2 March 2012: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has hosted the Global Peace Initiative of Women (GPIW) environmental conference at its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

A delegation from the GPIW conference will participate in the inter-faith component of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20).

The GPIW, which is a US-based non-governmental organization (NGO) of contemplative leaders, met under the theme “Awakening the Healing Heart,” and discussed ways in which civil society can mobilize awareness and action to protect the environment and promote sustainable development. Over 300 religious and community leaders, environmentalists and advocates attended the meeting, with UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner delivering the keynote address.

In his address, Steiner highlighted that, although governments have a key role to play to produce the transformational policies and programmes for sustainable development, they cannot do so on their own, but need the support of civil society, including the faith leaders and women of the world, to give them the courage and license to legislate. He underscored to participants at the meeting that in the lead up to Rio+20, their “voices, ideas, courage and wisdom” were necessary “to empower governments and the private sector to move sustainable development from theory and patchy implementation to a decisive and mature path to fairness, equity, stability and peace.” [UNEP Press Release] [Remarks by Achim Steiner]