Network of Regional Governements
for Sustainable Development
for Sustainable Development
Sustainable Development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Brundtland Report, 1997
What is the challenge ahead of us? - One common goal, lots of global actors and actions - nrg4SD action on behalf ot its members - Advocacy and Position Papers - Policy papers and background documents - Media documents - Workshops, seminars and other events - What's coming up?
What is the challenge ahead of us?
Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come. Despite the growing number of institutions and processes addressing sustainable development, environmental problems have intensified globally. It is therefore vital that in an ever globablising world, all actors work together to truly achieve sustainable development.
The most definitive and well used explanation of sustainable development is from the Brundtland Commission (formally the World Commission on Environment and Development) which was created to address growing concerns about the accelerating deterioration of the human environment and natural resources and the consequences for economic and social development.
In establishing the Brundtland Report in 1987, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly recognised that environmental problems were global in nature and determined that it was in the common interest of all nations to establish policies for sustainable development.
The conceptualisation of sustainable development that has emerged is one of development that integrates three pillars: economic development; social development; and environmental protection. Progress across all three pillars in a consolidated manner is seen as a critical step towards the achievement of sustainable development.
One common goal, lots of global actors and actions
Since the UN Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm in 1972, the goal of achieving sustainable development has expanded considerably at international, regional, national, subnational and local levels. The UN Conference in Stockholm led to the establishment of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED).
The UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the Rio Earth Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June 1992. The UN sought to help governments rethink economic development and find ways to halt the destruction of irreplaceable natural resources and pollution of the planet.The Rio Earth Summit resulted in what is known as the three Rio Conventions: (i) UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), (ii) UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UN CBD) and (iii) UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UN CDD). It also resulted in the adoption of Agenda 21 - a comprehensive global action plan for sustainable development to be taken globally, nationally and locally by UN organisations, governments, and civil society stakeholders (organised around the so-called Major Groups) in every area in which human impact on the environment.
The UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) was established in 1992 to ensure effective follow up of the Rio Earth Summit and the implementation of Agenda 21. It provides policy guidance to follow up the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI) at the local, national, regional and international levels. The JPOI reaffirmed that the CSD is the high-level forum for sustainable development within the UN. The CSD meets annually in New York with the most recent meeting taking place in April 2011.
The World Summit on Sustainable Development (also known as Rio +10), was held in September 2002 in Johannesburg, South Africa. This Summit focused on turning plans into actions to achieve sustainable development, and assessed the global changes in the relationship between environment and economic development since the 1992 Earth Summit. The WSSD presented the opportunity to build on the knowledge gained over the past decade, and provided a new impetus for commitments of resources and specific action towards global sustainability.
nrg4SD was formed by the regional governments that attended the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development, and was legally registered in 2004 as an "International non-profit-making association".
The World Summit on Sustainable Development included the voices, experiences and perspectives of a wide range of stakeholders committed to sustainable development. Delegates at the Summit represented a broad range of constituencies, including the Major Groups. These nine groups are the sectors of society recognised in Agenda 21 as having a substantive contribution to make to the achievement of a sustainable future. nrg4SD participates in the Local Authorities Major Group.
The UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UN CSD) or better known as Rio +20 or Earth Summit 2012 will take place in Brazil in June 2012 to mark the 20thAnniversary of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit and the 10thAnniversary of the 2002 WSSD. It is envisaged as a Conference at the highest possible level, including Heads of State and Government or other representatives. The objective of the Conference is to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development, assess the progress to date and the remaining gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development, and address new and emerging challenges. The Conference will focus on two themes: (a) a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication; and (b) the institutional framework for sustainable development.
The European Union (EU) plays a key role towards achieving sustainable development. In 2006, the European Council adopted an ambitious and comprehensive renewed Sustainable Development Strategy for an enlarged EU (EU SDS). It builds on the Gothenburg Strategy of 2001 and is the result of an extensive review process that started in 2004. This is designed to be a strategy for the whole EU and therefore proposes mechanisms for improving the coordination with other levels of governments, calling upon business, NGOs and citizens to become more involved in working for sustainable development. In 2009, the EU carried out a review of the Strategy, taking stock of EU policy measures in the areas covered by the EU SDS. In 2009, the European Council confirmed that ‘Sustainable development remains a fundamental objective of the EU’.
Subnational governments are particularly well placed for identifying the needs and the strengths of their societies in sustainable development, and they are often responsible for the elaboration and implementation of policy, legislation, fiscal mechanisms and public investments plans in several areas - such as transport, energy, the environment, agriculture, forestry, industry, spatial planning, resource management, technology development and transfer, civil protection or development cooperation - that directly contribute to the long term goal of achieving sustainable development.
nrg4SD action on behalf of its members
nrg4SD takes part in international decision-making process within the Local Authorities Major Group coordinating and representing the positions of subnational governments and advocating for a better recognition of the crucial contributions of subnational governments to sustainable development. The network regularly brings into the debates delegations and grass roots initiatives from the subnational level, thus contributing to the elaboration of responsible and ambitious policies, tools and resources with a territorial dimension.
nrg4SD offers specialised and technical products adapted to subnational governments and relevant to different thematic areas under sustainable development. This implies a wide coverage of interconnected topics essential to the delivery of both thematic and comprehensive sustainable development strategies; as much as it contributes to an integrated approach at subnational level.
Detailed information on nrg4SD services to members can be found here.
nrg4SD is accredited towards United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Governing Council within the Local Authorities Major Group. Thanks to this accreditation, the network takes part in UNEP’s Major Groups Facilitating Committee as an alternate member for the Local Authorities Major Group and participates in the annual Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum, as well as in the Global Environmental Ministerial Forum.
The network also works closely with the Secretariat of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development USD in order to bring the voice of subnational governments into UN CSD Sessions and its inter-sessional preparatory meetings, as well as into the UN Preparatory Committee for Rio +20.
nrg4SD priviledged partnerships
nrg4SD also establishes direct links with UN Habitat, the UN Non-Governmental Liaison Service (UN-NGLS) and the UN Global Sustainability Panel.
Through the years nrg4SD has established close partnerships with other organisations representing local governments, such as ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability and United Cities and Local Government UCLG, or The Stakeholder Forum.
nrg4SD and Rural Development
Working closely with the Northern Forum, nrg4SD is developing it work on rural development in regions. nrg4SD recently participated in the Rural Development Workshop organised by the Northern Forum in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia from 26-30 September 2011. Find out more about the event >
nrg4DS work with the UN Global Sustainability Panel
In March 2011 nrg4SD took part in a consultation conducted by UN NGLS upon the the request of the Secretariat of the UN Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Global Sustainability (GSP). The submission from nrg4SD focused on the contribution of subnational governments and local authorities to the achievement of sustainable development (SD) goals at global level. In this context, nrg4SD called for a full revision of the global environmental governance and the SD framework capable of embracing a true multistakeholder and multilevel governance approach, which also recognises the full potential of “governmental stakeholders” such as subnational governments and local authorities in achieving SD. Click here to access the contribution by nrg4SD >
Following this first input, nrg4SD was invited to contribute again in November 2011. Click here to access nrg4SD’s contribution to the works of the UN Global Sustainability Panel November 2011 >
On the road to Rio +20 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of nrg4SD
nrg4SD is fully involved in the Rio +20 process and has established a Task Force to coordinate the works of the network in this field. Over the past months nrg4SD has actively taken part in key international meetings in preparation of Rio +20. nrg4SD statements delivered at UN meetings and contributions to the elaboration of the Rio +20 outcome document are available below.
More information about the Task Force on Rio +20 >
More information on nrg4SD's activities at Rio+20 available here >
World Summit of Federated States and Regions
From 17 to 19 June 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, just after the last preparatory meeting of the UN for the Rio +20 Conference and the Conference itself, nrg4SD will convene its annual statutory meetings - Steering Committee and annual General Assembly -, hold sessions of its working groups and celebrate its 10th anniversary after its creation at World Summit of Johannesburg in 2002. The highlight of this 3-day programme will take place on 19 June with the organisation of a World Summit of Federated States and Regions which will bring together intermediate governments for around the Globe committed to adopt a concrete set of inititiaves and implement specific action on key drivers for sustainable development at subnational level.
The Summit, co-organised by the host State of Rio de Janeiro (member of nrg4SD), the partner organisation The Climate Group and nrg4SD, is conceived as an open platform for the constituency of subnational governments. Like-minded organisations and UN entities will be invited to support the Summit in different formats. As a key outcome of the Summit, a Green Economy Coalition of Federated States and Regions is being set up.
The outcomes of the Summit will feed into the crucial international discussions to take place at the Rio +20 Conference and demonstrate how Federated States, Regions, Provinces and other intermediate governments from the five continents are committed to keep up their bold action towards the sustainable development of their territories in close collaboration and complementarity with all other levels of government and partnership with the private sector.
The World Summit of Federated States and Regions is open to all governments from Federated States, Regions, Provinces and other intermediate governments willing to commit to substantive action in order to make a difference in the sustainable development of their respective territories.
Is your government interested in participating? For more information, click here and contact us at nrg4sd@nrg4sd.org.
Registration for Rio+20
To attend UN CSD Rio+20, all organisations and major groups must register. Pre-registration is open to organisations and major groups who are accredited to ECOSOC or who were accredited to the World Summit on Sustainable Development.The deadline for pre-registration is 20 May 2012 - More information available here.
Non-governmental organisations and other major groups who are currently not eligible for preregistration but who wish to attend and contribute to the Conference may apply to the secretariat for that purpose, in accordance with guidelines available on the Conference website.
As nrg4SD is not accredited to ECOSOC, it is currently in applying for accreditation to UN CSD. The deadline for submitting accreditation applications is 20 February 2012. Once nrg4SD has submitted its application for accreditation, it will be reviewed by the UN CSD Secretariat and submitted for the registration process (pending approval). The nrg4SD Secretariat will keep members updated of the progress of the application. For more information on the accreditation process for UN CSD Rio +20, click here.
Documents relevant to Rio +20
UN Documents
Position and Advocacy Papers
Technical Papers
Consultation responses and statements
Media documents for Rio +20
Documents relevant to Sustainable Development
Advocacy papers
Consultation responses and statements
Policy Papers, briefing notes and background documents
Workshops, seminars and other events
15-16 December 2011, New York , USA - Second Intersessional for the Rio +20 conference, discussions on the compiled inputs so far, including the structure of the outcome document. Local Authorities Statement at the Second Intersessional for Rio +20 >
12-15 December 2011, Abu Dhabi, UAE - Eye on Earth Summit.
5 December 2011, Geneva, Switzerland - ‘Paving the way of a global policy of balanced development and territorial cohesion – Participation to the preparation of Cannes G20 meeting. From Busan to Rio +20’ - International conference organised by ORU/FOGAR.
1-2 December 2011, Geneva, Switzerland - Regional Rio +20 Preparatory Meeting for the UN ECE region.
28 November – 9 December 2011, Durban, South Africa - nrg4SD at UNFCCC COP17 >
3 November 20111, New York, USA - Meeting of the Rio +20 Bureau and Mayor Groups. nrg4SD participates.
1 November 2011 - Deadline for the contributions to the compilation document for the zero draft of the Rio +20 outcome document. See above for nrg4SD Secretariat and nrg4SD members' submissions.
26-30 September 2011, Khanty-Mansiysk, Federation of Russia - Rural Development Conference organised by the Northern Forum and nrg4SD participation
19 September 2011, New York, USA - Briefing of the Global Sustainability Panel to Member States. nrg4SD participates.
6 September 2011, Bonn, Germany - Bonn Water Dialogues towards Rio +20.
3-5 September 2011, Bonn, Germany - 64th Annual UN DPI NGO Conference "Sustainable Societies, Responsive Citizens" (Rio +20 preparations). nrg4SD co-organised with UNEP and ICLEI a workshop on 'Learning from national examples of public participation in decision-making processes to develop models for stakeholder participation in international environmental decision-making processes.’
1-2 September 2011, Bonn, Germany - UNEP Global consultation on Rio+20: 'Engaging with Major Groups and Stakeholders on Rio+20: the Role of Civil Society in Shaping the Sustainable Development Agenda for the 21st century' and UNEP Regional Consultation for Europe (RCM) in preparation for UNEP’s 12th Special Session of the Governing Council / Global Ministerial Environment Forum. nrg4SD took part within the Local Authorities Major Group
29-31 August 2011, Quebec City, Canada - Statutory meeting of the Steering Committee and General Assembly of nrg4SD, and meeting of the nrg4SD Rio + 20 WG and resolution on the specific advocacy strategy for Rio + 20 of the network. More information about the Working Group on Rio +20 >
22-26 August 2011, Montreal, Canada - Ecocity World Summit 2011.
28 June 2011, Brussels, Belgium - 'The transition towards sustainability: policy perspectives in Flanders and the EU’.
2-13 May 2011, New York, USA - UN CSD 19. nrg4SD prepared Advocacy Paper ‘Subnational Governments: Key Actors in Sustainable Consumption and Production’.
7-8 March 2011, New York, USA - Rio +20 Preparatroy Committee: nrg4SD co-organises a side event on 'The city-region approach to the Green Economy' with UN Habitat and ICLEI. The Advocacy Paper ‘Subnational Governments: Key Actors in the Transition of a Green Economy’ was prepared on this occasion.
6 March 2011, New York, USA - nrg4SD conducted a workshop under The Stakeholder Forum’s consultation event on the Agenda for International Environmental Governance, Sustainable Development Governance and Rio+20’.
19-24 February 2011, Nairobi, Kenya - UNEP’s Major Groups and Stakeholders’ Forum and Governing Council/Global Environmental Ministerial Forum. nrg4SD delivers statements on the Green Economy and International Environmental Governance/Sustainable Development Framework and contributes to the general statements of Major Groups. Please see above.
What's coming up?
9 January 2012 - Zero draft of the outcome document of Rio +20 is out - nrg4SD preliminary analysis on the recognition of subnational governments
11 – 12 January 2012 - Sixth and final meeting on the UN High-level Panel on Global Sustainability
12 - 23 January 2012 - Ongoing work by Sherpas on the Final Report of UN GSP
25 - 27 January 2012, New York, USA - Initial discussions on the Zero Draft of the outcome document - nrg4SD contributes with input to the Major Group
30 January 2012, Addis Ababa- Launch of Final Report of UN High-level Panel on Global Sustainability
31 January 2012, New York (virtual meeting) - World Federation of UN Associations WFUNA Webinar 1 of 3 Get Rio: Sustainable Development basics, virtual meeting - nrg4SD participates
7 - 8 February 2012, Brussels, Belgium -EESC conference 'Go sustainable, be responsible! European civil society on the road to Rio+20' - nrg4SD participates
18 – 19 February 2012 , Nairobi, Kenya - UNEP’s Thirteenth Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum - nrg4SD participates sponsored by UNEP
20 – 22 February 2012 , Nairobi, Kenya - 12th special session of UNEP’s Governing Council/ Global Ministerial - nrg4SD participates sponsored by UNEP
15 March 2012, Basque Country, Spain - 1st technical meeting of the Rio de Janeiro-nrg4SD-The Climate Group Green Economy Coalition for Federated States and Regions
19 - 23 March 2012, New York, USA - First round of informal-informals on the Zero Draft of the outcome document - nrg4SD participates
26 - 27 March 2012, New York, USA - Third interessional meeting of UN CSD - nrg4SD participates
26-29 March 2012, London, UK - Planet Under Pressure Conference
April 2012, Buenos Aires, Argentina - nrg4SD American event in preparation of Rio +20
30 April-4 May 2012, New York, USA - Third informal informals on the Zero Draft of the outcome document - nrg4SD participates
22-25 May 2012, Brussels, Belgium - EU Green Week
5 June 2012: World Environment Day
June 2012, Rio de Janiero, Brazil - Global Town Hall convened by ICLEI - nrg4SD invited to organise the Regions day
13-15 June 2012, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Third Rio +20 Preparatory Committee - nrg4SD participates
16 – 17 June 2012, Rio de Janiero, Brazil- Solutions for a Sustainable Planet International Conference organised by IIED, Rio de Janiero, Brazil
17 -19 June 2012, Rio de Janiero, Brazil - nrg4SD World Summit of Regions – 10th Anniversary of the Network! - General Assembly, Steering Committee and Working Groups
20-22 June 2012, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - UN CSD Rio +20 Summit
