14 March 2012: In a bid to include a larger global audience in the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) dialogue, Mashable, 92nd Street Y, Ericsson, Energias de Portugal (EDP), LiveAD, and the UN Foundation are organizing Rio+Social, an “in-person gathering and global, online conversation on the potential of social media and technology to power a more innovative and better future for our world.”

Drawing from the Social Good Summit, an initiative that draws attention to the annual commemoration of UN Week, the Rio+Social event, which will take place on 19 June 2012, the day before the UNCSD opens, aims to promote dialogue about issues ranging from sustainable energy to poverty eradication beyond Rio+20. The event is set to feature addresses from, among others, Ted Turner and Gro Harlem Brundtland. The organizers noted that, while technology played a minor role in 1992 at the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), technology will be the principal driver for starting the conversation on issues of sustainability in the 21st century at the UNCSD.

At the announcement of the event, Pete Cashmore, Founder & CEO of Mashable, said “Rio+Social will answer people’s call to be part of the conversation at one of the most important UN summits.” Sol Adler, Executive Director of 92nd Street Y, noted that “It is only through the rigorous exchange of ideas across social and geographical borders that our global community will find new solutions to some of our most pressing challenges.” [UN Foundation Press Release] [Rio+Social Website]