Rio+20 Brings Attention to Sustainable Development
June 22, 2012
Presidents and other officials stand for a group picture at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazi.
This is the VOA Special English Economics Report.
Leaders from more than one hundred nations are in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for a three-day United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. More than forty thousand activists and political and business leaders are also there.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke at the opening of the event, known as the Rio+20.
BAN KI-MOON: “We are now in sight of a historic agreement.”
Rio+20 marks the twentieth anniversary of the first UN Earth conference, also held in Rio de Janeiro. The conference helped build support for the nineteen ninety-seven Kyoto agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
This year, officials are trying to reach final agreement on a document that details goals for reducing poverty while supporting clean energy and sustainable development.
The conference will draw attention to seven major issues. The UN says jobs, energy and sustainable cities are of top importance. It notes that food security, water, oceans and dealing with disasters are other issues basic to lifting people out of poverty.
The mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, took part in a discussion among mayors of some of the world’s largest cities. They talked about measures to cut greenhouse gasses. These gasses are known to trap heat and have been linked to climate change. Cities are responsible for up to seventy-five percent of the gases. Mr. Bloomberg said the world’s mayors are taking the lead on issues like the environment and sustainability.
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