Countdown to Rio+20

Speakers

• Lawrence Gumbiner, Deputy Assistant Secretary, U.S. State Department
• Joe Sellwood, Director, South America, BSR (Moderator)

Highlights

• Rio+20 is geared toward reinvigorating and recommitting the world to sustainable development, rather than toward hammering out a particular signed convention.
• The U.S. government is focused on sustainable development as a path forward for all countries to grow economically and improve the lives of their citizens.
• Gumbiner hopes that developing countries will view sustainable development as an intrinsically valuable approach to economic growth, rather than as a commodity to be traded for negotiated concessions.
• Practical sustainable development solutions will have to involve governments, the private sector, NGOs, and other stakeholders.

Memorable Quotes

“If somebody comes up to you and says, ‘This is an environmental conference,’ they’re wrong. This [conference] is not about the environment. … This is about sustainable development.” —Lawrence Gumbiner, U.S. State Department

“This is going to be a big Lollapalooza. This is going to be a giant gathering of not only governments, but lots of people from all different levels of civil society—from grassroots to CEOs. This is going to be the major multilateral event of 2012 in the area of environment and sustainable development.” —Lawrence Gumbiner, U.S. State Department

“What we don’t want to see at Rio is long, protracted negotiations over a document that … nobody really reads or that doesn’t have any real relevance to the world today.” —Lawrence Gumbiner, U.S. State Department

Overview

Sellwood began by asking the audience what topics they were interested in understanding about the upcoming UN Conference on Sustainable Development, or Rio+20. Audience members offered two key areas of interest: what success will look like for Rio+20 and what role business can and should play for the meeting. With these questions framing the discussion, Gumbiner presented an overview of the United States’ approach to Rio+20.

According to Gumbiner, the main challenges for Rio+20 will be designing solutions that improve human well-being given a growing population, persisting poverty, diminishing natural resources, and a declining environment, and laying out a sustainable development path for present and future generations. Gumbiner described the original 1992 Rio Earth Summit as a landmark event that gathered global leaders to discuss environmental issues and sign key documents. Rio+20 will be different in that it will not involve protracted negotiations over a specific convention. Rather, the meeting will focus on two key themes: 1) the green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, and 2) developing an institutional framework for sustainable development. Rio+20 will also have three key objectives: to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development, to assess progress and implementation gaps, and to address new and emerging challenges.

Gumbiner then outlined key milestones leading up to the conference. A 10-member bureau will engage several major constituencies—including business, farmers, local authorities, NGOs, and indigenous peoples—for a series of civil society events and thematic discussions to frame the conversation. Right before the event, there will be a four-day gathering in Rio for civil society to determine two recommendations for heads of states to discuss at Rio+20.

With regard to the U.S. government’s approach, Gumbiner outlined the Presidential Policy Directive on Global Development, which is an interagency group that is charged with developing a specific U.S. position for Rio+20. This process will focus on issues such as food security and sustainable agriculture; green jobs and sustainable goods and services; and new connections among governments, communities, and businesses. Additionally, Gumbiner emphasized the need to engage women and youth in sustainable development. He also highlighted the need for each country to integrate the key sustainable development themes mentioned above into its own economic growth path.

Sellwood asked Gumbiner how Rio+20 will be remembered. Gumbiner expressed hope that it will be a turning point in how large multilateral meetings are conducted. He hopes that this meeting will be more inclusive, encourage more open discussions, and engage members of local communities. He also emphasized that solutions will require partnerships among governments, business, academics, and NGOs. Gumbiner also said that he does not want the developing world to see green development as a commodity to be traded for funds or concessions; rather, he wants people to see that sustainable development makes sense for countries’ economic futures.

Gumbiner then encouraged the private sector to assert its voice in the lead-up to Rio by providing specific commitments and thoughts on how governments can support the private sector during the preparatory sessions preceding the conference.

During the Q&A session, CIVICUS CEO Ingrid Srinath asked about the role of climate justice and equitable burden sharing and contributions at Rio. Gumbiner affirmed that it is important that countries contribute and pay their shares, but that the conference should focus on reinspiring and recommitting the world to sustainable development as a positive element of countries’ futures.

Fenton’s Senior Vice President Susan McPherson then asked about additional ways businesses can get involved. Gumbiner suggested that the U.S. Council for International Business and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development both offer avenues for involvement.

Another question came from Helen Clarkson, head of Forum for the Future, who asked about the United States’ opposition to a new global environmental organization. Gumbiner noted several potential pitfalls and shortcomings of such a program such as new financial burdens and bureaucracies, and he expressed hope that the global community will instead strengthen existing institutions.

GlobeScan’s Chris Coulter asked about Rio+20 in light of the failure of other recent multilateral efforts like Copenhagen 15. Recognizing the shortcomings of previous multilateral, consensus-driven meetings, Gumbiner commented that we need to reorient global efforts toward more practical problem solving.