31 October 2011: The latest issue of the newsletter from the Secretariat of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20), “Rio+20: Making It Happen,” highlights UNCSD-related comments that world leaders made during the General Debate of the 66th UN General Assembly (UNGA) in September 2011, as well as a recent panel discussion on Means of Implementation for Sustainable Development and other preparations for the Conference.

Highlighted statements about the UNCSD made during the UNGA General Debate are from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UNGA President Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, as well as the heads of State of Brazil, Kazakhstan, Montenegro, Sweden and others.

The UNGA’s Second Committee (Economic and Social Affairs) and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) recently hosted an expert panel on Means of Implementation for Sustainable Development, during which Maurice Strong, Secretary General of the Stockholm Conference and the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED, or Rio Earth Summit), delivered the keynote speech. Other experts presented on progress toward financing and technology transfer, and solutions for meeting sustainable development challenges, including through Green Bonds, partnerships for implementation, and innovative approaches for and by small island developing States (SIDS).

The newsletter announces that Sha Zukang, Conference Secretary-General, will meet via teleconference with organizing partners of the Major Groups, for the second in a series of consultations aimed at information sharing and mobilization for the UNCSD. The issue also reviews ongoing preparations for the UNCSD at the regional, country and global levels, and updates on efforts by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and DESA to assist least developed countries (LDCs) and others in their national preparations. [Publication: Rio+20: Making it Happen, Vol. 2, Issue 20]