December 2011: The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) announced its collaboration in the publication of a book for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20). The book, titled “Future Perfect,” will enable organizations to demonstrate and share their work and experiences in sustainable development since the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED).The book, available in May 2012, is a co-publication with Tudor Rose, a UK publishing and marketing service. It will include contributions from over 100 authors relating their work in sustainable development at international, regional, national, municipal and local levels of activity. Its objective is to show renewed political commitment for sustainable development, while assessing progress in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development, and addressing new and emerging challenges.

The book will focus on three essential “horizontal policy messages”: implementation; coherence (across ministries at the national level, agencies at the international level, and throughout principal stakeholder groups); and integration (primarily of the three pillars of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental).

The book will also reflect the progress and challenges, and highlight good practices including on: green jobs and social inclusion; energy access, efficiency and sustainability; food security and sustainable agriculture; sound water management; sustainable management of oceans; improved resilience and disaster preparedness; and sustainable cities. [Book Flyer]