A press release from the United Nations announces that 191 countries have agreed on a document to be presented and signed by world leaders on Friday. The new document promises to strengthen the UN Environmental Program, promote gender equity, encourage corporate sustainability reporting, and detail a green economy. However, critics have already accused the document of not including enough commits to action; rather, the text only reaffirms that these sectors are important to the UN members. We will follow details of the text as the Conference continues, especially on how the new text will set international policy on cities.
We’ll also hear from I2UD senior researcher Alejandra Mortarini, who is attending Rio+20. Of the many events offered at Rio, she will attend a class on Water Harvesting best practices given by presenters from the arid nation of Israel, as well as a program on Sustainable Cities on Thursday.