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Rio+20? Informal Workshop San Sebastian, Spain 13th – 14th November 2008 Since the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002, there has been a dramatic increase in threats to peace and security caused by social, environmental and economic crises. In light of the new and immense challenges faced by the sustainable development agenda, Stakeholder Forum is hosting an informal workshop to discuss possible ways forward, kick-starting discussions on the possibility of a ‘Rio+20’ World Summit in 2012, twenty years on from the Rio Earth Summit in 1992. The Challenge At the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002, world leaders met in Johannesburg to agree on a new and ambitious agenda for achieving sustainable development in the 21st century. The summit represented a recognition that, whilst a lot had been achieved since the first Earth Summit in Rio ten years earlier, significant challenges lay ahead and demanded new and inspired responses. Just eight years on, whilst many of these challenges remain, the global context has changed dramatically and priorities have shifted. 2008 has witnessed the most serious global food crisis in decades as prices rocketed and left millions of people facing severe shortages. Oil prices rose at one point to above $140/barrel. To compound this further, the global financial system has plunged into meltdown and we teeter perilously close to a world-wide economic recession. Hovering like a spectre over all these crises is the threat of humaninduced climate change, which has in the last 2 years risen to become a major priority on all political agendas. The convergence of all these problems points to one underlying challenge: how can we create a sustainable and secure world? It is clear there are serious economic, social and environmental implications of the current development paradigm, which has proven deficient in delivering equitable global living standards, a protected and healthy environment and a stable global economy.. As governments around the world wake up to the realities of climate change, they must also wake up to the realities of the over-exploitation of our planet. The lack of recognition of the finite nature of the world’s resources means that if the lifestyles of the global North are adopted by the global South, we will need far more than one planet to sustain us. The prospect of an expanding global population fighting over ever-diminishing resources is bleak; yet there is an alternative future that leaders around the world must seize. A future of low carbon economies, of true understanding of the social and economic value of ecosystems, of improved livelihoods and prosperity that don’t cost the earth. We have the imagination, the technology and the will to map out a better future, but we need the space and the political will to deliver it: a World Summit in 2012 offers this opportunity, and will provide the catalyst for global action that this current juncture in history requires. Twenty years on from the Rio Earth Summit, it’s time for change. the prospect of the human race living within and the rest upon over-exploitation of If we continue to exploit the earth’s resources at the current rate, not only will subsequent climate change devastate the environment and ecosystems upon which human survival depends, but o be deficient in delivering and now even economic repercussions for the current g over has , saw the prices of oil skyrocket, As we now near the close of the first decade of the 21st century, it is overwhelming to remained in 1992 in Rio, Brazil. The consequences of the current global financial crisis are yet to be fully comprehended; meanwhile, we have not found a sustainable way out of our other immediate crises’, regarding food security, energy security, water security, and the consequences of the adoption of northern consumption patterns by a number of key developing countries. In addition, it is clear from September’s High Level Event on the MDGs that a number of these goals will not be reached. September also witnessed the total failure of the IEG process in the UN General Assembly. What are the implications of all these developments on the sustainable development agenda? Why a workshop? Stakeholder Forum is supporting the call for a ‘Rio+20’ World Summit in 2002 and is organizing a workshop for government officials and other relevant stakeholders to address the following pressing questions: a) How could a Rio+20 Summit help accelerate international progress towards sustainable development? Do we need a Rio+20? b) How can we ensure that any Summit sets out an an integrated approach to the sustainable development agenda? b) What should the key priorities be for such a Summit? This informal workshop is following a similar pattern to those organised by Stakeholder Forum from February 1998 to April 2000, leading up to the World Summit in 2002. In 1998 governments recovering from a less than successful Rio+5 were apprehensive about the need for a Rio+10. As governments attending the workshops discussed the possibilities of a Summit, that apprehension turned into enthusiasm. It became clear that the sustainable development agenda needed an influx of energy to focus governments, intergovernmental organisations and stakeholders into addressing why much of the Rio Agenda 21 was not being implemented, and, importantly, it was recognized that a Summit was needed to address new and emerging issues. The workshops created a necessary space for discussion and drafted the first ‘non-papers’ identifying topics for the agenda, and also drafted decisions on the operational nature of the World Summit in 2002. Rio+20? In 2008 we face a number of pressing global challenges: These include: • The failure to adequately implement the Rio and Johannesburg Agreements • The dysfunctional nature of the present intergovernmental body monitoring sustainable development, the UN Commission on Sustainable Development • The lack of progress on International Environmental Governance • A development agenda centered on the Millennium Development Goals, which do not adequately address the challenges of sustainable development, environment and climate change • The emerging paradigm of human, environmental and economic security . illustrated by the climate security, energy security, food security and economic security debates of the last two to three years. • The current and ongoing global financial crisis In 2010 the Heads of State will meet to review the MDG progress and start discussions on post 2015 goals. A summit in 2012 will ensure that the input from the sustainable development agenda will be substantial, unlike 2000. Objective of Workshop: To discuss the possibility of Rio+20 and what such a Summit might address. Draft Agenda 13th November: The State of the Sustainable Development Agenda and the Challenges we Face • Are we on track to deliver Agenda 21 and the Johannesbury Plan of Implementation? • What are the challenges and problems being faced in implementing the Rio and Johannesburg Agreements? • How effectively is the Sustainable Development agenda being advanced within the Millennium Development Goals? • What are the challenges that need to be confronted with regard to: - International Environmental Governance - Sustainable Development Governance - Financial governance - Climate governance 14th November: The Way Forward • Implications of the status quo • Post 2010 Climate Change agenda impacts for sustainable development discussions • Framing and linking the SD Agenda to the post 2015 MDGs ? • Discussion on operational issues: - What to do about the CSD agenda - Timelines for a possible Summit Guggenheim Museum Stay on in The Basque Country and visit the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. It si a modern contemporary museum designed by Frank Gehry. The museum.s design is an object lesson in Gehry.s style and method. The exhibitions change often but there are some permanent ones that are worth the trip in themselves. These include a series of weathering steel sculptures designed by Richard Serra and housed in the 430 foot Arcelor Gallery. There is also a Jenny Holtzer and a large Puppy by Jeff Koons infront of the museum. The Basque Biodiversity Centre A new Basque Biodiversity Centre opened in 2008 which aims to preserve and protect the Basque Regions biodiversity. Tours of the reserve will be planned for the Saturday the 15th of September. Travel to San Sebastian: Airports Biarritz (France) Serviced by Air France and Easyjet Taxi to train station train to Hendaye then Eusko Tren to Donostia Amara (San Sebastian) Bilbao (Spain) Flights from all Spanish key cities, Berlin, Bonn, Brussels, Copenhagen, Dublin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Lisbon, London, Milan, Munich, Oslo, Paris , Stuttgart , Vienna and Zurich. From Bilbao airport to san Sebastian direct bus (1 hour) Train From Paris (5 Hours) To Hendaye then Eusko Tren to Donostia Amara (San Sebastian) We will help you with advising with your travel details when registered.