Environmental Issues > International Issues Main Page > All International Issues Documents
The Rio+20 Earth Summit
Speeding up the transition to a sustainable future at the Rio+20 Earth Summit
In June 2012, more than 150 presidents and prime ministers and thousands of other top leaders are expected to come to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development. The gathering will mark the 20th anniversary of the first historic Rio Earth Summit where governments pledged to take actions to protect the planet while addressing poverty and equity. Yet a generation later, the pressures on the planet continue to grow as do human numbers and needs.
The UN Secretary General has warned that we are running out of time. We do not need any more ineffective treaties and abstract plans of action. The NRDC has challenged the UN instead to make the Rio+20 Earth Summit different, indeed transformative. We want our leaders to come to ready to take action to speed the transition to a low-carbon green economy.
You can join NRDC in the Race-to-Rio as preparations for the June gathering become even more intense. Explore here and check back frequently for updates on how we can work together to assure that Rio+20 Earth Summit marks a real start towards a world we are proud to pass along to the next generation.
NRDC's Priorities: What We're Advocating for at the Earth Summit
Actions and Accountability
Countries, corporations and communities must come to Rio to promise specific actions now to meet sustainability goals. The UN should deploy state-of-the-art information technology to enable citizens worldwide to ensure these promises are kept. We see these actions recorded on a "cloud of commitments as the major output of Rio+20.
Click here to view a mockup of a proposed web-based Global Registry that NRDC presented at the UN.
Clean Energy and Global Warming
Perverse subsidies, short-sighted investments and weak policies are driving global warming, putting toxics in our air and water, and locking the world into an unsustainable path. It's time for governments to wake up, and:
- Phase out regressive and environmentally-harmful fossil fuel subsidies, such as those to the oil and gas industry.
- Scale up renewable electricity.
- Deploy energy efficiency, such as phasing out inefficient light-bulbs.
- Phase down HFCs (a "super greenhouse gas").
Oceans
Our oceans have limits. We're destroying the largest biodiversity reserves on the planet through pollution, overfishing and over-exploitation of our natural resources. Governments must take action to:
- Protect the high seas.
- Curb ocean acidification.
- Stop plastic pollution.
Green Economy and Jobs
Reducing pollution, increasing efficiency and deploying clean energy can be valuable job creators, especially for the next generation of workers. At the Rio+20 Earth Summit, governments and corporations must:
- Integrate environmental costs into national and corporate accounts.
- Increase support for environmentally sustainable jobs training and education programs.
Click here to learn about NRDC's overarching priorities for the Earth Summit.
Get Involved in Rio+20
In order to put us on a more sustainable path, we need action from every country.
- Visit Earth Summit Watch 2012 to find out if your leader is attending and about other preparations in your country.
- Urge World Leaders to Make Rio+20 a Top Priority
- U.S. citizens: Tell President Obama to Act Now
Record a video speech to Win a Date With History
Visit facebook.com/UNRioplus20
Tweet #FutureWeWant.
Recent Blog Posts from NRDC Experts
- Sustainable Development Goals: Can the UN stimulate the global action and accountability we need?
- posted by John Romano, 4/17/13
- Beyond Rio+20: Reflections on the Road to Nairobi and Paris
- posted by Jacob Scherr, 2/25/13
- New Hope for a New Generation: Can PINCs save the Planet?
- posted by Jacob Scherr, 2/5/13
- Measuring the True Reach of the Rio+20 Earth Summit
- posted by Jacob Scherr, 8/2/12
- India Environmental News Compilation, July 17th - 23rd, 2012
- posted by Amrita Batra, 7/24/12
- Reflections on Rio: Encouraging Cloud Over the Earth Summit
- posted by Jacob Scherr, 7/9/12
- Latin America Climate, Energy and Environment News: 6/25- 6/29/2012
- posted by Amanda Maxwell, 6/29/12
- India Environmental News Compilation, June 18th - June 24th, 2012
- posted by Amrita Batra, 6/28/12
- Monopolio Petrolero: Eliminar subsidios para combustibles fósiles de $1 billón requiere disolución de la influencia política de la industria
- posted by Peter Lehner, 6/28/12
Our Team
Director, Global Strategy & Advocacy
International Climate Policy Director
Director, International Oceans Program
US-China Climate Policy Coordinator
Staff Attorney, India Initiative
Staff Attorney, Oceans Program
Latin America Advocate
Sign up for NRDC's online newsletter
TAKE ACTION
Stop the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline
In Canada's boreal forest, the Peace-Athabasca Delta is a haven for millions of migratory birds. It's no place for even more tar sands development, which is already poisoning the boreal forest's rivers and lakes.
Top Stories
- Toxic Trade: The Global Metallic Mercury Market
- It will take an international solution to curb the world's mercury pollution problem -- and the United States should lead the way.
- China's Budding Environmental Movement
- Attorney Alex Wang talks about what it's like to be in on the ground level of a new environmental movement.
NRDC Gets Top Ratings from the Charity Watchdogs
- Charity Navigator awards NRDC its 4-star top rating.
- Worth magazine named NRDC one of America's 100 best charities.
- NRDC meets the highest standards of the Wise Giving Alliance of the Better Business Bureau.
