29 July 2011: The Secretariat of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) has released a special issue of its newsletter, “Rio+20: Making It Happen,” that focuses on the institutional framework for sustainable development (IFSD).

An article titled “Reforming Sustainable Development Institutions: Integration and Implementation” spotlights the recent High-level Dialogue on IFSD, which took place from 19-21 July 2011, in Solo, Indonesia. Participants at the Dialogue included over 300 representatives of over 90 member States, 30 international agencies and Major Groups.

According to the article, the High-level Dialogue examined the prospects for a coherent, coordinated institutional framework for sustainable development at the local, national, regional and global levels. The outcome document, the “Solo Message,” which will contribute to preparations for the UNCSD, called for an organization at the international level that promotes the integration of the three pillars of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental. Dialogue participants discussed various options for such an organization, which are noted in the article.

The issue also: provides the schedule of the five upcoming regional preparatory meetings for the UNCSD; notes the upcoming High-level Symposium on the UNCSD, which will take place in Beijing, China, in September 2011; announces the launch of a web-based initiative on international environmental governance (IEG) and IFSD; and provides an update on the study on IFSD being conducted by ECESA Plus (Executive Committee on Economic and Social Affairs (ECESA) plus the UN Development Group (UNDG) and Environment Management Group (EMG)), which it says will be available in September 2011. [Publication: Rio+20: Making it Happen, Vol. 2, Issue 14] [UNCSD Secretariat Webpage on IFSD]