8 February 2011: UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro opened the Regional Coordination Mechanism Meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean, held in Santiago, Chile, from 8-9 February 2011, with messages on meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and preparing for the UNCSD.

Migiro emphasized the need to strengthen policy coherence and create synergies at the regional and sub-regional levels to adequately address development challenges and meet the 2015 deadline for the MDGs.

She recalled that, 20 years ago, the UN Conference on the Environment and Development (UNCED, or Rio Earth Summit) provided the blueprint for sustainable development. She said the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) should go beyond identifying gaps and taking stock; it should secure political commitment that can make sustainable development happen, while addressing challenges such as climate change.

Migiro noted that sustainable development solutions must be central to the UN system’s work, and stressed the need, on the road to Rio+20, for the UN system, governments and the business community to work together through cross-sectoral approaches to build joint programmes with clear timelines and agendas. Finally, she highlighted the role of the Regional Economic Commissions in the regional preparatory processes leading to the UNCSD. [DSG Statement] [ECLAC Press Release]