Rio+20

First time ever that I have the chance to attend A UN sponsored conference. It is the Rio+20 Conference of Sustainable Development at Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, after 20 years the first Summit was conceived in the same place. For some, it is like welcome home to examine what they have committed before and what have been achieved. For them, the gathering must be frustrated a lot since reaffirmation of things done was promised again but without date line set. For the group concerned about climate change and green economy, these are two new edition that have been given much focus by the parties of conference. For the local authorities, yet again they are put under a situation neither here nor there. Although recognised as the government closet to the people and that everyone acknowledged the need of think globally but act locally, the local autorities are not given proper treatment as they are considered ngo group, a status that even ngo would not like to accept. Although the Secretary General of UN, Mr Ban Ki Moon said this century is theera of cities, sustainable solution must be started there, until and unless mainstreaming of local authorities is done, the little efforts of local authorities will not be impactful and influencial of making a chance without recognition by national anx international protocol. The youth and indigenous people groups are equally unhappy as many of their concerns were not addresssed. Youth are concerned that the current pace of healing the environmental problems are not fast enough and commitments are very loose. They want the national government to view the problems from global perspective and do away with the nation protectionist policy. They are appealing that current policy makers be responsible for making decisions that affect them, the future generation. They demanded that they are treated as an equal partner, not a subject for engagement in planning and developing the World. The science and technical group admitted that they have not done enough to communicate with the epolicy makers and layman, even amongst themselves have done research in a silo way. More interaction and exchange focusing on climate change and sustainable development is required. With the advancement of technology and resource efficiency as the key in green growth and economy, the workers group is also concerned about their next destination and whether theh will be victimised along the process. They reckoned that we are living in two planets, one on social and environment earth and the another one is the economy world. While countries can bump in billions of dollars to rescue financial institutions which encountered hardship because of mismanagement, they do not spend much on saving biodiversity and ozone layer explain well which planet is prioritised by our world leaders. For the vulnerable, like workers, indigenous people, disabled and women adaptation rather than mitigation is perhap a better solution. For other major group under the civil society, The People Summit held concurrently clearly demonstrated their way of doing sustainability at local level is effective and more people oriented. The many appropriate technology applied at the community level is encouraging. The civil society although engaged in the dialogue has rejected the concluded document. They called for more commitment and real action. I did learn a lot from the Conference. It is a battle field for different players with their agenda. It is a forum to promote your believe and what you are fighting for. It is platform for networking and meeting new friends for alliance. It is a place all come under the name of sustainable development, but with self interest and agenda.