Felix Dodds comments on sustainable development, coffee & life

hi looks like the national report guidlines will be out this week from the UN with a date of completition of October 31st. There will be a chance for all stakeholders to input directly as well. So contact your government find out what process they are setting up to consult and participate in Rio+20. All information will be posted as we have it on our Earth Summit 2012 site .

The UN has redesigned its web site for 2012 ---its much more user friendly and information richer. Have a look at it here. The Stakeholder Forum web site has a diary of events up to 2012 -- have a look at that here.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today unveiled a new panel on global sustainability that is tasked with finding ways to lift people out of poverty while tackling climate change and ensuring that economic development is environmentally friendly. “I have asked the Panel to think big,” the Secretary-General told reporters in New York today. “The time for narrow agendas and narrow thinking is over.” To be co-chaired by Finland’s President Tarja Halonen and South African President Jacob Zuma, the 21-member High-Level Panel on Global Sustainability brings together representatives from government, the private sector and civil society in countries rich and poor. It is essential, Mr. Ban said, to promote low-carbon growth and enhance resilience to climate change’s impacts, as well as to tackle the intertwined challenges posed by poverty, hunger, water and energy security. “In short, we need a new blueprint for a more livable, prosperous and sustainable future for all,” he stressed. The Secret...