United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development

In 2012 the United Nations

United Nations

The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...

will convene the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, also known as Rio 2012 or Rio+20, hosted by Brazil

Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

in Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...

, as a 20-year follow-up to the historic 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development

Earth Summit

The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development , also known as the Rio Summit, Rio Conference, Earth Summit was a major United Nations conference held in Rio de Janeiro from 3 June to 14 June 1992.-Overview:...

(UNCED) that was held in the same city. The conference is organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs is part of the United Nations Secretariat and is responsible for the follow-up to the major United Nations Summits and Conferences, as well as services to the United Nations Economic and Social Council and the Second and Third Committees...

. More information is available at http://www.uncsd2012.org

The decision to hold the conference in 2012 in Rio de Janeiro was made by UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/64/236 on 24 December 2009.

Background

Rio+20 is a key milestone in a series of major United Nations conferences, in which the 1992 Earth Summit

Earth Summit

/ United Nations Conference on Environment and Development was the centerpiece, putting sustainable development

Sustainable development

Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use, that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come...

as a top priority on the agenda of the United Nations

United Nations

and the international community.

United Nations Conference on the Human Environment
United Nations Conference on the Human Environment
The United Nations Conference on the Human Environment was an international conference convened under United Nations auspices held in Stockholm, Sweden from June 5–16, 1972...

, Stockholm, Sweden, June 1972
- Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment
- Action Plan for the Human Environment
Our Common Future: Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development, June 1987.
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, June 1992
- Rio Declaration on Environment and Development
  Rio Declaration on Environment and Development
  The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, often shortened to Rio Declaration, was a short document produced at the 1992 United Nations "Conference on Environment and Development" , informally known as the Earth Summit...
- Agenda 21
  Agenda 21
  Agenda 21 is an action plan of the United Nations related to sustainable development and was an outcome of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992...
  - Commission on Sustainable Development
    Commission on Sustainable Development
    The United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development was established in December 1992 by General Assembly Resolution as a functional commission of the UN Economic and Social Council, implementing a recommendation in of Agenda 21, the landmark global agreement reached at the June 1992 United...
    
    , New York, February 1993
  - Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, 19th Special Session of the General Assembly, New York, 28 June 1997
- Convention on Biological Diversity
  Convention on Biological Diversity
  The Convention on Biological Diversity , known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is an international legally binding treaty...
  
  Rio de Janeiro, 5 June 1992
- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
  United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
  The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an international environmental treaty produced at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development , informally known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro from June 3 to 14, 1992...
  
  Rio de Janeiro, 1992
Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, April/May 1994.
- Barbados Declaration and Programme of Action
- SIDSnet: Small Island Developing States
  Small Island Developing States
  Small Island Developing States are low-lying coastal countries that tend to share similar sustainable development challenges, including small but growing populations, limited resources, remoteness, susceptibility to natural disasters, vulnerability to external shocks, excessive dependence on...
  
  Network
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa is a Convention to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought through national action programs that incorporate long-term strategies...

, Paris, France, June 1994
World Summit on Social Development, Copenhagen, Denmark, March 1995
- Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development
- Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development
Fourth World Conference on Women
Fourth World Conference on Women
The United Nations convened the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace on 4-15 September 1995 in Beijing, China. 189 governments and more than 5,000 representatives from 2,100 non-governmental organizations participated in the Conference...

, Beijing, China, September 1995
- Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action
Habitat II
Habitat II
Habitat II - the Second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements - was held in Istanbul, Turkey from June 3–14, 1996, twenty years after the 1976 Habitat conference in Vancouver that had led to the establishment of the Nairobi-based United Nations Centre on Human Settlements. The twin...

/ United Nations Conference on Human Settlements
Habitat II
Habitat II - the Second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements - was held in Istanbul, Turkey from June 3–14, 1996, twenty years after the 1976 Habitat conference in Vancouver that had led to the establishment of the Nairobi-based United Nations Centre on Human Settlements. The twin...
- Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements
- The Habitat Agenda
World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, August/September 2002
- Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development
  Johannesburg Declaration
  The Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development was adopted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development , sometimes referred to as Earth Summit 2002, at which the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development was also agreed upon.The Johannesburg Declaration...
- Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPoI)

Objectives

The conference has three objectives.

Securing renewed political commitment to sustainable development.
Assessing the progress and implementation gaps in meeting already agreed commitments.
Addressing new and emerging challenges.

Conference Themes

The conference has two themes agreed upon by the member states.

Green economy within the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication.
Institutional framework for sustainable development.

1st Preparatory Committee

Held from 16-18 May 2010 , immediately after the conclusion of the eighteenth session and the first meeting of the nineteenth session of the Commission. A summary of the 1st Preparatory Committee http://www.iisd.ca/vol27/enb2701e.html

1st Intersessional

Held from January 10–11, 2011 at UN Headquarters, New York, the Intersessional focused on discussion of the objectives of the conference, and its two principle themes. The Intersessional - not a negotiation session - featured panel discussions, from academia, non-governmental organizations as well as Delegates and UN system representatives.

2nd Preparatory Committee

Held from 7-9 March 2011, at United Nations Headquarters in New York, immediately following the Intergovernmental Policy Meeting for the 19th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development

Commission on Sustainable Development

The United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development was established in December 1992 by General Assembly Resolution as a functional commission of the UN Economic and Social Council, implementing a recommendation in of Agenda 21, the landmark global agreement reached at the June 1992 United...

2nd Intersessional

Will be held from 15-16 December 2011 at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

3rd Intersessional

Will be held from 5-7 March 2012 at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

3rd Preparatory Committee

Will be held from 13-15 June 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in the week immediately before the UN Conference on Sustainable Development.