17 May 2011: In a statement addressed to NGOs, the private sector, government and academia, Achim Steiner, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director, discussed the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) and green economy.

Stressing that the challenge of today’s generation is to “take the unfulfilled promises of the Rio Conference and deliver them,” Steiner called for a transition to a low-carbon, resource-efficient green economy. He highlighted UNEP’s report titled “A Transition to a Green Economy,” which evaluates the risks and opportunities that a green economy elicits. Steiner said the report highlights that investing two percent of global gross domestic product (GDP) annually in 10 key sectors could kick-start a green economic transition, provided it is supported by enabling public policies and measures.

Highlighting the abundance of reports available on the subject, Steiner emphasized that civil society fora, government officials, researchers and companies could come together to “bridge the credibility and relevance gap” by subjecting reports to peer review, and then present the best available information during UNCSD preparations.

He also noted that the UNCSD could provide the framework, financing and market mechanisms that could accelerate implementation of Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD), and he noted the need for policy to “encourage sustainable scientific breakthroughs.”

Finally, Steiner stressed that Rio+20 is not an environmental summit, and that it provides an opportunity to enter a “new era of cooperative competition for ideas and actions.” [Statement of UNEP Executive Director]