this positive transition to a low carbon, resource efficient Green Economy”, noted UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner at the July 7th launch of the report Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2011. According to the report, investments in renewable energy in 2010 increased a record 32 percent to US $211 billion, mostly due to wind farms in China and small-scale solar rooftops in Europe. For the first time, renewable energy investments in developing nations surpassed those in developed nations.

ARE GOVERNMENTS READY FOR RIO 2012?

Governments need to “critically reflect on why…internationally-agreed upon objectives were not or could not be fulfilled,” says The Access Initiative (TAI), whose recent survey found that, so far, few governments have outlined clear and ambitious goals for the 2012 Earth Summit. TAI’s July 11th blog post called on governments to assess their progress on Agenda 21; foster greater participation in Rio+20 preparations; and outline their national, regional and international goals for the Summit. TAI’s ultimate goal for Rio+20 is “getting governments on record stating specific, measurable objectives, such as implementation of access laws or opening up more space for public participation.”

ISLAND NATIONS SEE RIO+20 AS A CHANCE TO TRANSFORM SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AGENDA

Opening a Rio+20 preparatory meeting of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) on July 7th, President of the Seychelles James Michel called on islands to “use Rio+20 to claim back the concept of sustainable development.” Speaking to ministers from island nations in the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean and South China Seas, Michel emphasized the unique vulnerability of islands to climate change due to sea-level rise, and loss of tourism and fisheries. He noted, “SIDS have repeatedly called, especially at the United Nations in New York, for the oceans-based Blue Economy to be an integral part of the concept, definition and development of the Green Economy.”

PEOPLE AND PLANET MUST BE AT THE CENTER OF THE 2012 EARTH SUMMIT

Rejecting the misconception that “economic growth now will allow us to pay for environmental and social damage later” is “my big hope for Rio+20,” said Future Justice Director Maja Göpel of the World Future Council. Speaking during a July 8th interview with the European news outlet Euractiv, Göpel stressed the need for more responsible consumption patterns, but rejected the notion that “consumer choice can make our economies green.” She proposed creating an ombudsman to protect citizens’ environmental rights and investigate policies that do not meet long-term sustainable development goals.

Compiled with Katherine Manchester

New Version with corrected date

Race to Rio: 2012 Earth Summit News, July 6, 2011

2011-07-06T20:32:44Z

Jacob Scherr, Director, Global Strategy & Advocacy, Washington, DC

We are now just 11 months away from the 2012 Earth Summit. Our latest updates include: the Secretary General of the Rio+20 conference came to Washington, DC to make a strong plea for US leadership: the global coalition of business groups getting ready for Rio announced a new leader; and top representatives from 11 Latin American countries agree to a new set of sustainable transport initiatives as inputs to the Earth Summit.

UN OFFICIAL LOOKS TO US LEADERSHIP AT NEXT YEAR’S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT

On June 28th at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, Secretary-General of the Rio+20 Conference Sha Zukang strongly urged the United States to show real leadership at Rio next year. Speaking at a luncheon sponsored by the US Green Building Council and ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability), he said: “[In the US] people believe that no problem is too big for human ingenuity to solve. The world has never needed that ingenuity more than it does today.” Sha noted that “Rio+20 is not ‘just another UN conference,’” but comes at a time of crisis, including rising food and energy prices, and accelerating climate change. Sha encouraged the US to take the lead with new technologies for sustainable development, engaging businesses, and promoting city and state-level initiatives.

S. GOPALAKRISHNAN TO HEAD INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS COALITION FOR RIO+20

The Business Action for Sustainable Development (BASD) – a coalition of leading international business groups - announced on June 28th that new chair S. Gopalakrishnan will lead efforts by the sustainable development business community for the 2012 Earth Summit. Gopalakrishnan, CEO of the technology and consulting company Infosys and Vice President of the Confederation of Indian Industry, said: “Business and industry worldwide must continue to drive sustainability, not just in their own operations but also in their interactions with their communities. In emerging economies, business and industry must set an example in their home countries and their broader regions.”

11 LATIN AMERICAN GOVERNMENTS ADOPT NEW DECLARATION FOR SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT

At an unprecedented Forum for Sustainable Transport in Latin America, environment and transportation ministers and other high-level representatives from 11 nations agreed to the Bogotá Declaration - voluntary agreements to coordinate regional, sustainable transport - which will constitute an important input to the 2012 Earth Summit. The Forum was structured around the concept of Avoid-Shift- Improve - “avoiding long, motorized and unnecessary trips, shifting the tendency away from trips in individualized motorized vehicles, and improving the technology and operational management of transportation activities.”

NEW EEA REPORT HIGHLIGHTS CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN GLOBAL ISSUES

The European Environment Agency (EEA) released its annual report Signals on June 28th, affirming that “the EEA starts on the road to Rio with a clear message: the poorest of the poor depend on the environment daily for survival. Sustainable development – with the eradication of poverty at its core – cannot succeed without securing, as a first principle, a healthy environment.” The report highlights the interconnectivity between global patterns of consumption and their impacts on the environment and the livelihoods of the poor, and encourages societies to rethink where resources come from, how we use them, and how we recycle waste.

AS DECADE APPROACHES, ARHUS CONVENTION ON ACCESS TO INFORMATION MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER, SECRETARY-GENERAL TELLS MEETING OF PARTIES

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon – in a speech read by Ján Kubiš, Executive Secretary for the UN Economic Commission for Europe – emphasized that protecting the environment and human rights "is more important than ever” in the Rio+20 process. Ban’s remarks were delivered on July 1st in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, to members of the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters. Ban said that “ it is worth remembering that the Aarhus Convention is one of the major results of the Rio Declaration adopted at the first “Earth Summit” nearly 20 years ago.”

THE NETHERLANDS LAUNCHES RIO+20 NATIONAL PLATFORM

On June 28th, Minister of Development for the Netherlands Ben Knapen introduced the Rio+20 National Platform - a coalition of over 50 civil society organizations - to stimulate debate on sustainable development, solicit input in preparing for the Dutch government’s draft outcome document, and determine 10 best practices for a green economy. Knapen noted that the Netherlands would be a leader at Rio in sustainable trade chains, productive and ecologically safe agriculture, and integrated water management. [Note: Translated from Dutch.]

(Compiled with Katherine Manchester)

New Version with corrected date in Title

At Next Year's Earth Summit, the World Will Look to Brazil to Step Up on Smart Energy, Amazon Conservation, and Sustainability

2011-06-29T21:56:16Z

Jacob Scherr, Director, Global Strategy & Advocacy, Washington, DC

Three weeks ago, NRDC launched its Race to Rio campaign calling upon world leaders, CEOs and civil society to come to the 2012 UN “Earth Summit” committed to decisive actions. One of our initial hopes for the Summit is that governments will “establish policies that provide rivers with the quantity, quality and timing of flow they need to sustain the life within them.” The first place to start would be Brazil which is known for its riverine heart—the braided Amazon Basin—and these river protection policies are within its reach.

Brazil is an emerging world power, and it will be playing a much bigger role on the world stage over the next five years. After the 2012 Earth Summit, Brazil will then host the World Cup and the Olympics – both also in Rio. There will be an intense, prolonged spotlight on Brazil; and that nation will have an opportunity to show the world that they are really doing something about sustainability.

As Deputy National Security Advisor Michael Froman noted before the President’s March trip to Brazil:

Brazil is a leader in the field in thinking about sustainable economic growth. They’ll be hosting the Rio Plus 20 conference next year, which, as the name suggests, is 20 years since the original Rio conference, and the focus will be how to ensure sustainable economic growth that takes into account environmental considerations. So we’ll be talking with them about a variety of areas where we can cooperate, including clean energy development, biofuels, et cetera.

President Obama’s visit resulted in pledges by Presidents Rousseff and Obama to work together to make Rio+20 a success and to step up our cooperation on renewable energy and clean energy technology.

Other recent news from Brazil has been less encouraging. In the last two months, Brazil’s lower parliamentary house has threatened to weaken the national Forest Code, which would accelerate deforestation; several social and environmental activists have been murdered; and the construction of mega hydroelectric dams is threatening to damage the entire Amazon Basin ecosystem, Brazil’s lifeblood.

“The Amazon Basin is like a pulsing vascular system of rivers,” said World Wildlife Fund Program Officer Sandra Lazarte, during Amazon Watch’s “Green Bag Lunch Series” on June 27th in Washington DC. “If one river doesn’t flow free, the entire system is changed.”

But with two major hydroelectric dams on the Madeira River on the verge of completion – and two more in the works – the Amazon River’s main artery is about to be blocked. The Madeira Dams will lead to flooding of rainforest and farmland, heavy sediment build-up, disruption of fish migration patterns, mercury contamination of the water, and the displacement of communities whose livelihoods have depended on the river for generations.

The Brazilian government has defended the Madeira project in the name of economic development. The nearly finished Santo Antonio and Jirau Dams are projected to supply 8 percent of Brazil’s electricity needs – a vital asset, considering that electricity shortages resulted in 91 significant blackouts in 2010, and demand could go up as much as 5 percent every year over the next decade. Yet the projects are highly controversial and, contrary to hydropower’s reputation for “clean” energy production, large hydro plants have been linked to significant emissions of methane- a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide – due to the cycle of decaying plant material in reservoirs.

Brazil’s hydropower projects are a classic case of short-term economic development outmuscling long-term environmental sustainability. But they needn’t be, argued WWF’s Lazarte, if the governments “would look at the big picture”. Unfortunately, it’s been “business-as-usual” for energy projects in Brazil, where the industry and the government have largely disregarded the impacts on ecosystems and indigenous communities.

The Madeira Dams are at the core of the Latin American Initiative for the Integration of Regional Infrastructure (IIRSA), a plan to harmonize regional networks of roads, waterways, ports, energy and communications. “When I first heard about IIRSA, as a social engineer I thought it was a great idea,” said Christian Velasquez-Donaldson, an associate with Bank Information Center in Latin America, during an Amazon Watch discussion on June 15th. “But IIRSA has not made way for regional and institutional integration, and has not considered environmental impacts at all.” So far, the Madeira Dams have led not so much to regional integration as neighborhood bullying. According to Lazarte, Brazil has cited national sovereignty to justify the project, even though extensive studies by WWF show that Bolivia will bear a large portion of the flooding. According to Amazon Watch, Brazil dismissed the Bolivian government’s concerns during bi-lateral talks, and Bolivia failed to file a formal complaint.

WWF has created a new tool which would allow Brazil to do a better job in managing its riverine resources. Its Hydrological Information System – Amazon River Assessment analyzes hydrological and biodiversity information. Lazarte and the WWF have been able to zoom in on the smallest streams and identify those most vital for ecosystem balance. While it appears that hydropower will remain in Brazil’s energy mix for some time, the government should strive to mitigate its impact by siting smaller dams on less critical waterways.

Second, Brazil has several viable options for alternative energies. Lazarte recommended bagasse - a biofuel made from leftover sugar cane fiber - as well as solar and wind power. But these tools and technologies will be of little use without the political will to implement them.

Over the next eleven months with the world watching, Brazil needs to act to protect its vital natural resources and continue to improve the lives of its people. The world needs Brazil’s leadership and example to assure that the Earth Summit will be infact put all of us on a path to a more sustainable future.

Coauthored with Katherine Manchester

Race to Rio: 2012 Earth Summit News -- June 24, 2011

2011-06-24T19:11:48Z

Jacob Scherr, Director, Global Strategy & Advocacy, Washington, DC

BAN ANNOUNCES 30/30/30 SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TARGETS FOR RIO

In his address to the Vienna Energy Forum 2011, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on countries to agree at next year’s Earth Summit to raise the share of renewables to 30% of the energy mix by 2030, citing work on the Millennium Development Goals that has “demonstrated the immense value of having specific targets to aim for and by which to measure progress.” Together with two other energy targets announced in January – universal access to modern energy sources and a 40% increase in energy efficiency by 2030 – these form what UNIDO Director-General Kandeh Yumkella has said are Ban’s “30/30/30” energy goals.

EUROPEAN COMMISSON RELEASES “RIO+20: TOWARDS THE GREEN ECONOMY AND BETTER GOVERNANCE”

On June 20th, the European Commission announced its determination “to help make Ri0+20 a success”. The Commission released its preliminary position statement on the Summit, with a ‘what, who and how’ framework for transitioning to a green economy. The What is investing in sustainable management of key resources and natural capital, specifically water, energy, forests, oceans, agricultural land, ecosystems and biodiversity, and waste. The How is establishing the right market and regulatory conditions. Tools include taxes, tradable permits, environmental subsidies, and removing harmful economic regulations. This will require mobilizing large scale financial resources, investing in green jobs training, and developing new indicators to assess progress. The Who is improving governance and partnerships with the private sector. The Commission focuses on strengthening governance within the UN, citing the creation of a global environmental organization or an upgrade of UNEP as “the most promising way forward”.

BAN PRAISES BRAZIL’S GLOBAL LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO UN IDEALS

On June 17th in Brasilia, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called the 2012 Earth Summit “the most important, top priority for the United Nations”. He commended Brazil for its “unique position to make a consensus between the developed and developing nations”. A few days later at UN headquarters in New York, Rio+20 Secretary General Sha Zukang noted at a screening of the film Rio: “That [1992] Summit changed the world. It launched the world on the journey towards sustainable development. Rio+20 will generate political will and momentum to ensure that we stay on track in our shared pursuit of sustainable development”.

UN URGES G20 TO DO MORE TO PHASE OUT SUBSIDIES

UNEP Director Achim Steiner urged the major economies to come to Rio committed to phasing out subsidies for fossil fuels, farming and fisheries. Speaking on June 15th at the UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn, Germany, Steiner said the Group of 20 is “not yet” doing enough, despite past commitments to reduce these subsidies. UNEP estimates that between $650 billion and $1.3 trillion is spent on harmful subsidies each year, and recommends reallocating these funds to green infrastructure.

WORLD URGED TO STOP NET DESERTIFICATION BY 2030

Luc Gnacadja, Executive Secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), commented that Rio+20 is an opportunity for the international community to commit to stopping net deforestation by 2030. “That means we will do more to prevent land degradation, we will do more to reclaim land,” he said on June 14th at the Bonn Climate Change Conference. He noted that we lose nearly 30 million acres of “drylands” every year – and the potential to produce 20 million tons of grain.

GLOBAL OCEAN FORUM: LET US COMMIT OURSELVES TO ACHIEVING A SIGNIFICANT OCEAN OUTCOME AT RIO+20

On June 8th, World Oceans Day, the Global Ocean Forum launched "Rio+20 Friends of the Ocean" to assess the progress made on commitments at the 1992 Earth Summit, and prioritize actions to be taken next year in Rio. Forum President Dr. Biliana Cicin-Sain called for coherent, ecosystem-based governance at the national, regional and UN-level, including incorporating the oceans into the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). She concludes: “The need to create and act upon a new vision of a low-carbon economy and a new “blue society”, where people act as stewards of our oceans and coasts, is a compelling imperative. The time to act is now, not tomorrow”.

FIXING OUR BROKEN OCEANS

There is a “critical shortcoming” in the governance of waters beyond national jurisdiction that must be addressed at the 2012 Earth Summit, argued UNEP’s Achim Steiner and Pew Environment Group’s Joshua S. Reichert in a June 16th op-ed. Previous UN summits yielded plenty of commitments towards oceans management, but little in the way of implementation. Subsidies lead to twice as much fishing as the oceans can sustain. “The bottom line,” write Steiner and Reichert, “is that the present value of benefits from ‘greening’ the fishing sector is estimated to be 3-5 times the investment – an excellent return for both people and the ocean environment.”

RAINFOREST LEADERS TO SIGN SUSTAINABILITY ACTION PLAN IN 2012

Leaders from the world’s major rainforest regions have agreed to develop an action plan for sustainable forest management by the time they meet again at the 2012 Earth Summit. At the Summit of the Three Rainforest Basins in Brazzaville, Congo, more than 35 heads of state and government issued a Joint Declaration (here in draft) on June 3rd, reaffirming their commitment to sustainable forestry and directing their ministers to meet and draw up an action plan in time for Rio.

CARIBBEAN RIO+20 PREPARATORY MEETING COMMITTEE MEETS

“Rio presents us with a unique opportunity, based on new and shared experiences, to seek meaningful commitment and partnerships for production and consumption, technology transfer, finance, capacity building and climate change” said Robert Persaud, Agriculture Minister for Guyana. He spoke on June 19th at the Caribbean Rio+20 Preparatory Meeting in Georgetown, Guyana, and cited Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy as a model approach. With Caribbean nations particularly prone to changing global weather conditions and rising sea levels, the meeting focused on developing a green economy that was also “blue”.

(Compiled with Katherine Manchester)

Post updated on June 24th at 18:10

Race to Rio - Earth Summit 2012 News

2011-06-16T17:59:12Z

Jacob Scherr, Director, Global Strategy & Advocacy, Washington, DC

We are just a year away from the next Earth Summit scheduled for June 4-6, 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, and interest in the gathering – officially labeled the UN Conference on Sustainable Development – is starting to grow. Our hope is that the 2012 meeting – also dubbed “Rio+20” - will be the first truly “global” Summit, engaging citizens from around the world at every level and sector of society. As part of our new “Race to Rio” campaign, we will be posting periodic compilations of news about important proposals, initiatives and activities related to the Summit.

NRDC SEEKS CONCRETE DELIVERABLES FROM THE SUMMIT

On June 6th, NRDC launched our ‘Race to Rio’ campaign, calling upon countries, corporations, and communities to come to Rio with specific commitments to immediate actions. As NRDC President Frances Beinecke wrote in her blog, “instead of making pledges or agreeing to statements, they should join with others in implementing new or reinvigorated initiatives to tackle problems where it really matters – at the national level and below”.

NRDC staffers also blogged about their views on the opportunities presented by the 2012 Earth Summit:

- Taking measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as phasing out subsidies for fossil fuels and deploying renewable energy.

- Reducing marine debris by taking personal action to reduce the use of plastics; recycling; holding producers accountable; and stopping “ghost-fishing”.

- Creating an ocean acidification monitoring network, which is critical for dealing with the change in our oceans’ fundamental chemistry.

- China was the first nation to publish a blueprint for national sustainability, and could be a leader at Rio if it broadened economic indicators to include the health of the environment.

- India hosted the 2011 World Environment Day, and has the potential to strengthen many of the green policies it has recently put in place.

- Encouraging Latin America’s leadership in the transition to a green economy through clean energy, energy efficiency, and reducing deforestation.

- Youth have a unique ability to affect change through new communication technologies and networks, and by both inspiring and holding leaders accountable.

BRITISH CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS URGE THEIR PRIME MINISTER TO GO TO RIO

Twenty environment, development, and labor organizations in the United Kingdom, including Friends of the Earth, World Wildlife Fund and Oxfam, called on the British government to show significant leadership in the Earth Summit process. In a June 6th open letter published in The Guardian, the groups requested that:

(1) The Prime Minister pledge to attend the Summit;

(2) The Government appoint an ambassador or envoy to promote the goals of Rio+20 across the government, the public and to other nations;

(3) The Government convene world leaders to “forge a consensus on increasingly urgent issues, such as the green economy, the food system, and building a low-carbon future”.

BBC’s RICHARD BLACK BLOGS, “BIG SUMMIT SEEKS BIG IDEA”

BBC environmental correspondent Richard Black writes that the “Rio+20” conference has yet to attract much attention, but it “could be the most important environmental summit ever”. He notes that early such gatherings - 1972 in Stockholm and 1992 in Rio – were very productive. He argues that this meeting seems to lack the “Big Idea” needed to excite and engage “leaders, citizens, youth, business, civil society, trade unions, legislators”, etc. in the process. Two possibilities are the oceans and energy, and Black asked his readers to submit their own ideas. So far, there have been 118 comments submitted in response to Black’s blog.

GREENPEACE ASKS, “ONE YEAR TO RIO+20 – IS THERE HOPE?”

Daniel Mittler, Political Director of Greenpeace, questioned whether much would come out of next year’s Earth Summit. He is discouraged by the official preparations, and the lack of leadership from the host country Brazil and the United States. But he notes that politics can also be highly unpredictable – he points to Germany’s sudden decision to phase out nuclear power – and much could change between now and June 2012. Greenpeace’s demands include concrete steps to be agreed upon at Rio, such as supporting an energy revolution and halting all deforestation by 2020. They also highlight the dire lack of protection for seas that lie beyond national jurisdiction, and call for a new agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea to manage these areas “for the conservation of marine biodiversity and sustainable management of human activities.” He ends with a hope note from one of Greenpeace’s founders: "Big change looks impossible when you start, and inevitable when you finish."

NYU REPORT CALLS FOR INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO THE Rio+20 EARTH SUMMIT

New York University researchers Alex Evans and David Steven released a detailed report on Making Rio 2012 Work: Setting the stage for global economic, social and ecological renewal. The authors from NYU’s Center for International Cooperation note that:

“Over the two decades since the 1992 'Earth Summit', sustainable development has not materialized: as global GDP has risen, so have greenhouse gas emissions, species loss and environmental degradation. This failure is due to political reasons. Publics around the world remain focused on material standards of living; leaders are reluctant to expend political capital on long-term, global risk issues; multilateral 'bandwidth' remains low; in many cases it is unclear what solutions would look like.”

The authors argue that a successful Rio process needs to break out of the mold of previous such gatherings. To deal with the world’s long crisis of globalization - where resource scarcity and environmental deterioration present fundamental security and economic concerns - the Summit needs to focus on “greening growth, equity in a world of limits, and building resilience to shocks and stresses.” Evans and Steven are encouraged by the potentially central role of emerging powers on green growth, where China, India, Brazil, Mexico, and South Africa are seen – at least conceptually - as leaders. They call for greater inclusiveness, proposing a “global crowd-sourcing process” to collect ideas before the Summit, and inviting leaders from civil society, business and academia to be full participants at Rio. They encourage governments to send their heads of state or finance ministers to Rio, “eschew[ing] a summit of speeches and grandstanding” and instead determining how “must-have” actions could be carried out. The authors also argue against creating new international institutions, and instead for improved “system coherence.” They conclude that “Rio 2012 could still emerge as the turning point the world needs”.

KELLY RIGG CALLS RIO A “MOMENT FOR DECISIVE ACTION”

In the Huffington Post, Kelly Rigg, Executive Director of the Global Coalition for Climate Action, recalls the many years of international climate discussions and negotiations, predicting that “Climate-saving measures will most likely slip in through the back door of the Rio process, taking the form of ambitious energy targets where win-win solutions are there for the taking. “

Rigg identifies three things that have to happen before the Summit:

1) The public around the worlds needs to be engaged with the Earth Summit, to demand more of their leaders, and to listen to the young;

2) “Businesses need to more consistently practice what their green PR preaches, and they must leave the fossil dinosaurs behind”;

3) Governments need to come to Rio with more than empty promises. Rigg proposes creating “a wiki to serve as the ‘Climate History Book’ as in, ‘will you go down in history as a climate hero or a climate criminal?’

FELIX DODDS SEEKS HIGH-LEVEL COMMITMENTS AND A NEW ‘SPIRIT OF RIO’

In a video statement, Felix Dodds, Executive Director of the Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future, says: “We are recognizing at last that we have planetary boundaries. Today, the principal goal of our economy must be to improve the lives of all the world’s people and to free them from want and ignorance – without compromising the planet itself”. Dodds believes that 2012 Earth Summit is an opportunity to “clearly draw a roadmap” for achieving sustainable development, including a focus on greener procurement policies and more responsible consumption patterns.

BRICE LALONDE PROPOSES TO FOLLOW TRADE NEGOTIATION MODEL FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The UN Executive Coordinator for Rio+20 Brice Lalonde called for the negotiation of a “general agreement on sustainable development” - perhaps analogous to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade – which would enshrine the principle that “healthy nature is good for economies”. This initial agreement would be followed by rounds of talks on specific sectors such as energy and agriculture. The biggest objection to trade-style talks is how long it would take to negotiate binding agreements.

Compiled by Katherine Manchester

Returning to Rio to Protect and Empower Environmental Advocates

2011-06-15T13:18:06Z

Jacob Scherr, Director, Global Strategy & Advocacy, Washington, DC

The Chico Mendes story is one that deserves to be told, and retold. A Brazilian rubber tapper, Mendes became a union leader and grassroots activist in the 1980s. He originated the notion of “extractive reserves” to protect the forests upon which the rubber tappers and their communities rely. He was at the forefront of efforts to defend the forests against logging and cattle. In 1988, Mendes was gunned down outside of his home by cattle ranchers who wanted to silence him. The murder of Chico Mendes attracted worldwide attention and condemnation – which was a factor in Brazil’s decision to host the first “Earth Summit” in 1992.

I was with the NRDC delegation at the Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, where we launched an unprecedented report on the fundamental link between human rights and environmental protection. In Defending the Earth: Abuses of Human Rights and the Environment, we – and Human Rights Watch - presented examples of the intimidation and suppression of environmental activists around the world. One of most compelling case studies involved Brazil and the assassination of Chico Mendes. We wrote then that:

Rural Brazil is disfigured by systematic human rights abuses. The big landlords maintain their economic and social power by coercion, resorting to violence if necessary, with the confidence that the chance of retribution is almost non-existent. The continuation of the big landlord system helps to promote the mass destruction of the environment that has rightly drawn world attention. In Brazil, there will be no safeguarding of the environment until the rule of law is brought to the backlands.

Almost two decades later, as we prepare to return to Rio for the next Earth Summit in June 2012, advocating for the environment still can be very dangerous in Brazil. On May 24, Jose Claudio Ribeiro da Silva—a community leader and vocal critic of illegal logging— was murdered along with his wife, Maria do Espiritu Santo, in the Amazon state of Para. Three days later, Adelino Ramos, the president of the Amazon small farmers association, was shot dead. Like da Silva, Ramos had received death threats from loggers. This week there was a report of the murder of yet another activist - Obede Loyla Souza . Since the assassination of Chico Mendes, the watchdog group Catholic Land Pastoral (CPT) estimates that over 1,150 individuals have been killed in disputes over rainforest protection. Fewer than 100 of those cases ever made it to court.

The 1992 Earth Summit recognized the critical role of citizen activists in environmental protection with the adoption of Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration. It states: “Environmental issues are best handled with participation of all concerned citizens, at the relevant level.” It affirms citizens’ rights to environmental information, participation in decision-making, and access to courts and other processes to secure environmental justice. But obviously such rights mean little if those who seek to exercise them fear for their safety and wellbeing.

High on the agenda for next year’s “Rio+20” Earth Summit will be strengthening governance. Almost all of the attention so far has been on the international level, including proposals for the creation of a world environmental organization or other structures to improve coordination of the hundreds of existing environmental treaties and institutions. Yet elaborate international arrangements to address climate change, deforestation, depletion of fisheries, etc. can be effective without firm foundations in individual countries. As one diplomat pointed out to me, 95 percent of the work to address international environmental problems must be accomplished at the national level and below. Thus, we are eager to see national governments come to Rio with actions to establish, strengthen, and improve the implementation of the Principle 10 rights.

Mendes’s legacy lives on - most concretely in the almost one million hectare Chico Mendes Extractive Reserve - and will loom over the 2012 Earth Summit. Brazil will be in the international spotlight once more. The government has set ambitious goals of slowing deforestation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 36 percent by 2020. However, these objectives will likely never be achieved if Brazil’s own citizens— particularly those who live in the forests and rely on them for their subsistence— cannot stand up to protect their environment. Those responsible for the most recent deaths of Brazilian environmental advocates should be brought to justice quickly; and measures taken to reform and strengthen safeguards, protections, and rights for environmental advocates. The world cannot afford to wait another 20 years for Brazil - and many other nations - to finally do right by Mendes and to address this systemic problem.

Coauthored with Katherine Manchester

It's Time to Act: From Earth Day 2011 to the "Earth Summit" 2012

2011-04-22T19:35:10Z

Jacob Scherr, Director, Global Strategy & Advocacy, Washington, DC

Today is Earth Day; and our friends at Earth Day Network are calling for “A Billion Acts of Green.” They are encouraging each of us to take a step to save our planetary home. You can pledge to plant a tree, switch to better light bulbs, eat less meat, etc. Earth Day Network has already recorded more than a 100 million acts; and their goal to reach one billion before June 2012. That is when world leaders will come to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development.

It will be the 20th anniversary of the first “Earth Summit” also convened there. In 1992, more than hundred Presidents and Prime Ministers committed their governments to take on the global challenges of climate change and loss of biodiversity. They also promised to return from Rio to their home countries to implement Agenda 21 - a detailed blueprint for sustainable development.

A generation later, there are many signs of progress around the world. While billions of people remain mired in deep poverty, the welfare of hundreds of millions of people has improved with rapid economic growth in China, India, and elsewhere in the developing world. We have created new technologies that are much cleaner and more efficient. We have devised promising new policies and approaches. We now have an unprecedented capacity to communicate and cooperate.

At the same time, there is also increasing concern and growing evidence that our current path cannot be sustained. At January 2011 World Economic Forum in Davos, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon issued a blunt warning about our prospects. He declared that our approach to economic development was not only obsolete, but infact “extremely dangerous.” He worried that - ”we are running out of time” - “Time to tackle climate change. Time to ensure sustainable, climate-resilient green growth. Time to generate a clean energy revolution.”

My hope is that “A Billion Acts of Green” will serve as a model and inspiration to world leaders as we prepare for Rio+20. They need to do more than just add to the piles of promises and plans about where we are going to be in 10, 20, or 30 years. They too need to act; and they need to be held accountable. In the run up to Rio, Presidents and Prime Ministers - in fact officials at all levels of government, in business, and civil society - should declare their own specific commitments as to what they are going to do to lead us towards a more sustainable future. The time to act is now.