2 September 2012: The Seventh Bled Strategic Forum (BSF), held from 1-3 September 2012, in Bled, Slovenia, addressed issues including the financial crises, the Arab revolutions, China and EU challenges. Speaking during the Forum, Janez Potočnik, European Commissioner for the Environment, discussed the challenges that limited resources – water, land, energy, oceans, raw materials, biodiversity and ecosystems – pose to the globe and the EU.

Potočnik noted achievements made at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20), including adoption of the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on sustainable consumption and production (10 YFP), movement beyond the concept of gross domestic product (GDP), and agreement to develop Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Highlighting the importance of reduced resource consumption, Potočnik called on politicians to look beyond their short-term interests to ensure Europe is on a sustainable development path. [EU Press Release] [Webpage of Seventh Bled Strategic Forum]