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Sustainable Development Policy & Practice
First Round of ‘Informal-Informal’ Negotiations on the Zero Draft of the Outcome Document and Third Intersessional Meeting of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD or Rio+20)

19-23 and 26-27 March 2012 | UN Headquarters, New York, United States of America

Rio+20

Summary of the Meeting

The Rio+20 banner outside the United Nations building

Highlights from Tuesday, 27 March 2012

On Tuesday, 27 March, delegates at the Third Intersessional for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development concluded a second reading of the “Framework for Action and Follow-up” section of the draft outcome document, as well as a third reading of the Preamble/Stage setting section and third reading of part of the Renewing Political Commitment section. At the end of the meeting, the Co-Chairs announced that they would develop proposals for streamlined text, for use during the next round of negotiations. However, the G-77/China noted that the negotiations beginning on 23 April should be on the basis of the compilation text as it stood, as well as with proposals from delegations by 28 March; and between now and 23 April, the door of the G-77/China’s office would be open to the Co-Chairs to discuss how the compilation text might be streamlined or reorganized. In his statement to close the Third Intersessional, UNCSD Secretary-General Sha Zukang said that the past “seven days of hard work have laid the foundation for consensus” and showed his appreciation for delegations’ positive approach to trying to understand the different positions. Co-Chair Ashe said that the Co-Chairs stand ready to assist delegations and asked delegates to be ready for intense negotiations during the informal informal consultations in April. He adjourned the meeting at 7:28 pm.

ENB web coverage for Tuesday, 27 March

Coverage of Selected Side Events
  Web archives: 19 March * 20 March * 21 March * 22 March * 23 March * 26 March * 27 March

Bureau members Charles Thembani Ntwaagae, Botswana, Paolo Soprano, Italy, Maged A. Abdelaziz, Egypt, and John Ashe, Antigua Barbuda, during a meeting of the Rio+20 Bureau and Major Groups

A view of the room during the negotiations

G-77/China members huddle to discuss the process forward

Mourad Benmehidi, Algeria, speaking for the G-77/China (right)

Major Groups during a meeting with the Rio+20 Bureau

Civil society press conference: Anil Naidoo, The Council of Canadians, Sascha Gabizon, Women in Europe for a Common Future, Anabella Rosemberg, International Trade Union Confederation, Tim Gore, Oxfam International, and Nathalie Rey, Greenpeace International

Nikhil Seth, Division for Sustainable Development, and Andre Correado Lago, Brazil
Paolo Soprano, Italy, and Chair Kim Sook
 

Highlights from Monday, 26 March 2012

Delegates convened on Monday, 26 March, for the UNCSD’s third Intersessional Meeting, resuming their discussions under the “informal informal” consultations held the previous week. The group spent the entire day and evening exchanging further views and input on the zero draft.

Read the ENB daily report with highlights from Monday, 26 March, in English (in HTML or PDF format) and French (in HTML or PDF format).

ENB web coverage for Monday, 26 March

Andre Correado Lago, Brazil, Elizabeth Thompson, Rio+20 Co-Executive Coordinator, Annabella Rosemberg, Workers and Trade Unions, Brice Lalonde, Rio+20 Co-Executive Coordinator, and Chantal Line Carpentier, Division for Sustainable Development during a meeting of Major Groups with the Rio+20 Executive Coordinators (Photo: Luis Flores, Consumers International)


Delegates during the negotiations


Yousef N. Zeidon, Palestine
Luiz Machado, Brazil, and Co-Chair John Ashe
 
A view of the dais during the negotiations


Ihab Gamaleldin, Egypt, and Farrukh Khan, Pakistan
Damaso Luna, Mexico, and Paula Caballero, Colombia
 
Delegates from Singapore, Uruguay and Argentina


Highlights from Friday, 23 March 2012

Delegates continued their first reading of Section V (Framework for Action and Follow-up) of the zero draft, addressing chemicals and waste, sustainable consumption and production, education, gender equality, private sector, sustainable innovation and investment, correct price signals, mining, accelerating and measuring progress, and finance, science and technology, capacity building, trade and registry/compendium of commitments. Many consultations and side events also took place throughout the day.

Read the ENB daily report with highlights from Friday, 23 March, in English (in HTML or PDF format) and French (in HTML or PDF format).

ENB web coverage for Friday, 23 March

Brahim Yacoub Adiker, Chad, and Ihab Gamaleldin, Egypt

 Selwin Hart, Barbados, and Paula Caballero, Colombia
Delegates of the Holy See
 

NGOs hold a meeting to discuss strategy

Representatives of the Women's Major Group speaking with members of the US delegation
Riyad Mansour, Palestinian Ambassador to the UN (left), speaking to the Co-Chairs
 
Khalid Abuleif and Aysar Tayeb, Saudi Arabia
Hugo Schally, EU
 
Book signing for Roads to Rio (l-r): Dick Ballhorn, Ottawa, Canada, (Formerly Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada), Jim Sniffen, UNEP, and Stephanie Atkipas and Rebecca Webber, US
Roads to Rio Co-editors Pamela Chasek and Lynn Wagner
 

Highlights from Thursday, 22 March 2012

Delegates continued their first reading of Section V (Framework for Action and Follow-up) of the zero draft, discussing proposals in sections on green jobs and social inclusion, oceans and seas and small island developing States, natural disasters, climate change, forests and biodiversity, land degradation and desertification, mountains, and chemicals and waste. Many consultations and side events also took place throughout the day.

Read the ENB daily report with highlights from Thursday, 22 March, in English (in HTML or PDF format) and French (in HTML or PDF format).

ENB web coverage for Thursday, 22 March

Co-Chair John Ashe during the informal negotiations

Harald Neple, Norway
Franz Perrez, Switzerland and John Matuszak, US
 

Selwin Hart, Barbados, negotiating for the G-77 on issues under Section V

Delegates from the Republic of Korea

Delegates meeting in the corridors
Stephan Contius, Germany, reading the daily ENB
 
 

Highlights from Wednesday, 21 March 2012

During the third day of informal consultations, UNCSD delegates began their first reading of Section V (Framework for Action and Follow-up) of the zero draft. Numerous consultations and side events also took place throughout the day.

Read the ENB daily report with highlights from Wednesday, 21 March, in English (in HTML or PDF format) and French (in HTML or PDF format).

ENB web coverage for Wednesday, 21 March

L-R: Farrukh Khan, Pakistan, Hugo Schally, EU, Paula Caballero, Colombia, and Franz Perrez, Switzerland

 
Jan-Gustav Strandenaes and Felix Dodds, Stakeholder Forum
 

Canadian delegates Erich Cripton, France Jacovella and Patrick Wittman

 

Highlights from Tuesday, 20 March 2012

During the second day of informal informal consultations, UNCSD delegates continued their first reading of the zero draft. They offered amendments and initial comments on the amendments of other delegations for Sections III (Green Economy in the Context of Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication) and IV (Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development). Numerous side events were organized around themes related to the UNCSD agenda during lunchtime and at the end of the day.

Read the ENB daily report with highlights from Tuesday, 20 March, in English (in HTML or PDF format) and French (in HTML or PDF format).

ENB web coverage for Tuesday, 20 March

 

A view of the room during the informal negotiations

Juliet Hay, New Zealand
 

Rebecca Webber, US, intervening during the negotiations

Major groups during the informal negotiations

Luis Alfonso de Alba, Mexican Ambassador to the UN, intervening on IFSD
 

Highlights from Monday, 19 March 2012

Delegates continued to negotiate the draft outcome document for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) on the first day of the 19-23 March 2012 “informal informal” consultations. Following opening statements by UNCSD PrepCom Co-Chair Kim Sook and UNCSD Secretary-General Sha Zukang, delegations discussed the first four paragraphs of the zero draft during the morning. During the afternoon and evening, delegates began a first reading of Section III of the zero draft, on Green Economy in the Context of Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication.

Read the ENB daily report with highlights from Monday, 19 March, in English (in HTML or PDF format) and French (in HTML or PDF format).

ENB web coverage for Monday, 19 March

 
Nikhil Seth, Director, Division for Sustainable Development, UNCSD Secretary-General Sha Zukang and Co-Chair John Ashe
Delegates from Benin and Egypt
Delegates from Bolivia and Bhutan reading UNCSD Secretary-General Sha Zukang's statement
 
Rio+20 Executive Coordinators Brice Lalonde (center right) and Elizabeth Thompson (second from right)
Pamela Chasek, ENB Executive Editor, shows delegates The Roads from Rio: Lessons Learned from Twenty Years of Multilateral Environmental Negotiations that she co-edited.
Members of the UNCSD Secretariat
 
John Matuszak, US, intervening in the morning session
Delegates from Finland and Cape Verde
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Related Links
UNCSD or Rio+20 resources
*Informal-Informal meeting website
*Programme of side events
*Third Intersessional Meeting website
*Zero Draft
*Compilation document

IISD RS resources
*IISD RS coverage of the Initial Discussions on the “Zero Draft” of the Outcome Document for the UNCSD or Rio+20, 25-27 January 2012, UN Headquarters, New York, United States of America
*IISD RS coverage of the Second Intersessional Meeting of the UNCSD, or Rio+20, 15-16 December 2011, UN Headquarters, New York, United States of America
*IISD RS summary report of the Economic Commission for Europe’s Regional Preparatory Meeting for the UNCSD or Rio+20, 1-2 December 2011, Geneva, Switzerland (HTML - PDF)
*IISD RS summary report of the UNCSD or Rio+20 African Regional Preparatory Process, 20-25 October 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (English: HTML - PDF) (French: HTML - PDF)
*IISD RS summary report of the UNCSD or Rio+20) Regional Preparatory Meeting for the Asia Pacific Region, 19-20 October 2011, Seoul, Republic of Korea (English: HTML - PDF) (French: HTML - PDF)
*IISD RS coverage of the UNCSD or Rio+20) Regional Preparatory Meeting for the Arab Region, 16-17 October 2011, Cairo, Egypt
IISD RS coverage of the Seventh “Environment for Europe” Ministerial Conference, 21-23 September 2011, Astana, Kazakhstan
*IISD RS coverage of the UNCSD or Rio+20 Regional Preparatory Meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean, 7-9 September 2011, Santiago, Chile
*IISD RS summary report of the UNCSD or Rio+20 Subregional Preparatory Committee for the Pacific Countries, 21-22 July 2011, Apia, Samoa (English: HTML - PDF) (French: HTML - PDF)
*IISD RS summary report of the UNCSD or Rio+20) Subregional Preparatory Committee for the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean, and South China Sea Countries, 7-8 July 2011, Mahé, Seychelles (HTML - PDF)
*IISD RS summary report of the UNCSD or Rio+20) Subregional Preparatory Meeting for the Caribbean, 20 June 2011, Georgetown, Guyana (English: HTML - PDF) (French: HTML - PDF)
*IISD RS summary report of the Keeping the Green Economy Blue: A Workshop in Preparation for the UNCSD or Rio+20), 29 April 2011, UN Headquarters, New York, United States of America (English: HTML - PDF) (French: HTML - PDF) (Spanish: HTML - PDF)
*IISD RS summary and analysis of the Second Session of the Preparatory Committee for the UNCSD or Rio+20, 7-8 March 2011, UN Headquarters, New York, United States of America (English: HTML - PDF) (French: HTML - PDF)
*IISD RS summary and analysis of the First Intersessional Meeting of the UNCSD or Rio+20, 10-11 January 2011, UN Headquarters, New York, United States of America (English: HTML - PDF) (French: HTML - PDF) (Spanish: HTML - PDF)
*IISD RS summary and analysis of the First Session of the Preparatory Committee for the UNCSD or Rio+20, 17-19 May 2010, UN Headquarters, New York, United States of America (English: HTML - PDF) (French: HTML - PDF) (Spanish: HTML - PDF)
IISD RS coverage of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), 26 August - 4 September 2002, Johannesburg, South Africa
*IISD RS coverage of the UN Conference on Environment and Development, 3-14 June 1992, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
*IISD RS archive of sustainable development meetings
*SDG - A mailing list for news on sustainable development policy
*Sustainable Development Policy & Practice - A Knowledgebase of International Activities Preparing for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development
*SIDS Policy and Practice - A Knowledgebase on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States
*Biodiversity Policy & Practice - A Knowledgebase of UN and Intergovernmental Activities Addressing International Biodiversity Policy
*Climate Change Policy & Practice - A Knowledgebase of UN and Intergovernmental Activities Addressing Global Climate Change Policy
*Linkages Update - Bi-weekly international environment and sustainable development news
*African Regional Coverage
*Latin America and Caribbean Regional Coverage
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