The outcome document to be adopted at the Rio+20 Conference on Friday emphasises the role of the UN Regional Commissions in promoting a balanced integration of the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development in their respective regions. Regional Commissions are asked to provide more efficient and effective capacity building, development and implementation of regional agreements and exchange of information, best practices, and lessons learnt. Regional and cross-regional initiatives for sustainable development are particularly welcomed.
Against this background, the Regional Commissions held a joint event at the Rio+20 Conference Green Growth and Sustainable Development: Regional Perspectives, highlighting best practices and examples of initiatives on green economy and sustainable development from the regions.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Mihai Moldovanu, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, and Mr. Sven Alkalaj, UNECE Executive Secretary, highlighted the importance of the Aarhus and Espoo Conventions and their Protocols as important models for ensuring public input into the process of defining and implementing green economy programmes and choosing the most appropriate roadmaps to sustainability.
They also underscored the importance of education for sustainable development to equip people with the values and skills needed to put the green economy concept into practice.
http://www.unece.org/index.php?id=30230
High-level participants at the event from other regions included the President of Indonesia, Mr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the Prime Minister of Lebanon, Mr. Najib Mikati, and the Minister of the Environment Ofm Costa Rica, Mr. René Castro Salazar.
For further information, please visit: http://www.un.org/regionalcommissions/riobrochurefinal.pdf