This paper discusses the key issues surrounding green economy at Rio+20 in three categories: "principles of a green economy‟, "policy tools for transition towards green economies‟ and "international cooperation for green economies‟. The discussion is based on current trends in the discussion of green economy in the Rio+20 process, which can be apprehended in the zero draft published in January 2012, and from views and opinions expressed by the G20 (Group of Twenty) countries during the Rio+20 process meetings.

14 Feb 2012

Preparations for the Rio+20 United Nations conference on sustainable development have begun, but the first round of preparatory meetings did not address important issues such as sustainable resource use, production and consumption.

AHMEDABAD: The recommendations for a cleaner and sustainable environment compiled at the Centre for Environment Education (CEE), Ahmedabad will be presented at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development called 'Rio +20,' which will be held in Rio de Janeiro in June. The recommendations at CEE have been developed by a team of around 80 children and youth from across the world at an event called 'Asia-Pacific UNEP TUNZA Children and Youth International Conference'.

NEW DELHI: The EU wants countries meeting at a conference in June under the UN's Rio+20 mechanism to double their share of renewable energy by 2030 under an international obligation. It also wants countries like India to agree to double its energy efficiency levels under an international understanding.

New Delhi: Despite the presence of a strong public transport system, the capital has been witnessing a growth in the number of private vehicles. “We have introduced battery operated cars and bikes but unfortunately, people refuse to switch to other modes of transport,” said chief minister Sheila Dikshit. She was speaking at a session on regional efforts for sustainability at the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit.

Report Also Breaches Firewall Between Rich & Poor. A high-profile panel of the United Nation Secretary General (UNSG) on Global Sustainability has recommended that the world adopt sustainable development targets. The move has been opposed by India and several other developing countries as creating a backdoor for caps on emissions and green targets, while breaching the firewall between developing and rich countries that is enshrined in the Rio declaration and the United Nation convention on climate change.

Read this note on Rio+20 negotiations by Mukul Sanwal, as UN member states are meeting in New York from 25-27 January for reading of first draft of the Rio+20 outcome document.

International trade is a key component of sustainable development. This brochure offers a set of messages on sustainable development and trade that may be pronounced at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (commonly known as Rio+20), which will take place in Brazil in June 2012. The brochure looks at the workings of the WTO and how the multilateral trading system supports countries’ efforts to realize sustainable development and a green economy. It examines the contribution of trade to sustainable development and refers to green economy measures.

This new MoEF report documents India’s evolving framework for sustainable development since the 1992 Earth Summit and assesses the achievements and the challenges that the country faces.