The United Nations Releases Rio Plus 20 Zero Draft “The Future We Want”

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 13 January 2012 – The United Nations has released the draft document that will be negotiated by governments and adopted by the heads of state and government during the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 20-22 June 2012.

The 20-page document, which will serve as a decision-making framework, highlights national and international political determination to pursue a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication.

The zero draft, as it is referred to, calls for enhanced support by the international community in the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

The document recognizes the economic and social significance of land and its impact on growth, food security and poverty eradication. It highlights the intensity of land degradation and desertification on most of Africa’s arable land as a serious challenge to sustainable development.

The zero draft also highlights the need to support partnerships and initiatives for the safeguarding of soil resources and scientific studies aimed at raising global awareness of the economic benefits of sustainable land management.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he hopes that the UNCSD, popularly known as Rio Plus 20 (Rio+20), would result in an agreement with Sustainable Development Goals. The UNCCD has called for Rio+20 to put an end to the unrelenting pace of land degradation by agreeing on a goal and target.

The draft also outlines the urgent need for the engagement of all major stakeholders – civil society, governments and private sector – in order to eradicate poverty, achieve food security, guarantee effective water and energy management, public health, inclusive and equitable growth.

Notes to Editors:

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD), also known as Rio+20, will take place in Brazil on 20-22 June 2012. It will 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 result in a political document, which will renew political commitment for sustainable development, assess the progress to date and address new and emerging challenges.