January 2012: The eighth issue of the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) “Perspectives” publication reviews the key outcomes from the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20), and predicts the Conference’s possible future impact.

The paper, titled “Rio+20: A new beginning,” was co-authored by Felix Dodds, Tellus Institute, and Anita Nayar, Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN), and is divided into nine sections: 1) A beginning in the shadow of political realities; 2) The Bad News; 3) Mixed Reviews; 4) Hopeful Signs; 5) Inadequate Means; 6) Interesting ideas from other mini-Summits at Rio+20; 7) Sustainable Development Stakeholder Dialogues; and 9) The Future.

In the first section, the authors say leadership at the Rio+20 largely came from the BASIC countries (Brazil, China, India and South Africa), which they report marks “a definite turning point in the balance of power and initiative in the world of sustainable development.” The authors suggest that “bad” outcomes from the meeting included, inter alia: the lack of agreement on immediately establishing a process to develop a high seas biodiversity agreement; the lack of agreement on a plan for eliminating environmentally harmful subsidies; and the lack of recognition of reproductive rights as essential to sustainable development.

In terms of “mixed” or “hopeful” outcomes, the authors identify, inter alia: the commitment to establish Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); the acceptance of the term “green economy” into a UN Summit agreement; an agreement to strengthen and upgrade UNEP; an agreement to formally adopt the 10-Year Framework of Programmes (10YFP) on Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP); and an opening of the possibility to negotiate regional conventions on Principle 10. The authors conclude that, while Rio+20 did not put the world on the path to “the future we want,” it helped identify priorities and strengthen processes in order to eventually arrive there.

“Perspectives” is a UNEP publication series presenting views from major groups and stakeholders of civil society or about issues that are relevant for them. [Publication: UNEP Perspectives, No. 8]