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Strategic Directions for EMG: Contributions to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)

Environment Management Group; Note by the Chair • 06-09-2011
Environment Management Group; Note by the Chair. 2011. Strategic Directions for EMG: Contributions to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20). 17th Senior Officials Meeting of the Environment Management Group. EMG/SOM.17/02. United Nations, New York
Strategic Directions for EMG: Contributions to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)

1. Senior officials, under agenda item 4, are invited to consider the overall strategic directions for the work of the EMG, in particular as it relates to contributions to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD), Rio+20, in 2012.

2. The Rio+20 Conference seeks one objective : securing renewed political commitment to sustainable development by (a) assessing the progress and implementation gaps in meeting already agreed commitments, (b) addressing new and emerging challenges. Member States have agreed on the following two themes for the Conference: green economy within the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, and an institutional framework for sustainable development.

3. Senior officials may want to consider EMG’s contribution to the UNCSD. A summary of the strategic discussions can be submitted by the Chair of EMG to the secretariat for the UNCSD preparatory process in response to the invitation from the Second Preparatory Committee of the UNCSD. The submission could highlight the work of EMG on the green economy, drylands and biodiversity and the development of a framework for environmental and social sustainability in the UN system. Attention could also be drawn to a possible contribution by EMG to the institutional framework for sustainable development.

4. Senior officials in their discussion of the strategic directions for EMG, are invited to consider the following three broad key questions:

A. How can EMG’s work on green economy contribute to UNCSD?

5. Through its IMG on green economy, EMG is currently concluding its work on the report “Investing in a Green and Inclusive Economy”. The IMG has provided a forum for discussion and convergence on key conceptual issues related to the notion of a green economy. The report is unique in the sense that it provides a multi-sectoral perspective on the issue from across some 35 agencies.

6. A progress report on the work of the IMG was made available to participants at the first inter-sessional meeting of the UNCSD in January 2011. Further information on the report’s preparation was provided to participants at a side-event at the second Preparatory Committee Meeting of the UNCSD in March 2011. The target time-line for the report’s finalization is the second inter-sessional meeting of the UNCSD in December 2011.

7. Senior officials may want to consider how this work could contribute to the UNCSD. They may also want to signal a willingness by the EMG to respond to any follow-up work that may be requested by the Conference to the UN system on the subject of green economy. Strategic directions for continued EMG cooperation in assisting countries in their transition towards a green and inclusive economy could be considered.

8. Senior officials may also want to consider how EMG’s work on drylands and biodiversity could contribute to advancing a green and inclusive economy. The EMG report, “Global Drylands, a UN system-wide contribution,” sets out a common vision and agenda for UN-wide action on drylands management and its role in addressing climate change and food security through a positive drylands development and investment approach. EMG’s work on the report, “Advancing the biodiversity agenda – a UN system-wide contribution”, has been widely recognised and efforts are now geared towards supporting the implementation of the Aichi Targets of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, that were agreed at the CBD COP10.

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Tags: architecture,green economy,Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development,UNCSD,United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20 Earth Summit)
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