The Panel will report back to the UN Secretary-General at the end of 2010 and deliver its final recommendations at the end of 2011.
19 September 2010: The High-Level Panel on Global Sustainability held its first meeting on 19 September 2010, in New York, US, to discuss its work for the next 15 months.
Addressing the press after the meeting, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon underscored the need to find a solution to lift people out of poverty while promoting sustainable development. Considering population growth, he called for cutting global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by half by 2050 in order for climate change “to be kept in check.” He added that this “50-50 challenge” is “considerable, and extends far beyond the timeframe for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).” The Panel is set to report back to the UN Secretary-General at the end of 2010 and to deliver its final recommendations at the end of 2011. [UN Press Release] [Climate Change Policy & Practice Story on the Launch of the Sustainability Panel]