Science and Technology for Rio+20

ICSU as co-organising partner of the Science and Technology Major Group

Rio+20 The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development 2012 (UNCSD 2012 or Rio+20), 4-6 June 2012, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Objectives: • To secure renewed political commitment• To assess progress and gaps in implementation• Address new and emerging challenges

Themes:• Green economy• Improving institutional framework

2

ICSU’s objectives for Rio+20:• To highlight the urgent need for greater action on sustainable

development.• To ensure that policy recommendations resulting from Rio+20 integrate

the best available knowledge from across the natural, social and engineering sciences.

• To emphasise that strengthening science and technology will be essential for accelerating the implementation of sustainable development.

• To ensure that the needs of the international and national research community are recognised, and that support is given to research, training and monitoring programmes that address sustainable development.

3

Rio+20 preparatory processThe Intergovernmental Preparatory Committee for the Conference will hold a series of meetings in the run up to the conference. • Preparatory Meetings:

• 1st meeting held in May 2010• 2nd meeting 7-9 March 2011• 3rd meeting in Rio de Janeiro 2012, immediately

preceding Rio+20 Summit• Intersessional meetings• Five Regional Preparatory Meetings (organised by

regional UN Economic and Social Commissions).

4

ICSU and Rio+20Nine ‘Major Groups’ are identified in Agenda 21 (Rio 1992), which participate officially in the work of the Preparatory Committee, the Regional Meetings, and the Rio+20 conference itself.

ICSU is co-organising partner for the Scientific and Technological Community Major Group, together with the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO).

5

Activities by ICSU and its partners for Rio+20 • Regional science and technology

workshops • Planet under Pressure conference• Seven Policy Briefs• Forum on Science and Technology

for Sustainable Development, Rio de Janeiro

• Mobilising ICSU national and union members

• Visioning and the Grand Challenges

6

Intergovernmental regional meetings

ICSU/UNESCO Regional workshops

Rio+20 preparatory process

7

Rio+204-6 June 2012

Prepcom27-8 March 2011

Prepcom330 June - 1 May 2012

ICSU Science Forum

4-6 June 2012

Time

Africa

Planet under Pressure conference

26-29 March 2012

Arab States

Europe & N.America

LAC

Asia Pacific

Arab States

Africa

Asia Pacific

LAC

GEC side event

2nd IntersessionalDec 2011

3rd Intersessional5-7 March 2012

April-Aug 2011

Sept-Dec 2011