Countries
agree to extend negotiations on Rio+20 outcome document
5 May 2012
– Representatives from governments negotiating the outcome document for the
United Nations Sustainable Development Conference (Rio+20) today agreed to add
five more days of deliberations to bridge differences that have kept them from
making further progress in negotiations.
“The
present negotiation approach has run its course,” said Rio+20 Secretary-General
Sha Zukang, adding that there is a need to proceed with a sense of urgency.
The
negotiated document, along with voluntary commitments by governments,
businesses and civil society, is meant to set the stage for the global
community to recommit to sustainable development and agree to concrete actions
when they gather at the Rio+20 Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 20 to
22 June.
Mr. Sha
called for greater political will and agreement on all sides and underlined
that the main objective is to get to Rio de Janeiro with at least 90 per cent
of the text ready and only the most difficult 10 per cent left to be negotiated
there.
“We can
have an outcome document which builds upon earlier agreements – an outcome
document which is action-oriented in spelling out the future we want,” he said.
Mr. Sha
stressed that the present document, despite having been reduced by about 100
pages, still has too many paragraphs and contains too much repetition.
“Currently, the negotiating text is a far cry from the 'focused political
document' called for by the General Assembly,” he said.
Countries
have voiced concern over accountability and implementation of the commitments
made, as well as over the theme of the green economy in the context of
sustainable development and poverty, with some developing countries asserting
that a green economy approach should not lead to green protectionism or limit
growth and poverty eradication.
“Delegates
have expressed disappointment and frustration at the lack of progress,” Rio+20
Preparatory Committee co-chair Kim Sook told participants at the concluding
meeting of the latest round of talks yesterday.
Mr. Kim
emphasized that there will be a change in working methods when negotiations
resume that will include working from a new text prepared by the co-chairs, as
well as other changes in the negotiating procedures.
The five
added negotiating days have been set for 29 May to 2 June and will take place
in New York.
More than
120 Heads of State have registered to attend Rio+20, and some 50,000 people,
including business executives, mayors, representatives of non-governmental
organizations (NGOs), youth and indigenous people, among others, are expected
to participate in both official and informal events during the Conference.
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