The newsletter highlights excerpts of world leaders' remarks during the General Debate of the General Assembly's 66th session, which focused on Rio+20 and sustainable development. Among related events and issues, the newsletter also reports on a 26 October 2011, "Means of Implementation for Sustainable Development" panel discussion event, which was part of the Special Events of the Second Committee of the General Assembly's 66th session. It also announces a special consultation between Conference Secretary-General Sha Zukang and key organizing partners from the nine major groups for Rio+20, on 3 November 2011. View full issue at http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?menu=40

1. Rio+20: Making it Happen
Newsletter of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
31 October 2011, Volume 2, Issue 20
World Leaders Reflect on Rio+20
In this Issue UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
O f the 196 world leaders who took the “As I see it, we have
UN/Mark Garten
- World Leaders Reflect on Rio+20 five imperatives.... The
floor during the General Debate at the
Page 1 66th session of the General Assembly, many first and greatest of
focused on global issues including, sustainable these is sustainable
- Means of Implementation Event development, the Arab spring, the impact of development — the
- Major Groups’ Update imperative of the 21st
the global economic and financial crisis, and
- Regional Preparatory Meetings climate change. We bring you excerpts from century. Saving our planet, lifting people
- Upcoming Events their remarks, which addressed sustainable out of poverty, advancing economic growth
Page 2 development and Rio+20 specifically. Due to — these are one and the same fight. We
limited space, we are only able to post a select must connect the dots between climate
Quote few of these remarks in this edition. However, change, water scarcity, energy shortages,
“I believe that we will bring you more of these remarks under global health, food security and women’s
expanding the MDGs into Sustainable “Quote” on the left-side corner of this page in empowerment. Solutions to one problem
Development Goals around the year future editions as Rio+20 approaches. must be solutions for all. Rio+20 must suc-
2015 could help the ceed.”
world community to continue its fight President of the 66th Session Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser
UN/Eskinder Debebe
against poverty and enhance sustain- “And regarding sustainable development and global prosperity, as the world
able development.” -President of population reaches 7 billion next month, our efforts in this area will be ever-
FINLAND Tarja Halonen more pressing. This year there will be a number of major global conferences
related to sustainable development….I urge you, leaders of the world, to find
consensus and take strong and urgent action to ensure fruitful outcomes at these important
Rio+20 website meetings.”
President of BRAZIL Dilma Rousseff
UN/Rick Bajornas
“We will have the honor of hosting the United Nations Conference on Sus-
tainable Development – Rio + 20 – in June of 2012. Along with Secretary-
General Ban Ki-moon, I reiterate the invitation to all Heads of State and Gov-
ernment to attend.”
Deputy Prime Minister of ETHIOPIA Hailemariam Desalegn
UN/Paulo Filgueiras
“What is even more crucial in the Horn of Africa is sustainable development.
Our youth need to have their hope for the future not frustrated; and the con-
dition of our women and children require much greater attention. Poverty, on
top of denying people their human rights, is also not a solid foundation on
which peace and security can be built. “
www.uncsd2012.org President of KAZAKHSTAN Nursultan Nazarbayev
“Kazakhstan has called for the adoption of a Global Energy and Environment UN/Marco Castro
Strategy and has put forward an ambitious "Green Bridge" environmental
initiative. We plan to bring these ideas to ... Rio de Janeiro next year.”
Follow Rio+20 Prime Minister of MONTENEGRO Igor Lukšić
UN/Evan Schneider
Visit us on Facebook and Twitter “The UN Conference on Sustainable Development, represents an important
opportunity to promote international cooperation in the area of sustainable
development, and an opportunity to make a comprehensive evaluation of the
progress made in the past two decades.”
UN/ Mark Garten
Prime Minister of SWEDEN Fredrik Reinfeldt
“I believe that sustainable development requires global solutions. In this respect,
Send us feedback next year's Rio+20 meeting in Brazil will be very important. I am really hoping for
a strong renewed political commitment for sustainable development.”
uncsd2012@un.org
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2. Means of Implementation for Sustainable Development Upcoming Events
25 October 2011, UN Headquarters, New
York - More than 220 people participated in Seventh Meeting of the Intergovern-
a panel discussion on Means of Implementa- mental Forum on Mining, Minerals,
tion for Sustainable Development. The event, Metals and Sustainable Development
organized by UN-DESA, was part of the Spe- 1 - 3 November 2011
cial Events of the Second Committee at the Geneva, Switzerland
General Assembly’s 66th session. [more information]
Chaired and moderated by Mr. Abulkalam G20 Summit
Abdul Momen, the Permanent Representa- Mr. Maurice Strong addressing participants. UN-DESA/Bill Bly 4 - 5 November 2011
tive of Bangladesh to the UN and Chair of the Second Committee of the General Assembly, it Cannes, France
brought together experts on Means of Implementation for Sustainable Development. They re- [more information]
viewed progress on financing and technology transfer, and explored innovative solutions for
meeting today’s sustainable development challenges, including those of Small Island Developing Congress Responsibility and Reciproc-
States. ity – Social Values for a Sustainable
Mr. Maurice Strong, Secretary General of the Stockholm Conference and the Rio Earth Summit, Economy
delivered the keynote speech with a set of proposals for Rio+20. The panel of experts shared 4 - 5 November 2011
ideas and their experiences on integrating sustainability into mainstream finance with Green Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Bonds, the legality of technology transfer, the challenges facing Small Island Developing States, [more information]
and the importance of developing partnerships for the successful implementation of sustainable
2nd Expert Meeting on Trade Implica-
development strategies. For further information please contact Ms. Meng Li at li39@un.org.
tions of the Green Economy, UNCTAD
8 - 10 November 2011
Major Groups Update Regional Preparatory Meetings Geneva, Switzerland
Strengthening Rio+20 Within the past few months, [more information]
through Major Groups Regional Preparatory Meet-
ings were held in Santiago, Making Marginalized Voices Heard in
Participation Chile; Cairo, Egypt; Seoul, the UN Processes
3 November 2011, UN Republic of Korea and Addis 11 - 12 November 2011
Headquarters, New York - Rio+20 Secretary- Ababa, Ethiopia. Rovaniemi, Finland
General Sha Zukang will consult with key orga- [more information]
Currently, a UNDP and UN-DESA joint project
nizing partners from the nine major groups to assist developing countries, particularly
(MG). The meeting’s purpose is to take stock of ADB Urban Forum 2011: Financing
LDCs, in their national preparations is being Future Cities
Rio+20 preparations and to evaluate progress rolled out. The joint project aims at supporting
toward raising awareness and renewing politi- 15 - 17 November 2011
a total of 60 countries, through the holding of Manila, Philippines
cal commitment for sustainable development. multi-stakeholder consultations that will feed [more information]
This marks the second in a series of meetings into their national inputs, shape their national
between Mr. Sha and the major groups orga- positions and frame the basis for post Rio+20 Bonn2011 Conference: The Water,
nizing partners that establishes a basis for follow-up. A series of regional-based work- Energy and Food Security Nexus– Solu-
close collaboration and information sharing shops in the context of national preparations tions for the Green Economy
between UN and its’ major groups partners. have also been held at the margins of the Re- 16 - 18 November 2011
The partners will undertake significant efforts gional Preparatory Meetings in ESCAP, ECA and Bonn, Germany
to mobilize practitioners and policy experts ESCWA. [more information]
from across the identified nine sectors of soci- Meetings on Rio+20 themes were also held in
ety in the run-up to Rio+20. Tokyo Green Industry Conference
Solo, Indonesia; Beijing, China; New Delhi, In- 2011
Underscoring the global reach of major groups, dia; Warsaw, Poland; Oslo, Norway; Tel Aviv, 16 - 18 November 2011
the organizing partners will be linked via video Israel and Copenhagen, Denmark. Future Tokyo, Japan
teleconference with Mr. Sha from various loca- meetings will be held in other locations includ- [more information]
tions around the world. With that, the poten- ing, Geneva, Switzerland; Bonn, Germany; and
tial of virtual remote consultations, which in- Palo Alto, California. UNEP High-Level International Forum
tegrates a diversity of views and perspectives on Ecosystem Management and Green
All the PrepComs, and inter-sessionals at the
in the Rio+20 process will be facilitated. Economy
global level including the regional preparatory
As stakeholders officially recognized in Agenda meetings have served multiple purposes. 18 November 2011
21, major groups play an important consulta- Beijing, China
On the path to Rio+20, these meetings are [more information]
tive role in the intergovernmental process for
deepening the understanding of the key issues
Rio+20. They also coordinate a structure for
involved; are revealing the different ap- Complete listing of meetings and
broad and inclusive participation from social,
proaches to sustainable development imple- events available at
economic and scientific sectors in sustainable
mentation; are heightening appreciation of the www.uncsd2012.org
development. More information on major
challenges involved; and are helping to formu-
groups available at www.uncsd2012/
late inputs for the compilation document.
majorgroups 2