Brussels, 25/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - In an effort to put into practice the objectives of the UN Rio+20 conference on sustainable development (Rio de Janeiro, last June), the Commission is seeking to gather in all the different views of stakeholders on the question. A public consultation was therefore launched on Thursday, 25 October, as a means to gather in as many points of view on the subject by 15 January. The results from this consultation will be taken into account by the Commission in its communication on Rio +20 follow up, planned for the first quarter of 2013.
Janez Potocnik, the Commissioner for the environment, explained that, “Rio+20 gave the impulse; it is now in our hands to make sustainable development a reality in every corner of the planet. And we want to engage everyone in the debate on the concrete steps which need to be taken”.
The public consultation seeks input on a number of policy questions around five main lines: policies aimed at moving towards an inclusive green economy; setting priority areas of action, such as poverty eradication, sustainable agriculture, water, sustainable energy, decent work for all, oceans and fisheries, and sustainable consumption and production, and reflecting upon the usefulness of targets and indicators in these areas; developing Sustainable Development Goals, reflecting on themes and topics and their optimal form, and suggesting ways to monitor progress in reaching them; considering options for an effective Sustainable Development Financing Strategy, including on possibilities of mobilising existing resources and ways of encouraging investments; and strengthening the institutional framework for sustainable development, and thinking about ways to improve stakeholder participation. To take part in this public consultation, see: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/consultations/rio20_en.htm (AN/transl.fl)