Bureau members learned that 147 Member States had inscribed to speak at the Conference as of 12 March 2012, including 69 heads of state, three vice-presidents and 39 heads of government, which represented a higher level of participation than the Johannesburg Summit in 2002.
12 March 2012: At its 23rd meeting, the Bureau of the Preparatory Process for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20), discussed matters relating to the preparations for Rio+20, and, among other things, learned that 147 Member States had inscribed to speak at the Conference as of 12 March, including 69 heads of state, three vice-presidents and 39 heads of government, which represented a higher level of participation than the Johannesburg Summit in 2002.
At the meeting, which was held on 12 March 2012, in New York, US, the Bureau also discussed: a planned meeting of the Bureau with Major Groups, on Tuesday, 27 March, from 9-10am; a request by the international financial institutions (IFIs) and UN system to speak in the plenary of the formal opening session at Rio+20; financing for developing country representatives during the four days between the third PrepCom and the UNCSD; participation of Major Groups; the rules of procedure; and a meeting between the UNCSD Bureau and the Bureau of the Economic and Social Council on 27 March. The next UNCSD Bureau meeting is scheduled to take place on 27 March 2012. [Minutes from UNCSD Bureau Meeting]