28 June 2012: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addressed the UN General Assembly (UNGA) regarding the outcome of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20). Speaking on 28 June 2012, Ban said the conference was a success, with agreement on the outcome document representing “an important victory for multilateralism.”
Ban outlined several highlights of the agreed outcome document, including: recognition of poverty as the greatest challenge to economic, social and environmental well-being; agreement to launch a process to establish universal Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which he noted will be an integral part of the post-2015 development framework; emphasis on the importance of gender equality and women’s empowerment; adoption of the 10-year Framework of Programmes (10YFP) on Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP); acknowledgement that a green economy can help with poverty reduction, economic growth and environmental care; and recognition of the right to food and the importance of food and nutrition security for all.
Ban also highlighted the commitments registered, including on sustainable transport from eight multilateral banks, Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL), and the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative. He noted that civil society and the private sector played an unprecedented role in the Conference.
In a press encounter following the briefing, Ban said he was aware of criticisms of the outcome document but believed “We have to be very practical, very realistic. These are the … result of 193 Member States’ many, many months’ long process of negotiations, taking into account all the limitations, all the constraints and all the resources.”
He noted the agreement to establish a high-level political forum on sustainable development to follow up on the various recommendations, replacing the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), and to strengthen the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) with universal membership and improved resources. Finally, Ban reiterated his intention to establish a High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons to present visions and recommendations for the post-MDG 2015 agenda. [Statement of UNSG to UN General Assembly] [Press Encounter] [UN Press Release]