17 June 2012: The First World Summit of Legislators (WSL) convened on the sidelines of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20), beginning an international process towards monitoring governments’ delivery of commitments to the sustainable development agenda.

WSL took place from 15-17 June 2012, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, convened by the Global Legislators Organization (GLOBE International). Over 300 delegates, including Speakers of Parliament, Presidents of Congresses and Senates, and senior legislators, from 86 countries, attended the Summit.

The Summit had three main aims: establishing a mechanism at the international level to monitor implementation of commitments by governments made at Rio+20; providing a platform to share best legislative practice; and examining how the value of natural capital can be integrated within national economic frameworks to enable legislators to better monitor the use of natural capital.

Delegates to WSL signed a Legislators’ Protocol committing to, inter alia: strengthening governance for sustainable development at the international, regional and local levels; and strengthening the legislative response in their respective parliaments to delivering the Rio objectives. They also agreed to consider, as nationally appropriate, the inclusion of natural capital in their countries’ national accounts; and to advance legislation that integrates the ‘natural capital’ approach into policy analysis and decision making.

They agreed to convene every two years. [Event Webpage] [Legislators Protocol] [GLOBE Webpage on WSL]