Summary report, 20 June 2011

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) Rio+20 Subregional Preparatory Meeting for the Caribbean convened at the Government Convention Centre in Georgetown, Guyana, on Monday, 20 June 2011. Over 50 participants, including representatives from governments, UN bodies, and non-governmental and inter-governmental organizations attended.

The meeting generated Caribbean inputs in preparation for the UNCSD in June 2012. Participants discussed creating a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, the need for a blue economy addressing oceans and related issues, the institutional framework for sustainable development (IFSD), and emerging issues and partnerships.

Participants recognized that there is much work to be done in the lead-up to UNCSD and little time to do it. They identified the value and benefits in engaging in the process and the opportunities that it represents, particularly in regard to the green economy. The meeting generated interest and momentum within the Caribbean subregion, which promise to lead to further discussions over the coming weeks and months.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF UN ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCES

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) will mark the 40th anniversary of the first major international political conference specifically having the word “environment” in its title. The UNCSD seeks to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development, assess the progress and implementation gaps in meeting previously-agreed commitments, and address new and emerging challenges. The focus of the Conference includes the following themes to be discussed and refined during the preparatory process: a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication; and the IFSD.

UNCHE: The UN Conference on the Human Environment was held in Stockholm, Sweden, from 5-16 June 1972, and produced three major sets of decisions. The first decision was the Stockholm Declaration. The second was the Stockholm Action Plan, made up of 109 recommendations on international measures against environmental degradation for governments and international organizations. The third set of decisions was a group of five resolutions calling for: a ban on nuclear weapons tests; the creation of an international databank on environmental data; addressing actions linked to development and environment; creation of an environment fund; and establishment of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as the central node for global environmental cooperation and treaty-making.

WORLD COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT: In 1983, the UN General Assembly decided to establish an independent commission to formulate a long-term agenda for action. Over the next three years the Commission—more commonly known as the Brundtland Commission after its chair, Gro Harlem Brundtland—held public hearings and studied the issues. Its report, Our Common Future, which was published in 1987, stressed the need for development strategies in all countries that recognized the limits of the ecosystem’s ability to regenerate itself and absorb waste products. The Commission emphasized the link between economic development and environmental issues, and identified poverty eradication as a necessary and fundamental requirement for environmentally sustainable development.

UN CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT: UNCED, also known as the Earth Summit, was held from 3-14 June 1992, and involved over 100 Heads of State and Government, representatives from 178 countries, and some 17,000 participants. The principal outputs of UNCED were the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, Agenda 21 (a 40-chapter programme of action), and the Statement of Forest Principles. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity were also opened for signature during the Earth Summit.

UNGASS-19: The 19th Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for the Overall Review and Appraisal of Agenda 21 (23-27 June 1997, New York) adopted the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 (A/RES/S-19/2). It assessed progress since UNCED and examined implementation.

WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) met from 26 August – 4 September 2002, in Johannesburg, South Africa. The WSSD’s goal, according to UNGA Resolution 55/199, was to hold a ten-year review of UNCED at the Summit level to reinvigorate the global commitment to sustainable development. The WSSD gathered over 21,000 participants from 191 governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, the private sector, civil society, academia and the scientific community. The WSSD negotiated and adopted two main documents: the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI) and the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development.

The JPOI is designed as a framework for action to implement the commitments originally agreed at UNCED and includes chapters on: poverty eradication; consumption and production; the natural resource base; health; small island developing states; Africa; other regional initiatives; means of implementation; and institutional framework. The Johannesburg Declaration outlines the path taken from UNCED to the WSSD, highlights challenges, expresses a commitment to sustainable development, underscores the importance of multilateralism and emphasizes the need for implementation.

64TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY: On 24 December 2009, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 64/236 agreeing to convene the UNCSD in 2012 in Brazil. Resolution 64/236 also called for holding three Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) meetings prior to the UNCSD. On 14 May 2010, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the appointment of UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Sha Zukang as Secretary-General for the Conference. The UN Secretary-General subsequently appointed Brice Lalonde (France) and Elizabeth Thompson (Barbados) as executive coordinators.

UNCSD PREPCOM I: The first session of the PrepCom for the UNCSD was held from 17-19 May 2010, at UN Headquarters in New York. The PrepCom took up both substantive and procedural matters. On the substantive side, delegates assessed progress to date and the remaining gaps in implementing outcomes of major summits on sustainable development. They also discussed new and emerging challenges, a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, and the IFSD. On the procedural side, participants met in contact groups to organize their work in the lead up to 2012, and to consider the UNCSD’s rules of procedure.

FIRST INTERSESSIONAL MEETING FOR THE UNCSD:The first Intersessional Meeting for the UNCSD convened from 10-11 January 2011, at UN Headquarters in New York. During the meeting, delegates listened to: a summary of the findings of the Synthesis Report on securing renewed political commitment for sustainable development, assessing the progress to date and the remaining gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development and addressing new and emerging challenges; and panels on green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, and the institutional framework for sustainable development.

UNCSD PREPCOM II: The second session of the PrepCom for the UNCSD took place from 7-8 March 2011, at UN Headquarters in New York. Delegates discussed the progress to date and the remaining gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development, addressed new and emerging challenges, discussed the scope of a green economy and the idea of a blue economy, and debated on IFSD. At the end of the meeting, a decision was adopted by consensus on the process for the preparation of the draft outcome document for the UNCSD.

CARIBBEAN SUBREGIONAL PREPARATORY MEETING REPORT

Robert Persaud, Guyana’s Minister of Agriculture, welcomed participants to the meeting, highlighting the importance of subregional interaction in the lead-up to the UNCSD. He highlighted the efforts made by Guyana and other states in mainstreaming sustainable development, but emphasized the need for greater financing, technical expertise and targets, benchmarks and regional cooperation. Persaud stressed the opportunities that UNCSD can provide to address these challenges.

UNCSD Secretary-General Sha Zukang welcomed participants by video stressing the importance of subregional and regional consultations to make the global UNCSD process effective. He recognized the challenges faced by small island developing states (SIDS), noting that recent energy, climate change and financial crises have increased their vulnerability. He emphasized that SIDS issues will be taken into account in the UNCSD process, noting that green economy, blue economy and IFSD issues have important relevance for island states.

Myrna Bernard, Caribbean Community (CARICOM), presented a message from CARICOM Secretary-General Lolita Applewhaite, emphasizing the environmental, economic, and renewable energy assets of the Caribbean subregion. Stressing the opportunities that the meeting presents, she outlined major challenges faced by the subregion, including capacity and financial resource constraints, limited mainstreaming of policies and insufficient monitoring of progress.

ORGANIZATION OF THE MEETING: John Cesar, Guyana’s Forestry Commission, was nominated as Chair of the meeting. Participants endorsed the agenda and appointed Gordon Bispham (Barbados) and Annie Pitamber (Guyana) as rapporteurs.

UNCSD PREPARATORY PROCESS: Hiroko Morita-Lou, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), gave an overview of the process to the UNCSD and pointed out its main objective: to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development, assess the progress to date and the remaining gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development, and address new and emerging challenges. She said transition to a green economy would assist SIDS in overcoming vulnerabilities while exploring new opportunities. Morita-Lou said the blue economy has been understood as a part of the green economy but of particular importance to SIDS. She also stressed the need for a strategic plan to address gaps, enhance capacity building, share knowledge and experiences, and integrate and balance the three pillars of sustainable development through strengthening of the national institutional frameworks in SIDS. Engagement of UN agencies, financial institutions and major groups is particularly important in this regard.

During the ensuing discussion, participants explored the value and benefits of engaging in the UNCSD process. Grenada, on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), supported by St. Vincent and the Grenadines, suggested that the meeting look at climate change issues and their connections to the green economy, addressing: the warming of the oceans, death of coral and fish, sea-level rise, financing, agriculture and health in the context of SIDS. Barbados highlighted the importance of identifying national priorities and strengthening institutions to assist member states to get ready for the UNCSD.

The Pan American Health Organization highlighted the relationship between climate and health. UNEP noted its work on green economy and IFSD issues. Jamaica questioned how priorities raised in various fora will be linked and highlighted the need to address emerging and resurgent issues. CARICOM raised concerns regarding the process for feeding regional consultations into the global process, sought clarification on implementation mechanisms, and stressed the need to engage Caribbean experts and to address poverty and social issues. AOSIS also stated the need to address process issues. Cuba expressed concern about the short amount of time to discuss the meeting’s agenda items. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) noted its willingness to provide support on blue economy issues. The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) highlighted the need to consider climate change adaptation and disaster management issues. Barbados noted the importance of national consultations, the short timeframe, and the need to identify what can be achieved from UNCSD and what outcomes will impact SIDS. St. Vincent and the Grenadines stressed the need to properly inform national consultations, and ensure that their outcomes are effectively fed into regional consultations.

INTRODUCTION OF ISSUES AND BACKGROUND PAPERS: A SIDS-focused paper on the “Green Economy in SIDS,” a proposed framework for a paper on IFSD, and a paper on existing coordinating mechanisms in the Caribbean were presented.

“Green Economy in SIDS”: Hiroko Morita-Lou presented a working draft paper on “Green Economy in SIDS: An analysis of challenges and opportunities.”  Barbados, Bahamas and AOSIS asked for clarifications on the purpose, use and timeline of the working draft, with Cuba questioning whether the green economy was to be used as a paradigm or as a tool for sustainable development. CARICOM suggested the working draft should be results-oriented and include issues related to accessing financial sources and providing support for SIDS, especially to address sustainable development matters. Underscoring that the green economy was a tool and not a paradigm, he said that UNCSD should focus on implementation and not on process.

Barbados, CDEMA, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines expressed concerns regarding how the sectors listed in the working draft were chosen. The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) noted that his organization had developed a regional framework strategy for climate resilience, addressing energy prices and substitutes for fossil fuel and that the energy strategy will be completed in July 2011 and could be incorporated in the general preparation for the UNCSD. Morita-Lou explained that the working draft is being drafted by many authors from many regions, including the Caribbean, and that all comments will be used to strengthen the paper.

Proposed framework for a paper on IFSD: Morita-Lou presented an outline for a paper reviewing IFSD, noting that a draft paper should be available in July 2011. She noted that the discussions at this meeting will help enrich the paper.

Existing coordinating mechanisms in the Caribbean: Garfield Barnwell, CARICOM, outlined efforts for operationalizing a regional coordinating mechanism (RCM) in the Caribbean, emphasizing the important objectives of such a mechanism and the need for inclusiveness in its scope. He then described the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean’s (ECLAC) work in this area and the difficulties that have been experienced due to insufficient financial resources. During the ensuing discussion, Barbados emphasized the value of a Caribbean RCM, the critical need for providing the resources to make it function, and the benefits of giving CARICOM a role in operating the mechanism. Chair Cesar suggested innovative means to fund the RCM, including an airplane tax for flights to the Caribbean.

SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

In the afternoon, delegates split into two parallel roundtable sessions to discuss the substantive issues of the meeting, focusing on green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, and IFSD. Roundtable 1 was chaired by Gordon Bispham (Barbados). Roundtable 2 was chaired by Edmund Jackson (St. Kitts and Nevis). The discussions of the two roundtable groups are summarized below.

GREEN ECONOMY IN THE CONTEXT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND POVERTY ERADICATION:On the issue of the transformation to a green economy, participants in the roundtables were asked to discuss: the opportunities, risks and challenges for SIDS in transitioning to a green economy; the measures and institutional capacity that are required for SIDS at the national level to overcome existing barriers; and successful models that can be used for SIDS and the incentives that states can put into place for industry, business and communities. Regarding the issue of a blue economy in relation to the green economy, participants were asked to discuss: the aspects of the blue economy that Caribbean SIDS wish to highlight in the context of the UNCSD; and the measures that should be taken to ensure that practices that support sustainable management of coastal and marine resources are adopted and sustained.

Cuba, Jamaica and other participants suggested defining the term “green economy,” while some other participants expressed concern about the existence of a hidden agenda behind the “green economy” and the need to explore its trade implications. UNESCO said the green economy could be seen as a tool or element for sustainable development. CCCCC stressed that the Caribbean should move in the direction of a green economy, but not before considering issues related to climate change, access to technology, resources for capacity building and institutional change, and removing existing barriers to sustainable development. Regarding payment for environmental services, some participants underscored the importance of identifying how to convert ecological assets into monetary value without degrading those ecological assets. Cuba and others suggested that green economy should include both developing and developed countries as well as blue issues to avoid confusion.  

The Bahamas said its efforts at creating a green economy are at the conceptual stage. Suriname noted that work in her country, which started several years ago, has been delayed; but that private sector initiatives are underway. Grenada noted that discussions on creating a green economy have not yet commenced in her country and that a national dialogue on the issue is envisioned. Barbados discussed extensive actions that it has taken in the past that fall in the green economy basket and outlined challenges in achieving policy actions. Guyana outlined green economy initiatives in her country, including its Low Carbon Development Strategy.

Grenada stressed that the green economy must proceed as a methodology to achieve and complement sustainable development and added that there must be a focus on job creation. She noted that each country’s green economy will be unique. The Dominican Republic stressed the need for a green economy to allow environmental sustainability, social equity, food security, and adaptation to climate change. The Bahamas suggested that by bringing existing frameworks into the green economy context work could be streamlined. Barbados noted that the green economy dialogue allows economists and environmental experts to come together and brainstorm. The Caribbean Network for Integrated Rural Development (CNIRD) stressed the need for long-term strategies and for a people-centered approach, and Grenada noted risks including lack of acceptance, availability of technology, financing and integration with existing activities.

On the blue economy, several participants underlined the strong SIDS connection to oceans issues, stressing that SIDS views on these issues were set out in 2010 before the UN General Assembly and UN Commission on Sustainable Development. Other participants noted the importance of addressing the links between climate change and ocean issues. AOSIS suggested that SIDS may establish a green economy by pursuing a blue economy. Several others identified the links between fisheries and pollution issues, noting that mercury and lead contaminated fish often do not meet international standards for trade. The Dominican Republic stressed addressing issues concerning access to High Seas resources. Suriname noted that blue economy projects can benefit local peoples. Barbados underscored the importance of coastal zone strategies, partnerships for ensuring national security, and the links between trade and oceans issues. The Bahamas highlighted the 2010 UN General Assembly resolution on coral reefs. Several participants noted the links between marine resources, climate change and extreme events. Barbados proposed that SIDS take ownership of oceans issues in the UNCSD process.

IFSD: Regarding IFSD, participants addressed RCMs, national institutional arrangements and capacity-building needs. They discussed: how institutional frameworks to support and promote sustainable development at the regional level can be strengthened to assist Caribbean SIDS; the actions that are required to build stronger bridges between the three pillars of sustainable development and their respective institutions at national level; and the changes and adjustments that are needed to strengthen the global institutional architecture on sustainable development, from the point of view of Caribbean SIDS. 

Grenada stressed the disconnection between the region and global agenda setting and the need for better coordination between regional and global institutions. Bahamas highlighted the value of having a RCM for the Caribbean and the possible repercussions for SIDS to changes to the existing international environmental governance system. Regarding a RCM, Barbados stressed the need for a practical arrangement with adequate resources. Cautioning against using CARICOM as the institutional home of a RCM, Cuba and the Dominican Republic stressed that such a mechanism must include all Caribbean states, including non-members of CARICOM. The Dominican Republic further suggested strengthening culture and values as well as structures and the need for existing institutional frameworks to work together. AOSIS raised the issue of whether a more amalgamated and coherent international structure is needed to deal with islands.

Several participants highlighted the value of SIDSnet and SIDS/TAP (Technical Assistance Programme) for awareness raising and fostering technical assistance. Jamaica suggested reforms on how ministries communicate at the national level regarding sustainable development and environmental issues. Underscoring that the international funding structures motivate fragmented implementation of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), CCCCC noted that MEAs’ national management has to take some of the blame for gaps in implementation. Some participants suggested the use of just one single fund mechanism for sustainable development. The Commonwealth Secretariat said that it would be possible to develop a financial platform for national programmes instead of fragmented projects and highlighted the need for countries to have national programmes in place.

EMERGING ISSUES: With respect to emerging issues, participants were briefly asked to: identify new and emerging issues for SIDS at the international, regional and national levels and whether they affect the advancement of the sustainable development agenda; discuss how the link between science, education, and policy can be strengthened to address new and emerging challenges; and identify additional measures that are needed to enable countries to strengthen resilience to shocks emanating from new and emerging challenges.

Several participants identified new elements of existing issues, such as: food and energy security, water shortages, increased vulnerability and the use of the Human Development Index (HDI) instead of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita criteria. Barbados noted the impacts of the emergence of the Arctic economy on SIDS in terms of greater access to resources and the development of new shipping routes.

PARTNERSHIPS: Concerning partnerships, participants were very briefly asked to discuss: the reasons for successful SIDS partnerships and the ways and means to promote and strengthen such partnerships; how new incentives or modalities for partnerships should be promoted to improve effective delivery; and what participants would like to see at the UNCSD in terms of partnerships.

During the discussions, several participants stressed that partnerships are relevant and should be revisited. Others stressed the need for successful partnership case studies to be identified. Grenada described four Caribbean partnerships that promote the blue economy.

CLOSING SESSION

During the closing session, participants discussed the outcomes of the afternoon roundtable sessions and next steps.

The Chairs of the roundtables presented summaries of the discussions. During the discussion, Cuba called for meaningful implementation of sustainable development responding to the Rio Principles and called for combating poverty and climate change. CNIRD suggested that participants use the format of regional task force mechanisms to analyze documents and guide national preparations for the UNCSD. CARICOM and others highlighted concerns about using GDP per capita as an indicator even if only used as an element in the HDI. Chair Cesar noted the importance of considering climate vulnerability and human capital issues. AOSIS stressed the transformation value of the green economy and emphasized that countries must become more familiar with the notion of following a new direction.

DESA requested Caribbean countries to inform DESA of their UNCSD national preparations and capacity issues so DESA can provide support. The Commonwealth Secretariat said her institution has done work on vulnerability of SIDS, explained that inherited characteristics such as remoteness and size of a country cannot be changed, and suggested that countries work on strengthening their resilience. UNEP highlighted the importance of the linkages among green economy, climate change and poverty alleviation. UNESCO said there are important issues that participants must review when back home, including ocean and coastal issues, political commitment and food security. Barbados underscored the importance of gathering tools for achieving sustainability and increasing resilience, and asked for this dialogue to be continued.

AOSIS stated that the process remains very open and incomplete and that more work needs to be done, stressing the need for support for national preparations and the need for stronger will to get the work done. She emphasized that the UNCSD presents an important opportunity that should not be squandered. She also emphasized that its outcomes must address poverty eradication and get back to people-centered development with green jobs. CARICOM noted that this meeting permitted reflection on where Caribbean SIDS have been. Stressing that the next step is to engage in more strategic discussions and to be more coordinated, she emphasized that the ultimate goal must be for improving the quality of life of Caribbean citizens. DESA and ECLAC described opportunities for further consultations on the issues. Barbados urged Caribbean states to become more engaged in the process.

Chair Cesar thanked organizers and participants and closed the meeting at 8:19 pm.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

Central American Regional Workshop:  “Una Propuesta Progresista y Sostenible en el marco del proceso preparatorio hacia Río+20”: This workshop will provide inputs and perspectives from the Central American states in preparation for regional preparatory meetings for the UNCSD.  dates: 28-29 June 2011  location: Guatemala City, Guatemala  contact: UNCSD Secretariat email:uncsd2012@un.org www: http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?menu=26

UNCSD Subregional Preparatory Meeting for AIMS SIDS: Organized by the DESA SIDS Unit, AOSIS and members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Group on SIDS, this meeting will provide inputs and perspectives from the Atlantic, Indian and Mediterranean SIDS to be considered in preparation for regional preparatory meetings for the UNCSD.  dates: 7-8 July 2011  location: Victoria, Seychelles  contact: Hiro Morita-Lou, SIDS Unit, DESA  phone: +1-212-963-8813  fax: +1-212-963-4260  email: morita-lou@un.org www: http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?menu=26

High Level Dialogue on the Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development (IFSD):  This meeting, organized by DESA, will provide inputs and perspectives on IFSD for consideration in preparation for the UNCSD. dates 19-21 July 2011 location: Solo, Indonesia  contact: Hiro Morita-Lou, DESA  phone: +1-212-963-8813 fax: +1-212-963-4260  email:morita-lou@un.org www: http://www.uncsd2012.org

UNCSD Subregional Preparatory Meeting for Pacific SIDS: Organized by the DESA SIDS Unit, AOSIS and members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Group on SIDS, this meeting will provide inputs and perspectives from the Pacific SIDS to be considered in preparation for regional preparatory meetings for the UNCSD. dates: 21-22 July 2011 location: Apia, Samoa  contact: Hiro Morita-Lou, DESA  phone: +1-212-963-8813  fax: +1-212-963-4260  email:morita-lou@un.org www: http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?menu=26

UNCSD Regional Preparatory Meeting for Latin American and Caribbean: This meeting, hosted by the UN Economic Commission for the Latin American and Caribbean Region (ECLAC), will be held in preparation for the UNCSD. dates: 7-9 September 2011  location: Santiago, Chile  contact: ECLAC  phone: +56-2-471-2000  fax: +56-2-208-0252  email: rio20@cepal.org www: http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?menu=26 or http://www.eclac.cl/rio20

GSP 4: The fourth meeting of the Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Global Sustainability (GSP 4) will take place in New York, on the margins of the 66th session of the UN General Assembly.  dates: 18-19 September 2011  location: UN Headquarters, New York contact: GSP Secretariat phone: +1-917-367-4207 email: gsp-secretariat@un.org www: http://www.un.org/wcm/content/site/climatechange/pages/gsp

UNCSD Inter-Regional Preparatory Meeting for SIDS: This meeting will be held in New York in preparation for the UNCSD. date: 23 September 2011  location: UN Headquarters, New York  contact: Hiro Morita-Lou, DESA  phone: +1-212-963-8813  fax: +1-212-963-4260  email:morita-lou@un.org www: http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?menu=26

Conference on the Green Economy and Sustainable Development: Bringing Back the Social Dimension: The UN Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) will host a conference on the green economy and sustainable development, focusing on the social dimension. The conference will examine the social impacts and distributional consequences of policies and processes associated with green economy; the potential and limits of structural and institutional change; and the agency and social mobilization for institutional and policy change. The policy reports presented at the conference will aim to inform the UNCSD preparatory process and subsequent policy discussions. dates: 10-11 October 2011  location: Geneva, Switzerland  contact: Kiah Smith, UNRISD email: smith@unrisd.org www: http://www.unrisd.org/

UNCSD Regional Preparatory Meeting for Africa: The UN Economic Commission for Africa and partners will convene an African regional preparatory meeting for the UNCSD. dates: 10-14 October 2011  location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia contact: UNCSD Secretariat email:uncsd2012@un.org www: http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?menu=26

UNCSD Regional Preparatory Meeting in the Arab Region: The UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia and partners will convene an Arab regional meeting in preparation for the UNCSD.  dates: 16-17 October 2011  location: Cairo, Egypt  contact: UNCSD Secretariat  email:uncsd2012@un.org www: http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?menu=26  

UNCSD Regional Preparatory Meeting in the Asia-Pacific Region: The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and partners will convene a regional meeting in preparation for the UNCSD.  dates: 19-20 October 2011 location: Seoul, Republic of Korea contact: UNCSD Secretariat email:uncsd2012@un.org www: http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?menu=26  

UNEP FI Global Roundtable 2011: Organized by the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), this meeting will convene under the theme “The tipping point: Sustained stability in the next economy.” The 2011 Roundtable aims to provide a platform for the global financial sector to define what it expects to achieve at UNCSD. It will include two plenary sessions, on: Systems, Stability and Sustainability/ Lenses and Clocks; and What the Earth Summit needs to deliver at Rio+20.  dates: 19-20 October 2011  location: Washington, DC  contact: Cecilia Serin  fax: +41-22-796-9240 email:roundtable@unepfi.org www: http://www.unepfi.org/washington

Bonn 2011 Conference: "The Water, Energy and Food Security Nexus-Water Resources in the Green Economy”: Organized by the German Government, the Bonn conference pursues two objectives: on the one hand, to develop cross-sector solutions for achieving water, energy and food security; on the other, to position the interface of water, energy and food security within the discourse of the “Rio plus 20” process and “green economy”.  dates: 16-18 November 2011  location: Bonn, Germany  contact: Ms. Imke Thiem, Head of Secretariat  phone: +49-6196-79-1547 email:bonn.conference2011@giz.de www: http://www.water-energy-food.org/

High Level Expert Meeting on the Sustainable Use of Oceans: This meeting, to be hosted by Monaco, will take place in November. dates: 28-30 November 2011  location: Monaco contact: UNCSD Secretariat email: uncsd2012@un.org  www: http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?menu=50

UNCSD Regional Preparatory Meeting for ECE Region: The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) will convene a regional meeting in preparation for the UNCSD. dates: 1-2 December 2011  location: Geneva, Switzerland  contact: UNCSD Secretariat  email:uncsd2012@un.org www:  http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?menu=26  

Second Intersessional Meeting for UNCSD: The second intersessional meeting for the UNCSD will be convened in late 2011 to prepare for the June 2012 UNCSD.  dates: 15-16 December 2011  location: UN Headquarters, New York contact: UNCSD Secretariat email: uncsd2012@un.org www: http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?menu=25

Third Intersessional Meeting for UNCSD: The final intersessional meeting for the UNCSD will be convened in March 2012.  dates: 26-27 March 2012  location: UN Headquarters, New York contact: UNCSD Secretariat  email: uncsd2012@un.org www: http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?menu=25

Third PrepCom for UNCSD: The third meeting of the Preparatory Committee for the UNCSD will take place in Brazil just prior to the conference.  dates: 28-30 May 2012  location: Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.  contact: UNCSD Secretariat email: uncsd2012@un.org www: http://www.uncsd2012.org/

UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD): The UNCSD will mark the 20th anniversary of the UN Conference on Environment and Development, which convened in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. dates: 4-6 June 2012  location: Rio De Janeiro, Brazil contact: UNCSD Secretariat email: uncsd2012@un.org www: http://www.uncsd2012.org/

This issue of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin © <enb@iisd.org> is written and edited by Karen Alvarenga, Ph.D. and Hugh Wilkins. The Editor is Pamela S. Chasek, Ph.D. <pam@iisd.org>. The Director of IISD Reporting Services is Langston James “Kimo” Goree VI <kimo@iisd.org>. The Sustaining Donors of the Bulletin are the Government of the United States of America (through the Department of State Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs), the Government of Canada (through CIDA), the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), the European Commission (DG-ENV), and the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea. General Support for the Bulletin during 2011 is provided by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Government of Australia, the Ministry of Environment of Sweden, the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, SWAN International, Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Japanese Ministry of Environment (through the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies - IGES), the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (through the Global Industrial and Social Progress Research Institute – GISPRI) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Funding for translation of the Bulletin into French has been provided by the Government of France, the Belgium Walloon Region, the Province of Québec, and the International Organization of the Francophone (OIF and IEPF). The opinions expressed in the Bulletin are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of IISD or other donors. Excerpts from the Bulletin may be used in non-commercial publications with appropriate academic citation. For information on the Bulletin, including requests to provide reporting services, contact the Director of IISD Reporting Services at <kimo@iisd.org>, +1-646-536-7556 or 320 E 46th St., APT 32A, New York, NY10017-3037, USA.