29 November 2012: The Government of Brazil has released a Sustainability Report for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20), which took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 2012. The report highlights the National Organizing Committee’s (NOC Rio+20) attempts to structure the conference considering the three pillars of sustainable development (environmental, social, and economic), and emphasize accessibility, sustainability and partnerships.

Reporting that the Conference had attendance from 80 Heads of State, 191 UN Member States Official Delegations, and 45,763 accredited participants at the Riocentro conference center, and over 600,000 accesses at other event spaces, NOC Rio+20 details the efforts it made to balance the environmental effects of the conference. The “Environmental Pillar” sustainability strategy combined a mix of greenhouse gas (GHG) offset compensations, sustainable procurement plans, water and energy management policies, and environmental education communications. NOC Rio+20 used internet technology and social media to communicate its efforts to the public, and engaged them in policy discussions through virtual Sustainable Development Dialogues.

The Committee also focused on the social inclusion of Rio de Janeiro’s local communities, Brazilian culture, and disabled persons in the conference. A partnership with the UN Development Programme Brazil (UNDP Brazil) employed over 1,191 Brazilian volunteers from low-income families to assist in conference facilitation. [Publication: Rio+20 Report: The Brazilian Model: Sustainability Report of the Organization of Rio+20]