28 February 2011: The latest issue of “Rio 2012: Making it Happen,” the newsletter by the Secretariat for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio 2012), features information about the new website for the Conference, the activities of Executive Coordinator Elizabeth Thompson, participation opportunities for Major Groups, and upcoming meetings.

New features of the redesigned website include: an extensive document library on background to the Conference; an enhanced presentation of the submissions and responses gathered for Synthesis Report; and greater visibility of the various processes leading to Rio 2012.

The newsletter notes Elizabeth Thompson’s, UNCSD Executive Coordinator, role as a panelist during a side event organized by the Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO) and the Global Gender and Climate Alliance at the 55th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). The topic of the event was linking women’s low-carbon initiatives with sustainable development policy.

On Major Groups, the newsletter highlights that registration for PrepCom II is open and modalities for participation are available on the Rio 2012 website. It also notes a meeting among Bureau members and Major Groups will take place on 7 March, the first day of PrepCom II, and that Major Groups are among those invited to a briefing with Brazil, as UNCSD host country, on 8 March.

On intergovernmental meetings in New York, the newsletter notes upcoming meetings of: the Principals of the Executive Committee of Economic and Social Affairs (EC-ESA) to discuss the first intersessional meeting; the High-Level Committee on Programmes (HLCP) regarding the two themes of the Conference; the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Stakeholder Forum organized event on “IEG, Sustainable Development Governance and Rio+20;” PrepCom II; and the interactive dialogue between the General Assembly and the High-level Panel on Global Sustainability (GSP).

Upcoming events outside New York include: the 5th Renewable Energy Finance Forum for Central and Eastern Europe; the 73rd Annual Session of the Inland Transport Committee (ITC) of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (ECE); the first International Conference on Governance for Sustainable Development of Caribbean SIDS; and two workshops of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). [Publication: Rio 2012: Making it Happen (Vol. 2, Issue 4)]