United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)
Significance
The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (also known as Rio+20) took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on 20-22 June 2012 to mark the 20th anniversary of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), in Rio de Janeiro, and the 10th anniversary of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg. It was envisaged to be a Conference at the highest possible level, including Heads of State and Government or other representatives. The Conference resulted in a focused political document.
Objective
The objective of the Conference was to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development, assess the progress to date and the remaining gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development, and address new and emerging challenges. The Conference focused on two themes: (a) a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication; and (b) the institutional framework for sustainable development.
SIDS preparatory meetings
SIDS held a series of consultations in preparation for global negotiations for Rio+20:
SIDS Regional Preparatory Meeting, Caribbean Sub-Region
20 Jun 2011 - 20 Jun 2011
Georgetown, Guyana
The Regional Preparatory Meeting for Caribbean sub-region took place in Georgetown, Guyana on 20 June. The meeting was hosted by the Government of Guyana and opened by Guyanese Minister of Agriculture. It was attended by delegates from 10 Caribbean member States, some NY-based delegates representing AOSIS, UN agencies and regional organizations, totaling over 50 participants. more information
SIDS Regional Preparatory Meeting, Pacific Region
22 Jul 2011 - 22 Jul 2011
Apia, Samoa
The Regional Preparatory Meeting took place in Apia, Samoa, on 21-22 July, and was organized in conjunction with the Pacific Island Forum Economic Ministers' Meeting (FEMM). more information
SIDS Regional Preparatory Meeting, AIMS Region
7 Jul 2011 - 8 Jul 2011
Victoria, Seychelles
The second SIDS sub-regional preparatory meeting for next year's United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), was held at the ministerial level in the AIMS region in Mahé, Seychelles, on 7-8 July 2011. In addition to Ministers, other participants were representatives from Governments in the AIMS region, the Indian Ocean Commission, UN system organizations, Commonwealth Secretariat and Major Groups. The meeting was co-organized by the DESA SIDS Unit and the UNDP office covering Seychelles, in close cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Seychelles. more information
An inter-regional meeting to take stock of the aforementioned sub-regional meetings was held in New York on 1 September 2011. An article discussing this meeting is also available via the SIDS Policy & Practice site. Read the article here
SIDS Official Inputs to the Rio+20 Process
Member States, political groups, the UN System and IGOs, and Major Groups were asked to submit their inputs to the Rio+20 Compilation document by 1 November 2011. The full list of submissions can be found on the Rio+20 site. Here are the submissions provided by SIDS and relevant organizations:
Political Groups
Group of 77 and China
Pacific Islands Forum
Pacific Small Island Developing States
Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
Member States
Cuba
Dominican Republic
Grenada
Jamaica
Singapore
UN System and Intergovernmental Organizations
Inter-Agency Consultative Group for SIDS
Additionally, SIDS are mentioned in a number of submissions, which can conveniently be accessed here.
SIDS and the Rio+20 Outcome Document
In addition to covering global issues of particular relevance for SIDS, such as oceans, renewable energy, climate change, and biodiversity, the zero draft of the outcome document for Rio+20 includes several specific references to SIDS.
The section on Oceans and Seas, SIDS (one of the priority/key/thematic/cross-sectoral issues and areas highlighted in Section V. Framework for action and follow-up), contains the following paragraphs:
85. We reaffirm that Small Island Developing States (SIDS) remain a special case for sustainable development in view of their unique and particular vulnerabilities. The vulnerability of SIDS has worsened over the last two decades, primarily because of higher exposure to external shocks, including increasing adverse impacts of climate change and more frequent and intense natural disasters as well as the fuel, food, and financial crises, combined with inadequate international support.
86. We call for increased efforts to assist SIDS in implementing the BPOA and MSI and achieving sustainable development, including improvement and strengthening of the relevant entities within the United Nations system that support SIDS' sustainable development. We also call for the convening of the third international conference for the sustainable development of Small Island Developing States in 2014.
The section on Finance (under C. Means of Implementation also in Section V. Framework for action and follow-up) contains the following paragraph:
117. We call for the Global Environment Facility to be strengthened, with regularity in funding flows and reform of governance processes towards more transparent and democratic systems. We urge simplification of procedures and assistance to the least developed countries and SIDS in accessing resources from the GEF.
