30 January 2012: The Elders, an independent group of global leaders who work together for peace and human rights, have called on Heads of State to deliver on their commitment to a more equitable, sustainable world, stressing that “business as usual is no longer acceptable.”Looking ahead to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20), The Elders welcomed the report of the UN Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Global Sustainability (GSP), expressing the hope that the report would help to generate momentum to ensure the success of Rio+20.

Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan highlighted the urgency of taking action, stating, “Meeting people’s legitimate aspirations for decent jobs, prosperity, a clean and safe environment, affordable health care, education and sustainable energy supplies has never been more necessary.” Noting the importance of sustainable development, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Chair of The Elders, said, “If decision-makers continue to focus mainly on economic growth to address the needs of humanity, rather than taking a range of factors into account in a more sustainable approach, they risk leaving future generations an even more polarised and dangerous world.” Gro Brundtland, former Prime Minister of Norway and GSP member, underlined the need for urgent action, stressing that there is no alternative pathway ahead and that “only an integrated approach that embraces intra- and inter-generational equity will secure a sustainable future for humankind.”

Ela Bhatt, founder of India’s Self Employed Women’s Association, emphasized the mutually reinforcing nature of economic development, social justice and environmental protection, and Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, highlighted the importance of gender quality and an end to discrimination in achieving sustainable development. She added, “the next major boost to global growth could well come from the full economic empowerment of women.” Fernando Henrique Cardoso, former President of Brazil, noted that everyone, regardless of where in the world they live, has tough choices to make, and encouraged the world’s leaders to ensure that these tough choices are shared more fairly between current and future generations.

The Elders expressed support for three proposals they hoped leaders would endorse at Rio+20: establishing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a tool for measuring progress towards achieving sustainable development; creating an “ombudsperson for future generations” who would be in charge of promoting sustainable development; and establishing a UN Sustainable Development Council (SDC) to help put sustainable development at the highest level of the global agenda. [The Elders Press Release]