Podcast 5 The World Summit on Sustainable Development
The following seven podcast episodes are adapted from the book "Only One Earth" by Felix Dodds, Maurice Strong (the father of sustainable development), and Michael Strause
In this episode, we look at the
World Summit on Sustainable Development - the 2002 Johannesburg Summit which
was meant to reinvigorate global commitment to sustainable development, and arrived
at a turning point in world affairs.
With over 40,000 participants,
including 104 heads of state, the summit echoed the ambitions of the 1992 Earth
Summit but collided with a shifting global landscape in the aftermath of 9/11.
This episode traces the
ambitions, negotiations, and ultimate disappointments of WSSD, from the promise
of a “Global Deal” to the emergence of public-private partnerships, and the
tensions between trade, governance, and sustainability.
We examine how institutional
fragmentation, political polarization, and unmet financing commitments left the
summit's bold agenda largely unfulfilled, setting the stage for Rio+20.
Episode 5: The
World Summit on Sustainable Development
"At a time of mounting
threats to the sustainability of the planet, and as we prepare for the 20-year
review of the original Rio Conference, it is essential to understand the road
that has brought us to this juncture, so that we can understand the momentous
opportunities and tremendous challenges that we face in reaching for a
sustainable future. Dodds, Stauss and Strong provide a compelling narrative of
the road that brought us to this point and outline a potential path for moving
forward." – Adnan Z. Amin, Director-General, International
Renewable Energy Agency
"40 years ago Olof Palme
reminded us that we must share and shape our future together – it is a shared
responsibility containing difficult choices. A transition towards a green
economy is one of those difficult choices. One that requires political leadership.
It will not happen unless we make it happen. Let's put the world economies to
work for a common, sustainable future – we can't afford otherwise. Dodds,
Stauss and Strong provide... suggestions on how we might address these future
challenges." – Ida Auken, Minister for the Environment of Denmark.
"Felix Dodds, Michael
Strauss and Maurice Strong use their intimate experience of UN processes to
detail the long and sometimes painful journey from the Stockholm summit of 1972
towards Rio +20 in 2012. The distillation of history would be useful to anyone
new to the issues. But more important is the dissection of the various forces
at play, including trade, competitive development, aid and environmental
awareness. Those forces are still here, and will play a major role in shaping
the path towards global sustainability - or not - well beyond Rio."
– Richard Black, BBC Environment Correspondent
"It is a privilege to review
the recent history of a remarkable initiative that changed attitudes and
perceptions, and introduced a new approach for determining the future of Planet
Earth. Written by outstanding players that contributed effectively to the
success of this major effort, it covers in detail scientific, diplomatic and
strategic aspects of a process that peacefully brought together all
nations." – Henrique B. Cavalcanti, Federal Minister of
Environment in Brazil. Former Chairman of the UN Commission on Sustainable
Development and Former Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy, Former Deputy
Minister of Interior, and Former President of Siderurgia Brasileira SA –
Siderbrás, President of FUNATURA (an NGO), Delegate to Stockholm-1972, to Rio
de Janeiro-1992, and Johannesburg-2002.
"This is a crucial book for
any who want to see how much has been achieved and how much remains to be done
in combating Climate Change. Incisive and realistic, it provides an essential
background for all who want to understand the most important material issue of
our time." – John Selwyn Gummer, Baron Deben, PC - Former
Secretary of State for the Environment
"The first Rio Earth
Conference set us on three tracks to sustainable development – social,
environmental, economic. In this definitive book, Maurice Strong, one of the
architects of that iconic conference, joins with Felix Dodds and Michael
Strauss to review the convergence and collisions on the development journey
since 1992 and to consider how Rio+20 can truly become a platform for achieving
'the future we want.' Their relevant and enduring message – we are all
shareholders in Earth Incorporated and have a responsibility to take the most
sustainable paths to prosperity, for people and planet." – H.
Elizabeth Thompson L, Assistant Secretary-General, Executive Coordinator UN
Conference on Sustainable Development Rio+20 and former Minister for Energy and
Environment of Barbados.
"Only One Earth is a most
influencing call to significantly modify the path of economic and social
behavior. It is impressive as it spans 40 years of environmental diplomacy at
the highest level. It is unique in doing so as the authors were main actors and
the first-row participants of at least the last 20 years of the period which is
described in the book." - Luc Hens, Gaia (22, 55, 2013)
"Only One Earth is ...
undoubtedly the best volume ever to trace the history of sustainable
development within the UN." – Crosslands Bulletin
"... there are many
worthwhile chapters that make this an important book and one that shuld be used
by those that teach in these issues and read by those who are responisble for
addressing the challenges of peace, security and development." –Michael
Bradshaw
Comments
Post a Comment