Rio+20

Issue

Overview

Background: the 1992 Earth Summit

Rio+20 took place in June 2012, on the 20^th anniversary of the first UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the Earth Summit, at which the concept of ‘sustainable development’ was introduced to the international agenda.

The main outcomes of the Earth Summit were:

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD)
Agenda 21 (a non-binding, voluntarily implemented action plan on sustainable development)

The Rio+20 Process

Agenda 21 defined the nine UN ‘Major Groups’ that represent non-state actors in UN processes. One such group is the Local Authorities Major Group (LAMG), which was the main participation mechanism for UCLG and its sister networks in the Rio+20 process.

With the negotiations in 2011 focusing on the environmental agenda, UCLG campaigned for Rio+20 to address issues of governance, cohesion among territories, social inclusion, basic services and culture as part of a broader understanding of sustainable development.

The Local Authorities Major Group presented 8 recommendations to the UN Secretary General in New York in April 2012.

Outcomes: The Future We Want

The Rio+20 Outcome Document, “The Future We Want”, was positive for local and regional governments and represented an important milestone in the relationship between local governments and the UN. “The Future We Want” contains an unprecedented degree of acknowledgement of local and regional authorities by the international community. The document also addresses most of the issues that were raised by sub-national governments during the process.

The Future We Want: key contents

The document acknowledges progress made in sustainable development at sub-national level.
It also acknowledges the role of local governments in the implementation of policies and the engagement of other stakeholders. Article 45 recognizes critical role of governance at local and sub-national level. Local and sub-national governments are explicitly mentioned in the thematic and cross-sectoral areas.
The document contains a specific section on sustainable cities and human settlements. It recognizes the importance of cross-sectoral planning and a commitment to building the capacity of municipal governments, metropolitan areas and towns. The text also recognizes the role of local and sub-national authorities in public service delivery, poverty alleviation and risk management. Integral approaches are supported, partnership among cities and communities encouraged.
The document explicitly calls for a well-resourced UN Habitat and the implementation of the Habitat Agenda.
The document calls for financial mechanisms accessible to sub-national and local authorities to be strengthened.
Finally, it calls for the promotion of regulatory frameworks to stimulate public-private partnerships.

Full UCLG Analysis of Rio+20 and The Future We Want

Key content

The concept of sustainable development

The concept of sustainable development emerged in the above mentioned conference has continuously evolved. Two organs of the UN were specifically mandated to work on the concept and its concrete implications: UNEP (for the governance side) and the Commission on sustainable development (on thematic issues). However, many UN agencies and intergovernmental organizations also got involved in the debate.

The organizations and networks representing local and regional authorities have actively participated in the process and where formally acknowledged as a Major Group which provides feedback to the formal negotiations lead by states. ICLEI, as thematic network and UCLG as generalist political organization were recognized as focal points before the UN a status that was later joint by NRG4sd. These organizations have ensured consultation and coordination with other existing networks such as ORU-FOGAR.

The Rio+20 process

Therefore the Rio+20 process started in May 2010 with the convergence of several UN ongoing processes related mainly to climate change, biodiversity and meetings of the Commission on Sustainable Development.

The organizations and networks representing local and regional authorities have actively participated in the process and were formally acknowledged as a Major Group, providing feedback to the formal negotiations led by states. ICLEI, as thematic network, and UCLG, as generalist political organization, were recognized as focal points before the UN, a status that was later joint by nrg4SD. These organizations have ensured consultation and coordination with other existing networks such as ORU-FOGAR.

The level of collaboration and consensus building among all networks is commendable.

The messages

With the negotiations heading towards an environmentally driven agenda in 2011, UCLG and its members started campaigning for a more people-sensitive agenda where governance, cohesion among territories, inclusion, service provision and the fourth cultural pillar would be put on the agenda that would recognize the new urban reality.

The UCLG position paper adopted by the Florence World Council and the 8 recommendations of the Joint Local and Regional Governments Messages presented to the UN Secretary General in New York in April 2012 were all geared in this direction.

Outcomes

Despite what many describe as discouraging results of the Rio+20 Summit due to the lack of multilateral agreements and commitments, there is a bright side to the Outcome Document when it comes to the acknowledgement of the role that local and regional governments play and need to play in the sustainable development agenda. The document also addresses most of the issues that have been put forward by sub-national governments along the process.
The degree of acknowledgement of local and regional authorities in the Rio Outcome Document is unprecedented in international policy. It recognizes the role of local and sub-national governance and their tasks in many of the thematic areas tackled, from equality to water management and risk prevention to service delivery in general.
On the shortcomings, it is worth mentioning the very few references to culture as crucial pillar for development and the lack of clear inclusive governance mechanisms for future policy development.

The outcomes of Rio are an important milestone in the UN agenda of UCLG. The World Secretariat and UCLG members will need to continue working in ensuring political representation in the above mentioned processes and towards Habitat III.

Key outcomes for local and regional governments

1- Acknowledgment of the work done paying tribute to progress achieved at
sub-national and local levels.
2- Acknowledgement of the role to play in the implementation of policies and the engagement of stakeholders. Article 45 recognizes critical role of governance at local and sub-national level. Local and sub-national governments are explicitly mentioned in the thematic areas and cross-sectoral issues
3- Specific sub-heading on sustainable cities and human settlements. States acknowledge the importance of cross-sectoral planning and commit to increasing capacity and supporting municipal governments, metropolitan areas and towns to develop sustainability policies. The text further recognizes the role of local and sub-national authorities in public service delivery, poverty alleviation and risk management. Integral approaches are supported, partnership among cities and communities encouraged.
4- Habitat Agenda and resourceful UN Habitat identified as explicit aim.
5- Call to strengthening financial mechanisms accessible to sub-national and local authorities.
6- Regulatory frameworks to stimulate public-private partnerships to be promoted.

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