The 2012 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is scheduled for June 20-22, 2012 – right "on the heels" of the Mexican G20 Summit on June 18-19, 2012. Will the G20 Summit support or undermine the goals of the 2012 Earth Summit?  This paper by Nancy Alexander, Heinrich Boell Foundation, and Peter Riggs, Ford Foundation describes the risk that, unless the G20 changes its orientation, it could undermine hopes for positive outcomes at the 2012 Summit.  The paper is a submission to the Earth Summit process – for consideration as part of the negotiating text for the event.

Recommendation regarding policy coherence among governance institutions: To direct the United Nations system – particularly the UN Environment Program, the UN Development Program, the UNFCCC and UN WOMEN – to work with other global governance bodies – specifically the Group of 20 – to promote an agenda that integrates the three indispensable elements of sustainable development relating to the natural environment, the economy, and poverty reduction.

Click here to read the Submission to the 2012 Earth Summit Outcome Document ‘Zero Draft’ (5 pages, pdf, 34KB)