Rio Plus 20 Earth Summit Falls Short of Expectations

The Rio Plus 20 Earth Summit failed to yield verifiable commitments on fossil fuel subsidies and other environmental concerns, but progress was made on a “range of outcomes which, if embraced over the coming months and years, offer the opportunity to catalyze pathways towards a more sustainable 21^st century.”  Most importantly, the Rio delegates approved, in principle, the creation of a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to respond to a “a range of challenges from water and land up to food waste around the globe.”  Designed, in part, to complement the Millennium Development Goals, the SDGs are expected to put greater emphasis on finding sustainable ways of supporting economic development.  The delegates also approved changes aimed at strengthening the role of the United Nations Environment Programme in addressing global environment challenges.  While the delegates reaffirmed support for family planning, reproductive health, and the ICPD Programme of Action, they stopped short of backing reproductive rights.

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