16 April 2012: The NGO Major Group Organising Partners for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) have published the April issue of their “Own the Edge” newsletter, which contains articles on the themes of Rio+20, including an article highlighting that adoption at Rio+20 of sustainable development goals (SDGs), combined with targets and indicators, can support achievement of sustainable communities and countries, and green economies.

The newsletter includes an article summarizing some of the “trendy ideas” that have been proposed in the run-up to Rio+20, including: the idea that growth combined with the sustainable use of natural resources is achievable; the concept of planetary boundaries and future Earth; the “doughnut” idea, which combines social boundaries within the planetary boundaries and highlights the need for an environmentally-safe space that is compatible with poverty eradication and rights for all; sustainable agriculture; social capital versus market-based approaches; measuring the quality of life; and valuing the oceans. Many ideas also explicitly indicate the importance of moving to sustainable sources of energy.

The newsletter also includes an article summarizing the Rio+20 Third Intersessional Meeting, which was held in March 2012 and an article underlining that efforts by some countries during the Rio+20 preparatory meetings to eliminate references to previously agreed-on human rights and basic principles will not result in “the future we want.”

It also includes articles on: implementation and compliance with international commitments; the need for a global citizens movement; Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness metric; the TckTckTck “Win a Date with History” campaign; and a summary of the Major Group Expert Meeting on the Rio+20 Zero Draft and Compendium of Commitments which was held on 24 March 2012. [Publication: Own the Edge]