Rio+20 Comes to a Close
The first Earth Summit in Brazil addressed international concerns about the state of the world’s environment. 20 years later, world leaders
gathered again in Rio for Rio+20. The outcome of the conference was disappointing with no concrete commitments, no actual targets and no new money for sustainable development despite repeated references to an undefined "Green Economy". The Government of Canada stated it was "very happy" with the outcome, while Steven Guilbault from Equiterre called this government's actions in Rio "a liability for the reputation of our country."
At the end of the conference, what are the repurcussions for food? See reports from those present at the summit below:
- Healthy Soils = Healthy People, by USC Canada's Executive Director Susan Walsh (see other Rio+20 reports from USC Canada here)
- Rio+20 or Silent Spring-50?, ETC Group
- Rio+20: Action against the use of agrochemicals at the CNA, La Via Campesina
- A just and fair Green Economy, Greenpeace Canada
- Hans Herren at Rio+20: Let's empower small farmers!, nourish9billion.org
The final report from the Summit, The Future We Want (see paragraphs 108-124 in particular), reaffirms the right to food, defining it as "the right of everyone to have access to safe, sufficient and nutritious food, consistent with the right to adequate food and the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger" and acknowledges the insufficient progress on this right since the 1992 Earth Summit. It also recognizes "that farmers, including small-scale farmers and fisherfolk, pastoralists and foresters, can make important contributions to sustainable development through production activities that are environmentally sound, enhance food security and the livelihood of the poor, and invigorate production and sustained economic growth."