RIO+20

World leaders approved the outcome document for Rio+20, entitled “The Future We Want,” this evening. In the months leading up to Rio+20, negotiations on the outcome document included several week‐long sessions and many long nights, but under the leadership of the Brazilian Government, a compromise was reached and agreement made by the 193 Member States of the United Nations.

“The outcome document provides a firm foundation for social, economic and environmental well‐being,” Mr. Ban said. “It is now our responsibility to build on it. Now the work begins.”

The document calls for a wide range of actions, among many other points, including:
 launching a process to establish sustainable development goals;
 detailing how the green economy can be used as a tool to achieve sustainable development;
 strengthening the UN Environment Programme and establishing a new forum for sustainable development;
 promoting corporate sustainability reporting measures;
 taking steps to go beyond GDP to assess the well‐being of a country;
 developing a strategy for sustainable development financing;
 adopting a framework for tackling sustainable consumption and production;
 focusing on improving gender equality;
 stressing the need to engage civil society and incorporate science into policy; and
 recognizing the importance of voluntary commitments on sustainable development.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, concluding the Conference, told participants that the outcome document is a great step forward. “I am convinced that this Conference will have the effect of bringing about sweeping change.”

Commitments
Beyond the negotiated document, voluntary commitments played a key role in the outcome of Rio+20, with an estimated $513 billion mobilized from the 13 largest commitments alone. Over 700 voluntary commitments by civil society groups, businesses, governments, universities and others were listed on the main Rio+20 website as of today.

source: www.uncsd2012.org