Rio+20 brings together world leaders, along with thousands of participants from governments, the private sector, NGOs and other groups to shape how we can reduce poverty, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection on an ever more crowded planet to get to secure the future we want.
It is being organized in pursuance of General Assembly Resolution 64/236 and will take place in Brazil on 20-22 June 2012 to mark the 20th anniversary of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), in Rio de Janeiro, and the 10th anniversary of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg.
The conference will be attended by Heads of State and Government or other representatives and is hoped will result in a focused political document, binding on all parties. The main focus of the Conference will focus on two themes: (a) a green economy in the context of sustainable development poverty eradication; and (b) the institutional framework for sustainable development.
The preparations for Rio+20 have highlighted seven areas which need priority attention; these include decent jobs, energy, sustainable cities, food security and sustainable agriculture, water, oceans and disaster readiness.
Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Seen as the guiding principle for long-term global development, sustainable development consists of three pillars: economic development, social development and environmental protection.