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COUNTRIES AGREE TO EXTEND NEGOTIATIONS ON RIO+20 OUTCOME DOCUMENT New York,
May 5 2012 7:05PM Representatives from governments negotiating the outcome
document for the United Nations Sustainable Development Conference (Rio+20)
today agreed to add five more days of deliberations to bridge differences
that have kept them from making further progress in negotiations.
“The present negotiation approach has run its course,” said Rio+20
Secretary-General Sha Zukang, adding that there is a need to proceed with a
sense of urgency.
The negotiated document, along with voluntary commitments by governments,
businesses and civil society, is meant to set the stage for the global
community to recommit to sustainable development and agree to concrete
actions when they gather at the Rio+20 Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
from 20 to 22 June.
Mr. Sha called for greater political will and agreement on all sides and
underlined that the main objective is to get to Rio de Janeiro with at least
9
0 per cent of the text ready and only the most difficult 10 per cent left to
be negotiated there.
“We can have an outcome document which builds upon earlier agreements — an
outcome document which is action-oriented in spelling out the future we
want,” he said.
Mr. Sha stressed that the present document, despite having been reduced by
about 100 pages, still has too many paragraphs and contains too much
repetition. “Currently, the negotiating text is a far cry from the ‘focused
political document’ called for by the General Assembly,” he said.
Countries have voiced concern over accountability and implementation of the
commitments made, as well as over the theme of the green economy in the
context of sustainable development and poverty, with some developing
countries asserting that a green economy approach should not lead to green
protectionism or limit growth and poverty eradication.
“Delegates have expressed disappointment and frustration at the lack of
progress,” Rio+20 Preparator y Committee co-chair Kim Sook told participants
at the concluding meeting of the latest round of talks yesterday.
Mr. Kim emphasized that there will be a change in working methods when
negotiations resume that will include working from a new text prepared by
the co-chairs, as well as other changes in the negotiating procedures.
The five added negotiating days have been set for 19 May to 2 June and will
take place in New York.
More than 120 Heads of State have registered to attend Rio+20, and some
50,000 people, including business executives, mayors, representatives of
non-governmental organizations (NGOs), youth and indigenous people, among
others, are expected to participate in both official and informal events
during the Conference.
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For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news