By Xia Kunbao,ACEF Director and Adviser

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20), convened in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 20-22 June 2012. Representatives from 191 UN member states and observers, including 79 Heads of State or Government, addressed the general debate, and approximately 50,000 people from governments, UN agencies and other international organizations, civil society organizations, business sector, youth and women organizations, and media participated in official meetings, a Rio+20 Partnerships Forum, Sustainable Development Dialogues, SD-Learning and an estimated 500 side events in RioCentro, the venue for the Conference itself. Taking place in parallel to the official events, approximately 3,000 unofficial events were organized throughout Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In closing the Conference, UNCSD President Dilma Rousseff (Brazil) stressed that Rio+20 was the most participatory conference in history and was a “global expression of democracy”.

Participants at Rio+20 were encouraged to make voluntary commitments for actions to implement the conference’s goals, and almost 700 had been received by the close of the Conference, with financial commitments from governments, the private sector, civil society and other groups reaching US$513 billion, including those  from emerging countries such as China and Brazil.

UNCSD focused on two themes: institutional framework for sustainable development and green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication.

The UNCSD adopted the outcome document titled “The Future We Want” which, inter alia, decides:

-  to reaffirm all the principles of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, including, inter alia, the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and reaffirm commitment to fully implement the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, Agenda 21, the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development.
 

-  to establish a universal intergovernmental high-level political forum, building on the strengths, experiences, resources and inclusive participation modalities of the Commission on Sustainable Development, and subsequently replacing the Commission. The high-level political forum shall follow up on the implementation of sustainable development and should avoid overlap with existing structures, bodies and entities in a cost-effective manner. The high-level forum could provide political leadership, guidance and recommendations for sustainable development, and enhance integration of the three dimensions of sustainable development in a holistic and cross-sectoral manner at all levels. To launch an intergovernmental and open, transparent and inclusive negotiation process under the General Assembly to define the format and organizational aspects of the high-level forum with the aim of convening the first high-level forum at the beginning of the sixty-eighth session of the Assembly. 

-  to strengthen the role of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. The measures to be taken include: establishing universal membership in the Governing Council of UNEP; and havving secure, stable, adequate and increased financial resources from the regular budget of the United Nations and voluntary contributions to fulfill its mandate. 
 

-  to agree that green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication as one of the important tools available for achieving sustainable development. 

-  to establish an inclusive and transparent intergovernmental process on sustainable development goals that is open to all stakeholders, with a view to developing global sustainable development goals to be agreed by the General Assembly. An open working group shall be constituted no later than at the opening of the sixty-seventh session of the Assembly. 

-  to adopt the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption

and production patterns, and highlight that the programmes included in the 10-year framework are voluntary. 
 

-  to establish an intergovernmental process on financial resources under the auspices of the General Assembly, with technical support from the United Nations system and in open and broad consultation with relevant international and regional financial institutions and other relevant stakeholders. The process will assess financing needs, consider the effectiveness, consistency and synergies of existing instruments and frameworks, and evaluate additional initiatives, with a view to preparing a report proposing options on an effective sustainable development financing strategy to facilitate the mobilization of resources and their effective use in achieving sustainable development objectives. 

-  to request relevant United Nations agencies to identify options for a facilitation mechanism that promotes the development, transfer and dissemination of clean and environmentally sound technologies by, inter alia, assessing the technology needs of developing countries, options to address those needs and capacity-building. We request the Secretary-General, on the basis of the options

identified and taking into account existing models, to make recommendations

regarding the facilitation mechanism to the sixty-seventh session of the General

Assembly.

There are different views regarding the outcome of UNCSD. Some countries and organizations are satisfied, saying it is a big progress; others are not satisfied, noting that some of their expectations have not met; and still others are disappointed, stating that it is a complete failure. To be fair, the conference has achieved some successes, but to turn what was decided at UNCSD into reality, there are many difficulties and challenges.
 

-  The principle of common but differentiated responsibilities 
The principle of common but differentiated responsibilities was reaffirmed at UNCSD. This was the result of long and arduous negotiations during the preparatory process and at the Summit. While the developing countries have been struggling for the implementation of this principle, developed countries are not so enthusiastic. The developed countries emphasize common responsibilities, and request the emerging countries to shoulder more responsibilities. There will continue to be difficulties in the implementation of this principle and other Rio principles. 
 

-  Financial resources and technology transfer

It was agreed at UNCED that the developed countries should provide new and additional financial resources to developing countries to meet their incremental cost in addressing global environmental problems. It was also agreed then that ODA developed countries provided to developing countries should be increased to 0.7% of their GNP. However, up to now, only a few developed countries have met this goal. At UNCSD, many developed countries committed to meet this goal by 2015. However, there are still some developed countries, especially big ones that did not make this commitment. Although some countries made some voluntary financial commitments, there are no financial commitments made in the document adopted. The US said at UNCSD that they do not have new money.

At UNCED, it was also agreed that developed countries should provide environmentally friendly technologies to developing countries on concessional and preferential terms. However this has never been realized.

In the face of current financial crises in the developed world, the prospect on financial resources and technology transfer seems dim. 
 

-  Green economy

At UNCSD, countries agreed to develop green economy. During the preparatory process, some developing countries expressed strong concerns about the green economy. They said that its concept was not clearly defined, and that it should not be used as an excuse to hider their development. The outcome document addressed some of their concerns, but the green economy was still not clearly defined. Furthermore, many developing countries are in lack of means of implementation, that is, financial resources, technology and capacity. If they do not receive adequate support in these areas from developed countries, it is very difficult for them to develop green economy. However, the green economy might have good progress in emerging countries such as China.

-  Institutional framework for sustainable development

Differences among countries still exist on the issue. The EU and African countries have been advocating the establishment of United Nations Environment Organization and are disappointed with the result of UNCSD. 
 

Whether or not the intergovernmental high-level political forum can contribute to the improvement of institutional framework for sustainable development is still a big question. The measures laid down in the outcome document for strengthening and upgrading UNEP include, inter alia, universal membership of UNEP Governing Council and have secure, stable, adequate and increased financial resources for UNEP. Many people have serious doubt about whether these measures will really work.

The international community needs to strengthen their political will, strictly implement the decisions made at UNCSD, take concrete actions, overcome difficulties and differences and make joint efforts in order to turn what was decided at two Rio confernces into reality.