March 2012: In a post to his blog, Sha Zukang, Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20), has reported on the consultations underway on the zero draft of the outcome document.

Reflecting on the last two months of consultations on the zero draft of the outcome document, as well as the first round of informal negotiations on the compilation text, Sha notes that delegates underscored the need to change unsustainable consumption and production patterns in order to build a sustainable future. He describes his perspective on the complexities of the coming negotiations, highlighting, inter alia: the short amount of time available for negotiations on a long text; the need for a Rio+20 outcome that focuses on “actions and concrete steps forward” while addressing implementation gaps; and his hope that delegations will focus on “deliverables of fundamental significance” in the realms of poverty, food, water and energy. Sha also comments on the “emerging convergence of views” that Rio+20 should launch a process leading to sustainable development goals (SDGs) and define guidelines to elaborate their preparation and implementation. [Blog Post: Consultations Underway]