<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>RIO Plus</title>
	<atom:link href="http://rioplus.org/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://rioplus.org</link>
	<description>United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Tue, 14 May 2013 10:57:39 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1</generator>
		<item>
		<title>Rio+20 Comment: Summit whimpers to an inevitable conclusion (22 June)</title>
		<link>http://rioplus.org/rio20-comment-summit-whimpers-to-an-inevitable-conclusion/</link>
		<comments>http://rioplus.org/rio20-comment-summit-whimpers-to-an-inevitable-conclusion/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 22 Jun 2012 17:48:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Tierney</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rio+20]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sustainable Development]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rioplus.org/?p=1608</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By John Parnell
RioPlus Business in Rio
In the end, Rio+20 has been a bit like watching two steam rollers about to have a colossal and inevitable head-on collision.
The need for action is immense and the solutions are largely achievable. We need 3% more food in order to ensure no one goes hungry, yet we waste 30% of what we produce.
Global greenhouse gas emissions continue to grow and the IEA says the door to preventing temperature rises of more than two degrees is about to close.
All commentators regardless of background or location said the same thing, &#8216;nothing will come from Rio&#8217;.
Many NGOs were already focusing on what would happen after the summit before it began. David Cameron’s press office said there was a high-level delegation attending in his absence and there was not going to be any need for the Prime Ministerial seal.
Even Christiana Figueres, the superbly energetic and optimistic head of the UNFCCC, which oversees climate negotiations, was keen to put the brakes on any hopes of a world-changing agreement.
But after hearing the same things said about the UN climate talks in Durban this December, where expectations were exceeded, albeit with a precariously delicate agreement, I held out some hope.
Then yesterday, I realized not only had the deal fallen below the extremely low expectations, but that the politicians had settled for this unsatisfactory conclusion.
Complex issues, such as how to measure the success of a goal as broad as &#8216;development&#8217; have meant even the draft agreement was hard to fix. Talks around rich-poor [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://rioplus.org/rio20-comment-summit-whimpers-to-an-inevitable-conclusion/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Rio+20: A day at Rio&#8217;s other summit &#8211; the People&#8217;s Conference (22 June)</title>
		<link>http://rioplus.org/rio20-a-day-at-rios-other-summit-the-peoples-conference/</link>
		<comments>http://rioplus.org/rio20-a-day-at-rios-other-summit-the-peoples-conference/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 22 Jun 2012 17:45:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Tierney</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rio+20]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rioplus.org/?p=1604</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By Daniel Schweimler
RioPlus Business in Rio
There&#8217;s a another conference happening in Rio de Janeiro &#8211; this one on the other side of the city and a two-hour traffic jam away from where the politicians are gathered.
The People&#8217;s Conference in the Aterro do Flamengo park brings together indigenous communities, environmentalists, religious groups and more and what they all have in common is that they&#8217;re losing or have already lost faith in our political leaders to deliver any kind of binding, meaningful agreement on reducing carbon gas emissions.
It used to be that they&#8217;d try to defy the tight security surrounding the official conference in a bid to be heard and try to influence the politicians as they entered the debating chambers. Not any more.

Brid Brennan from the Transnational Institute said: &#8220;People are getting angrier and more frustrated. If the politicians don&#8217;t act then we must do something and I think that&#8217;s what you&#8217;re seeing here.&#8221;
Indigenous families from deep inside Brazil&#8217;s Amazon jungle and high in the Peruvian Andes sell jewellery or join debates on their common problems, Brazilian government workers protest, with mouths taped and hands tied, that they&#8217;re not being allowed to speak out about their government&#8217;s environmental policies while spiritual leaders gather in huddles looking for joint solace.
They speak of bonds being formed, experiences are shared and solutions are analysed and adapted.
It&#8217;s a generally younger, much more colourful crowd. Performances warning of the dangers of polluting our waters are put on for the children.
But all the time there&#8217;s an awareness [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://rioplus.org/rio20-a-day-at-rios-other-summit-the-peoples-conference/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Rio+20 Business Focus: The future we want is global and local (22 June)</title>
		<link>http://rioplus.org/rio20-business-focus-the-future-we-want-is-global-and-local/</link>
		<comments>http://rioplus.org/rio20-business-focus-the-future-we-want-is-global-and-local/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 22 Jun 2012 09:00:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Tierney</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sustainability Scenarios]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ICLEI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local Government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sustainable Development]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rioplus.org/?p=1518</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Politicians make the policy. But it’s often left to business to implement it. For this reason RioPlus Business is featuring submissions from business across the globe in the lead up to Rio+20.
The aim is to demonstrate how Sustainable Development is becoming a reality on every continent, country and city.
Here Anke Stoffregen, from ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability explains how cities and local governments will be key players in a world increasingly marked by urbanisation and the need to harenss their power and engage them in policy making. 
In global policy we often look towards international organizations and national governments to take the lead.
However, with climate negotiations stalling, new leadership patterns to further global policy are emerging.
Civil society and increasingly the business sector are evolving to drivers of change. It is, however, cities that have made a real mark in the preparations for Rio+20.
We are facing a global challenge which needs to be tackled on a global scale.
The solutions, however, need to take into account regional and local circumstances and engage local communities in the implementation to be most effective and efficient.
The first decade of the 21st century is marked by the fact that the world´s urban population has exceeded the rural population for the first time in the history of human civilization.
By 2050 more than two thirds of the world&#8217;s population will live in cities. As the trend towards urbanization continues, increasing attention is being paid to the local level.
Due to the geographical concentration of people, infrastructure, investment, capital, [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://rioplus.org/rio20-business-focus-the-future-we-want-is-global-and-local/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Rio+20: Leaders round on summit process as frustration grows (21 June)</title>
		<link>http://rioplus.org/rio20-leaders-round-on-summit-process-as-frustration-grows-21-june/</link>
		<comments>http://rioplus.org/rio20-leaders-round-on-summit-process-as-frustration-grows-21-june/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 21 Jun 2012 15:24:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Tierney</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rio+20]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sustainable Development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UN]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rioplus.org/?p=1599</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By John Parnell
RioPlus Business in Rio

Leading figures including special advisor to Ban Ki-moon Professor Jeffrey Sachs, have criticized the lack of progress made by the UN-led processes on climate change, biodiversity and desertification.
The three UN conventions to tackle these issues celebrate their 20th birthday today at the Rio+20 summit under the shadow of a faltering negotiations process across a range of sustainable development issues.
“The three original Rio treaties on climate change, biodiversity and desertification have not turned the needle one bit on any of these issues,” said Sachs. “They have failed because of the implementation, the treaties themselves are good.”
Sachs also bemoaned the lack of US leadership.
“US politicians are afraid to write legislation on de-carbonising economy as it will become hostage to short-term political interests. We’ve wasted 20 years since the last Rio summit. Lets hope we have no shortcuts and no phony solutions at Rio+20.”
Neil Dunne, Chief Sustainability Officer at the BT Group said that business could fill this leadership vacuum.
“I think Rio+20 highlights the failure of summits to provide an adequate platform to drive systemic change forward. For 40 years since Stockholm we’re looking back and only seeing Montreal and Kyoto as the two successes. If we keep going at that rate, you can pick any of the stats you like, it’s not going to be a pleasant future for any of us,” said Dunne.
“We can no longer depend on [summits] to deliver the answers. We need to develop coalitions of the willing to work in the in [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://rioplus.org/rio20-leaders-round-on-summit-process-as-frustration-grows-21-june/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Rio+20: UN chief tells nations &#8216;not to waste opportunity&#8217; at sustainable development summit (21 June)</title>
		<link>http://rioplus.org/rio20-un-chief-tells-nations-not-to-waste-opportunity-at-sustainable-development-summit-21-june/</link>
		<comments>http://rioplus.org/rio20-un-chief-tells-nations-not-to-waste-opportunity-at-sustainable-development-summit-21-june/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 21 Jun 2012 13:59:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Tierney</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ban Ki-moon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rio+20]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sustainable Development]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rioplus.org/?p=1595</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By Ed King
RioPlus Business in Rio
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has opened the high-level segment of the Sustainable Development summit talks with a warning to all nations that time is running out for a deal.
More than 100 heads of state and government have arrived in Rio for the talks, which aim to promote global prosperity, reduce poverty and advance social equity and environmental protection.
191 countries reached agreement on the Conference’s outcome text. The document will now be put forward for adoption by heads of state at the conclusion of Rio+20 tomorrow.
There has been considerable anger amongst civil society, state delegations and some UN leaders over the apparent weakness of the text. UNFCCC chief Christiana Figueres told RTCC yesterday that there had been too much talk and too little action.
Addressing the main plenary Ban said: &#8220;“We are now in sight of a historic agreement. Let us not waste this opportunity. The world is watching to see if words will translate into action, as we know they must.”
“We have been given a second chance. Rio+20 is not an end but a beginning. It is time for all of us to think globally and locally.”
“Let us not forget the scarcest resource of all: Time. We are running out of time. We no longer have the luxury to defer difficult decisions.
&#8220;We have a common responsibility to act in common cause, to set aside narrow national interests in the name of the global public good and the betterment of all.”
17-year-old New Zealander Brittany Trilford, [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://rioplus.org/rio20-un-chief-tells-nations-not-to-waste-opportunity-at-sustainable-development-summit-21-june/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Rio+20 Business: Companies can lead transformation to green growth, says ICC (21 June)</title>
		<link>http://rioplus.org/rio20-business-companies-can-lead-transformation-to-green-growth-says-icc-21-june/</link>
		<comments>http://rioplus.org/rio20-business-companies-can-lead-transformation-to-green-growth-says-icc-21-june/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 21 Jun 2012 09:00:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Tierney</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sustainability Scenarios]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Green Growth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[International Chamber of Commerce]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rioplus.org/?p=1510</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Politicians make the policy. But it’s often left to business to implement it. For this reason RioPlus Business is featuring submissions from business across the globe in the lead up to Rio+20.
The aim is to demonstrate how Sustainable Development is becoming a reality on every continent, country and city.
Here Jean-Guy Carrier, Secretary General at the International Chamber of Commerce explains how trade and investment can help to drive green growth.
Clearly there is great urgency to make faster progress to achieve sustainable development. Today, still over one billion people lack basic access to food, electricity or safe drinking water.
Moreover, climate change and global population growth are predicted to exacerbate these challenges.
The world business communityhas already demonstrated considerable success in integrating sustainability into business practices, for example, via codes such as the ICC Business Charter for Sustainable Development, which has provided thousands of large and small companies around the globe the basis for sound environmental management.
Companies of all sizes are also leading by example, with innovative business actions providing solutions to challenges such as energy access, water security, resource efficiency and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
However, more can be done and there are significant opportunities for the business community to lead, for example, the OECD has identified $2.1 to $6.3 trillion of potential commercial opportunities related to environmental sustainability in natural resource sectors alone.
ICC’s Green Economy Roadmap is a tool for business, government and civil society to achieve a green economy.
It offers a specific focus on the power of innovation to bring [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://rioplus.org/rio20-business-companies-can-lead-transformation-to-green-growth-says-icc-21-june/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Rio+20 Business Focus: Businesses must manage biodiversity in order to manage risks, says CBD (20 June)</title>
		<link>http://rioplus.org/rio20-business-focus-businesses-must-manage-biodiversity-in-order-to-manage-risks-says-cbd/</link>
		<comments>http://rioplus.org/rio20-business-focus-businesses-must-manage-biodiversity-in-order-to-manage-risks-says-cbd/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 20 Jun 2012 09:00:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Tierney</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Biodiveristy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UN CBD]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rioplus.org/?p=1504</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Politicians make the policy. But it’s often left to business to implement it. For this reason RioPlus Business is featuring submissions from business across the globe in the lead up to Rio+20.
The aim is to demonstrate how Sustainable Development is becoming a reality on every continent, country and city.
Here, Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity explains why managing biodiversity is a way for business to manage risk. 
Business is one of the key stakeholders in the global mission to preserve biodiversity.
As for all of us, businesses depend upon biodiversity and ecosystem services to survive. The products and services provided by the natural environment are the basis for stable, predictable and profitable activities.
Unfortunately, current business practices are, for the most part, one of the main contributors to the serious loss of biodiversity.
This needs to change.
However conserving biodiversity is not merely a question of saving the environment.It is also an important business opportunity.
Consumers are becoming much more aware of biodiversity issues, and as a consequence they are increasingly looking for sustainable products and services.
Business, therefore, faces an increasing level of scrutiny for its impact on biodiversity. With this added scrutiny, comes an increased risk of tougher regulations and a more unforgiving marketplace.
Businesses are also increasingly held responsible for the supply chains through which their products and services are produced.
That encompass the actions of farmers, fishers and a host of other producers whose activities can have an enormous impact on biodiversity. Thus businesses must not only [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://rioplus.org/rio20-business-focus-businesses-must-manage-biodiversity-in-order-to-manage-risks-says-cbd/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Rio+20: Draft outcome on sustainable development signed-off (19 June)</title>
		<link>http://rioplus.org/rio20-draft-outcome-on-sustainable-development-signed-off-19-june/</link>
		<comments>http://rioplus.org/rio20-draft-outcome-on-sustainable-development-signed-off-19-june/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 19 Jun 2012 17:43:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Tierney</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rio+20]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sustainable Development]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rioplus.org/?p=1592</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By John Parnell
RTCC in Rio
The draft agreement for the Rio+20 summit on sustainable development has been signed off by negotiators.
Ministers and heads of state arrive tomorrow to discuss, adapt and sign-off the proposals.
The agreement was rushed through at the beginning of the plenary with almost no discussion observers have said.
The document, available here, has also left environmental and development groups dissatisfied.
WWF Director General Jim Leape said: “Despite a late night negotiating session, the revised text is a colossal failure of leadership and vision from diplomats. They should be embarrassed at their inability to find common ground on such a crucial issue.
“Now it’s up to world leaders to get serious about sustainable development and save this process. If they approve what’s on the table now without significant changes, they’ve doomed Rio+20 to ridicule,” he added.
&#8220;Nothing in the final document goes beyond rhetoric, nor does it provide the resources needed for the one billion people that live in hunger,&#8221; said, Elisa Hugueney, policy analyst of ActionAid Brazil.
&#8220;Many of the right elements were on the table to ensure the right to food for everyone, but they were either diluted or taken out by governments,&#8221; added Hugueney.
]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://rioplus.org/rio20-draft-outcome-on-sustainable-development-signed-off-19-june/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Rio+20: Human Rights Watch call for global deal to include dignity and respect (19 June)</title>
		<link>http://rioplus.org/rio20-human-rights-watch-call-for-global-deal-to-include-dignity-and-respect-19-june/</link>
		<comments>http://rioplus.org/rio20-human-rights-watch-call-for-global-deal-to-include-dignity-and-respect-19-june/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 19 Jun 2012 09:21:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Tierney</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Rights Watch]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rio+20]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rioplus.org/?p=1589</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By Daniel Schweimler
RioPlus Business in Rio
Too much attention is being placed on developing countries &#8216;macro&#8217; figures such as GDP and not enough on their respect for human dignity, according to Jan Egeland from Human Rights Watch.
Speaking to RTCC, Egeland says while the progress over the last 20 years should be celebrated – in terms of poverty elimination, education, hunger and life expectation – donor states must be more critical of the countries that show no respect for human rights and minorities.
With worsening climate change, he says states need to protect vulnerable indigenous communities and ensure global changes do not destroy their way of life.

]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://rioplus.org/rio20-human-rights-watch-call-for-global-deal-to-include-dignity-and-respect-19-june/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Rio+20: Youth frame future in wall of art at UN summit (19 June)</title>
		<link>http://rioplus.org/rio20-youth-frame-future-in-wall-of-art-at-un-summit/</link>
		<comments>http://rioplus.org/rio20-youth-frame-future-in-wall-of-art-at-un-summit/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 19 Jun 2012 09:17:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Tierney</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Children in Youth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rio+20]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vision Wall]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rioplus.org/?p=1585</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By Daniel Schweimler
 RioPlus Business in Rio
As the Rio+20 talks drag on in beige rooms with dim lighting, one youth group are determined to brighten up the main reception area at the summit.
The Children in Youth group have created a &#8216;visions wall&#8217; which has been opened for everyone to paste their visions and hopes for the future for all to see.
I&#8217;ve been speaking to organiser Luiza Winckler &#8211; who explained how popular the wall has become among those attending &#8211; including the negotiators at the conference.

]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://rioplus.org/rio20-youth-frame-future-in-wall-of-art-at-un-summit/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
	</channel>
</rss>
