Rio+20

In case you’ve missed it the Rio+20 summit occurred this week. It’s the largest environmental assembly of United Nations world leaders to date with upwards of 50,000 people participating on either the diplomatic front or in the People’s Summit. 

Rio+20 focused discussions along two main themes: How to build a green economy to achieve sustainable development and lift people out of poverty, including support for developing countries that will allow them to find a green path for development; and how to improve international coordination for sustainable development. 

Beyond official government delegations, there were thousands of people from every sector imaginable who took part in the "People's Summit" which was parallel to the dignitary summit. The People's Summit included anyone and everyone from Latin American indigenous groups to Asian women rights' proponents to corporations teaming up with celebrities to tout their environmentally friendly proposals. The People's Summit had a  more radical and progressive agenda on the environment and development issues. 

Rio+20 is usually the sort of thing that would fire me up. Good ideas, good motivations hanging around in the same air. I’m an idea junkie. I’m a green fanatic. I get giddy over this stuff usually, but, if I were to sum up my Rio+20 reaction in a single word t would be: meh. 

The conversation could lead somewhere. I hope it does. I believe it could but Rio+20 failed to provide me with the sense we have some traction on these sustainability issues. There just isn’t a resounding voice of reason when it comes to these broad, systemic issues, on how responsibilities and costs should be shared by major powers. 

Secretary of State Hilary Clinton’s speech today provided the conference take-a-way for me when she said, "We know that we will be judged not by what we say nor even by what we intend to do, but by whether we deliver results for people alive today, and whether we keep faith with future generations." 

Thanks, Hil. I needed that.