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Rio+20

In October, the global population surpassed 7 billion. It is expected to reach 9 billion by mid-century. Pressure on the earth’s natural resources is mounting.

In response, we need to increase the urgency in finding real and lasting solutions to create a more sustainable planet. While the Rio+20 alone cannot achieve this goal, we cannot afford to let this opportunity slip by.

WRI is working across the Institute to help ensure that global leaders make strong commitments to action and that they are held accountable for the decisions made at Rio+20.

Beyond Rhetoric at Rio+20 with the “Compendium of Commitments”

Submitted by Joseph Foti on May 1, 2012

As world leaders prepare to converge on Rio in June for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), civil society groups around the world are making demands of their leaders. In India, a broad coalition of environment and development NGOs are decrying state-sanctioned violence during hearings for major projects. In Colombia, civil society groups are calling for training of judges who often don’t understand environmental law. These are just a few of the many governance demands made by NGOs in more than 30 countries associated with the Access Initiative (TAI).

But, how will leaders react? Many may come to Rio+20 with commitments, but how can we hold them accountable to fulfill these commitments?

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How integrated reporting can help companies see the bigger picture

Submitted by Janet Ranganathan on March 19, 2012

A version of this blog ran on The Guardian Sustainable Business. It is based on Janet Ranganathan’s presentation at a recent event on integrated reporting in New York, hosted by WRI’s Corporate Consultative Group and Context, a sustainability communications company.

The United Nations has put global reporting by companies on sustainability among its proposed key outcomes for the Rio+ 20 summit in June. The “zero draft” policy agenda that negotiators will consider, calls for “a global policy framework requiring all listed and large private companies to consider sustainability issues and to integrate sustainability information within the reporting cycle.”

This is a welcome move. Corporate reporting is all too often narrowly limited to financial information. But in our increasingly complex world, a company’s finances represent just the tip of the iceberg. Below the surface lurk risks that could cause leaks in the most seemingly successful business’s operations, reputation or bottom line. The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico involving BP and recent issues regarding factory conditions at a Chinese supplier for Apple are cases in point.

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Stories to Watch in 2012: U.S., China, Food, Renewable Energy, Rio+20

Submitted by Manish Bapna on January 10, 2012

What are the top environmental and development issues that will shape 2012? This morning, I presented the World Resources Institute’s 9th annual “Stories to Watch” at the National Press Club. While we can’t predict the future, here’s a rundown of the key issues to keep an eye on:

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The Open Government Partnership: Will Brazil Promote Green Transparency?

Submitted by Athena Ballesteros on September 19, 2011

This piece was written with Catarina Freitas, a Brazilian legal intern with WRI’s Institutions and Governance Program.

On September 20, eight governments will gather in New York to launch the Open Government Partnership (OGP), a new multilateral initiative to strengthen transparency, citizen participation, accountability, and share new technologies and innovation. The Brazilian and U.S. governments are leading the initiative, which also involves the governments of Indonesia, Mexico, Norway, the Philippines, South Africa, and the United Kingdom as founding members.

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What Do You Want From Rio+20?

Submitted by Jacob Werksman and Lalanath de Silva on August 31, 2011

20 years after the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, “Rio+20” will review progress on and reaffirm a global commitment to the policies designed to foster economic growth that is both inclusive and respects the planet’s limited carrying capacity. Amidst a lingering global recession, a widening gap between rich and poor, and heightened competition for energy, food and other scarce natural resources, the conference could not be more timely. Unfortunately, no clear vision for Rio+20 has emerged, and expectations of the Conference remain low.

Three Demands for Rio+20

What should Rio+20 achieve, and how should governments prepare for it? To help answer these questions, WRI has been working as part of The Access Initiative (TAI) to encourage governments to develop specific recommendations for Rio+20. As part of these efforts, the global TAI network has now launched the Three Demands (3Ds) Campaign.

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Feeding a Growing Population that Relies on Ecosystem Services (Part II of II)

Submitted by Janet Ranganathan on August 9, 2011

This piece was originally posted on www.environmentalleader.com, and was written by Amanda DeSantis, DuPont, and Janet Ranganathan, WRI. This is the second in a two-part series. Read part I here.

The future of farming, food supply, and protection of natural resources are utterly interdependent.

While all economic sectors depend to some degree on ecosystem services, agriculture has the most intimate relationship with nature. Agriculture depends on healthy ecosystems for services such as pollination for nearly 75% of the world’s crop species, freshwater, erosion control, and climate and water regulation. It also employs 40% of global population and about 70% at the base of the pyramid.

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Are Governments Ready for Rio 2012?

Submitted by Carole Excell on July 11, 2011

Though the Earth Summit, Rio+20, will take place next June, few governments have started to seriously assess their progress towards achieving the internationally agreed upon sustainable development goals outlined in the Rio Declaration and Agenda 21, according to a recent survey from the Access Initiative.

Time is running short. In order to have a successful Rio+20, governments must submit meaningful and ambitious goals to the Zero Draft of the Outcome Document by November 1, which will outline the agenda and discussion points for Rio+20.

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Q&A: What is a Green Economy?

Submitted by Manish Bapna on April 5, 2011

The global recession has brought new attention to chronic structural flaws in current economic models and assumptions. As economies struggle to recover, many are taking a closer look at the broad concept of a “Green Economy,” one that simultaneously promotes sustainability and economic growth What would this type of economy look like, and how could we get there? Here are responses to some of the most commonly-asked questions.

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