20 years ago, the Rio Summit met to define ways to foster sustainable development and raised lots of hopes all over the world. 20 years on, the strong historical message delivered by the young Severn Suzuki has not been fully heard and much remains to be done to preserve our natural capital.

 

In June this year, the Rio+20 Summit will be the opportunity to set the sustainable development agenda for the next 20 years. One of the key themes of the summit will be how to define the 'green economy'. Will land protection be duly taken into consideration? Will the need for ocean governance be finally addressed? Will concrete measures and targets be adopted? How will environmental governance be framed? Will the EU play a key role in achieving a successful outcome? The questions are numerous and civil society is pushing for strong commitments.

 

Expectations are high because this Rio Summit has the potential to be the long-awaited shift towards a more sustainable and fair future. This conference will aim to reflect and propose conclusions on the future we really want

 

14:30- 15:00

Registration

 

15:00-16:00  

OPENING AND INTRODUCTION

 

Chaired by Sandrine Bélier MEP

 

Live chat with Severn Suzuki

Edgar Morin, Philosopher

Maximiliano Arienzo, Mission of Brazil to the European Union, Economic Sector - Head of Energy & Sustainable Development

Pablo Solón, Director of Focus on the Global South, former Bolivian Ambassador to the UN

 

Q&A

16:00-17:00

 

Chaired by Carl Schlyter MEP

 

Eva Alfredsson, analyst Swedish agency for Growth Policy Analysis and Global Utmaning (Global Challenge, Swedish think tank)

Andrew Simms, New Economics Foundation

 

Q&A

 

17:00-18:00

 

Chaired by Isabella Lövin MEP

 

Jason Hall-Spencer, Plymouth Marine Laboratory

Matthew Gianni, The Deep SeaConservation Coalition

Wendy Watson-Wright, Executive Secretary Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and Assistant Director-General UNESCO

 

Q&A

 

18:00-18:30

 

Chaired by Bas Eickhout MEP and Sandrine Bélier MEP

 

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This conference is organised by MEPs Sandrine Bélier, Bas Eickhout,  Isabella Lövin, Carl Schlyter and Claude Turmes

 

To be followed by a small reception in front of ASP1G3.