29 January 2012: The initial discussions on the “zero draft” of the outcome document for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) took place at UN Headquarters in New York, from 25-27 January 2012. The zero draft was developed by the Co-Chairs and Bureau of the UNCSD Preparatory Committee.

In their opening statements, delegates agreed that the draft would serve as the basis for negotiations between now and the Conference, scheduled to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 20-22 June 2012. Titled “The Future We Want,” the zero draft incorporates approximately 6,000 pages of input that the UNCSD Secretariat received from member States and other stakeholders, as well as comments offered during the 15-16 December 2011 Second Intersessional Meeting of the UNCSD.

Delegations submitted written comments on the first two sections of the zero draft—the Preamble/Stage Setting and Renewing Political Commitment Sections—prior to the January discussions, and then began negotiations on these sections. Their written comments on the remaining three sections—Green Economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development (IFSD), and Framework for action and follow-up—are due by 29 February 2012. The Secretariat will develop a compilation document from these comments, for use during the first informal-informal consultation on the draft outcome document, scheduled from 19-23 March 2012.

At the conclusion of the initial discussions, participants were pleased to note that some progress had been made, with the acceptance of the zero draft as the basis for negotiations and the commencement of negotiations on it. But, they emphasized, the agreed need for an ambitious and action-oriented document will require equally ambitious negotiations in the 145 days between the closing day of the consultations and the opening day of Rio+20. [IISD RS coverage of the UNCSD informal consultations] [UN Press Release]