Information Meeting UNESCO’s Contribution to the UN ... Rio+20_Final.p… · • Global environmental change science with other stakeholders ... Conference on Sustainable Development,

Information MeetingUNESCO’s Contribution to the UN

Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20

16 March 2012

Chair: Hans d’Orville

Rio+20 Information Meeting

Overall contributions of NS sector• Co-Chairing UNESCO steering committee• Working with ICSU and others to bring the voice of global

science community to process, before and at Rio• Participation in multiple aspects of the preparatory process• Contributions to ESD side event and others


• Greater action and urgency around sustainable development

• The best available knowledge from across the natural, social and engineering sciences integrated into policy decisions

• Science and technology recognised as essential• Support for research, training and monitoring

programmes that address sustainable development

3


• Five workshops: Asia Pacific; Latin America and the Caribbean; Africa; Arab States; Europe and North America

• Natural and social scientists, engineers, policy-makers and Major Groups• Document region-specific scientific knowledge and concerns• Input to the Rio+20 intergovernmental Regional Preparatory Meetings and

global process. • Reported to policy-makers at two dialogue sessions in New York and

Paris• Final overall report and individual regional recommendations at

www.icsu.org/rio20/regional-workshops


Region Date LocationAsia Pacific 16 - 18 April Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaAfrica 30 May - 1 June Pretoria, South AfricaLAC 3 - 5 August Mexico City, MexicoArab States 12 - 14 October Cairo, EgyptEurope 12 - 14 October Helsinki, Finland


• Planetary boundaries and urgency• The importance of STI for SD– Need for enhanced scientific coordination– Transdisciplinary research • New contract between science and society:– Co-design of research with policy-makers & stakeholders– Commitments to large-scale investments– Science education and capacity building


• Science advisory mechanisms at all levels of decision-making and governance

• New scientifically sound integrated indicators of SD

• Public access to data and information• Thematic recommendations (food,

water, energy etc)


Main issues:• More public funding support for Green Economy R&D• Need for new science-based indicators of sustainability and

human development• Science and technology to play key role in enhanced

institutional framework• Urbanization• Data harmonization and sharing


Main issues:• Science, engineering and technology as the engine for

transforming Africa’s economy from brown to green• Strengthening science-policy links at the national level• Vulnerable groups, education• S&T capacity building, transfer of technologies, brain drain• Food, water, health, energy security, in the context of

climate change and disaster risks• Traditional knowledge and indigenous peoples


Main issues:• Paradigm change towards inter- and transdisciplinary

science supporting sustainable development/green economy

• Research on cultural, socio-economic and political change needed for transition to green economy

• Setting up specific mechanisms for providing STI advice atnational and regional levels

• Biodiversity loss; waste management; natural disaster risks; urbanisation; sustainable energy


Main issues:• A knowledge-based economy• A coherent and long-term research agenda for the region, with

government support• Scientific capacity building • Technology and knowledge transfer between Arab States• Local/ regional adaptation of solutions and technologies• Formally integrating civil society into decision-making• Water; food; energy; natural disasters and climate change;

biodiversity; rural-urban planning


Main issues:• Principle of common and differentiated global responsibility• Value of natural capital• Monitoring systems, including for societal change• Vulnerable areas, e.g. the Arctic and the Mediterranean.• Indigenous peoples • Assessments and evaluations of policies • Consumption and population; food, water and energy; oceans;

biodiversity; disasters; urbanisation.


• Participation in the Rio+20 preparatory process• Planet under Pressure conference• Nine Rio+20 policy briefs• Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for

Sustainable Development• Future Earth: Research for global sustainability


Intergovernmental regional meetings

ICSU-UNESCO Regional workshops

Rio+2020-22 June 2012

Prepcom27-8 March 2011

Prepcom313-15 June 2012

ICSU Science Forum

11-15 June 2012

Time

Africa

Planet under Pressure

conference26-29 March 2012

Arab Region

Europe & N.America

LAC

Asia Pacific

Arab Region

Africa

Asia Pacific

LAC

2nd Intersessional15-16 Dec 2011

3rd Intersessional26-27 March 2012

April-Oct 2011

Sept-Dec 2011

policy briefs

Europe & N. America


• London, 26-29 March 2012• Major international interdisciplinary science and policy conference• Global environmental change science with other stakeholders• White papers and policy briefs prepared in advance• Outcome presented at Rio+20• Organised by IGBP, IHDP, DIVERSITAS, WCRP, ESSP and ICSU,• UNESCO co-chair the Scientific Organizing Committee

More information: www.planetunderpressure2012.net


• Water security• Food security• Biodiversity and ecosystems• Transforming governance and institutions

–Interconnected risks and challenges• Energy security• Health• Well-being

• Green economy

www.icsu.org/rio20/policy-briefs


• 11-15 June 2012, just prior to Rio+20 conference• Interdisciplinary scientific discussions• Dialogue between scientists, policy-makers, Major Groups and

other stakeholders • Key messages and conclusions reported to Rio+20 conference

ICSU, UNESCO, WFEO, ISSC, the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, and the Brazilian Academy of Sciences.


• Launch at the Forum on STI in Rio• A new overarching interdisciplinary framework for mobilising

global environmental change research efforts• A new contract between science and society• Researchers, donors and users working hand in hand to define

goals and priorities upfront

ICSU, ISSC, the Belmont Forum of funding agencies, UNESCO, UNEP, and UNU.



SC and Education for Sustainable SC and Education for Sustainable Development: UNESCO Side EventDevelopment: UNESCO Side Event•MAB programme – biosphere reserves as learning sites for sustainable development and a source of ecojobs•Water education - IHP•Climate change education•SIDS – Sandwatch and beach environments•LINKS – inspiration from the sustainable lifestyles of indigenous peoples•Power of education as a policy response to sustainabilityissues – human-driven environmental change


Conference on SustainableDevelopment, Rio+20

16 March 2012


Ocean at Rio+20:A plan for actions

Dr. Wendy WATSON‐WRIGHT, Assistant Director‐General UNESCO,

Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission

(IOC)



Starting point: Sensitizing IOC Member States

• Resolution XXVI‐5 and Statement adopted in June 2011 by IOC Member States

•Requesting the IOC to play advocating role for oceans at Rio+20.

• Inviting the IOC to work together with other UN agencies



A Blueprint for Ocean and CoastalSustainability

• Inter‐agency report• 4 objectives related to

UNCSD themes• 10 action oriented

proposals



Rio+20 Process: What has been done so far?

• Launch of Blueprint at the 36th Conference General of UNESCO

• Submission of BluePrint to the UNCSD secretariat as formal input

• Promotion of Blueprint in several international conferences



Rio+20 Process: Raising Awareness of the Ocean

– Workshop at the UN, September 11– Event at European Parliament, March 12– Ocean event during the 3rd

intersessional meeting , NY (26 March)– Side event during Informal Negotiation,

NY (April)– On‐going Media campaign on ocean at

UN and Rio+20 Ocean Web Site



The future we want: going a step further• IOC MS informed about IOC priority issues

• Proposed 5 topics should be further elaborated in the outcome document:

1. Strengthening the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) and support to the UN Regular Process

2. Ocean Acidification ‐ implement an international observing network for ocean acidification integrated to the GOOS



The future we want: going a step further3. Effective Institutional Framework for the Ocean

‐ reinforcement of the UN‐Ocean mechanism

4. Definition of a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for the ocean

5. Capacity Development and Transfer of technology ‐ global effort on transfer of technology, empowering African LDCs and SIDS nations



Ocean advocacy at the Rio+20 Summit

• Several events with various stakeholders planned during Rio Summit:– Side event on Ocean Observation during the ICSU Forum – Co‐organisation of the Ocean Day at Rio+20– Participation in Brazil’s 1/2 day on Ocean during the

thematic days – Event at the Blue Pavilion together with Tara Ocean

Foundation



UNESCO/IOC Official Event on Ocean

One Planet, One OceanKnowing our Ocean,

Protecting our Marine Treasures, Empowering Ocean Citizens

• Showcasing all Ocean relevant expertise within UNESCO : ieWHC Marine Sites, Underwater Cultural Heritage, MAB, IHP, SIDS, Education…



Conference on SustainableDevelopment,

Rio+2016 March 2012

Rio+20 Information MeetingRio+20 Information Meeting

Education for Sustainable Development– crucial for achieving green societies

• Education is one of the best instruments to fight povertyand inequality. It crafts new ways to understand the world and to act.

• Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) empowers everyone to contribute to sustainabledevelopment.

• Green TVET provides the competences and toolsnecessary for green economies.


Contributing to the Rio+20 Conference

• Organization of the UNESCO side-event in Rio on Educating for a sustainable future

• Launch of the 2012 report on the implementation of the UN Decade of ESD

• Preparation of a joint UNESCO-UNEP YouthXchangeGuidebook on Green Skills and Lifestyles for young people


Advocating for education in the Rio+20 process

• Development of a Declaration on Higher Education and Sustainable Development, together with UN and higher education partners

• Organization of a side-event on ESD during the informal negotiations on 20 March in New York

• Dissemination of key messages on the relevance of ESD to the Rio+20 agenda


Engaging with the post-Rio discussions• Continue to lead global advocacy on ESD

• Advocate for a key role for education in the post-Rio agenda (education as part of possible SDGs)

• Advocate for ESD as part of the post-2015 education and sustainable development agendas


Conference on SustainableDevelopment,

Rio+2016 March 2012


Rio+20 is a major opportunity to :

• Capitalize on the two consecutive UN Resolutions on Culture and Development that were adopted in 2010 and in 2011

and• Build on Culture’s potential to achieve

sustainable development.


TWO MAIN OBJECTIVESMainstreaming Culture in the development agenda to achieve a human-centred, inclusive and equitable approach, that reflects the complexity of local contexts, and facilitates the creation of a conducive environment for sustainable development

Embedding cultural targets in the Rio+20 priorities: Green Jobs, Green Economy, Environmental Sustainability, Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns, Ownership of Development Goals, Cities, Climate Change, Education, Information,Governance.


Conference on SustainableDevelopment, Rio+20

16 March 2012


Communication StrategyCreating Visibility for UNESCO at Rio +20

1.Special Events: to create awareness of the UNESCO brand

– QR code campaign, designed by Grupo ABC– The World, a Giant Poem, with the World Federation of

UNESCO clubs

2.Web-page on Rio +20: the source of information and stories about UNESCO’s role at Rio +20

– http://www.unesco.org/new/en/rioplus20/


3. UNESCO Publications at Rio +20– “Paper smart” event– From Green Economies to Green Societies– A Blueprint for Ocean and Coastal Sustainability– Education for a Sustainable Future– QR code business cards

4. Media Engagement– Intense Competition so UNESCO stories must be:

• New and newsworthy• Evidence-based, data-driven


UNESCO Media Messages for Rio +20

1.Education is the engine that will achieve sustainable development.

2.Science must drive the green transition.

3.Culture accelerates the transition to sustainable development.

4.The green transition needs an information revolution.

5.A green future must be blue.


Thank you for your attention!


Documents

Information Meeting UNESCO’s Contribution to the UN ... Rio+20_Final.p… · • Global environmental change science with other stakeholders ... Conference on Sustainable Development,