Download - Rio+20

Marking 100 days until world leaders gather in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to negotiate for a
sustainable future, this special issue is dedicated to the transformative power of social
media.
"Small actions taken by each of us, multiplied across communities,
can create a better world." – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
*Rio+20 Registration Now Open www.uncsd2012.org/registration*
Read the full newsletter in PDF format.
FEATURE STORY
Making it Happen:
Special Issue on Social Media
In our highly interconnected world, social media
has played a role in democratizing information at
all levels. It reflects the pulse of society and the
tone of the public opinion today – particularly for
young people who rely heavily on social
networks to engage with political and economic
life around them. Social media is a force that will
continue to shape the way we communicate and
collaborate, mobilize and participate, and will no
doubt be essential to achieving a transparent
and inclusive outcome at Rio+20.
More Information
FEATURE STORY
Why Does Social Media
Matter for Rio+20?
Why do we really care so much about social
media? For what can seem like a frivolous
distraction marketed to strictly affluent societies,
the link between serious long-term sustainable
development and online socializing might seem
frail. But this view ignores several important
dynamic underpinnings of a global information
society, as well as the value of Information and
Communication Technologies (ICTs) in driving
the sustainable development agenda, advancing
education and the spread of knowledge, building
a green economy and bridging the digital divide.
More Information

FEATURE STORY
Making Sense
of 7 Billion
2012 is the first year to awaken to a world
population of 7 billion. With considerable
implications for sustainability, urbanization,
access to health services and youth
empowerment, a world of 7 billion also offers a
rare call to action for renewing global
commitment to a healthy and sustainable world
for all. Based on an open-source concept
launched by UNFPA, the 7 Billion Actions
campaign showcases the stories and actions of
people making a significant impact in their
communities. Tremendous breakthroughs
happening in boardrooms, labs, kitchens and
communities all over the globe can be shared,
replicated and expanded for the good of the
planet. More Information
FEATURE STORY
US Rio+2.0
Conference
From 2 to 4 February 2012, technological
innovators and entrepreneurs gathered at
Stanford University in Palo Alto, California to
discuss the growing role that connection and
information technology can play in achieving the
'future we want' through sustainable
development. The three-day event, titled
USRio+2.0: Bridging Connection Technologies
and Sustainable Development, was jointly
organized by the US Department of State and
Stanford University, and featured some of the
best and brightest minds in tech and the field of
sustainable development. More Information
Negotiating the zero draft
FEATURE
Interactive Features of the
Rio+20 Conference Website
As part of the ongoing campaign to engage with
YOU through social media, a new section of the
official Rio+20 website is dedicated entirely to
social media! Here you can find ways to interact
with the Conference, submit your own content
and share things with the rest of the world.
Whether you are showing your support for
Rio+20 and sustainable development through
Count Me In, or submitting your own voluntary
pledges to living sustainably, you can make sure
that your commitments are recognized.
Additionally, you can also share your message
about sustainable development with the world, or
you can upload your own images of what a
sustainable lifestyle would actually look like, plus
have a chance to be featured as a Rio+20 Photo
Of The Day. With your support, engagement and
19-23 March 2012
First round of 'informal-informal' negoriations on
the zero draft of the Rio+20 outcome document.
(New York)
26-27 March 2012
Third Intersessional Meeting of UNCSD. (New
York).
23 April - 4 May 2012
Second round of “informal-informal” negotiations
on the zero draft of the Rio+20 outcome
document. (New York)
13-15 June 2012
Third Meeting of the UNCSD Preparatory
Committee. (Rio de Janeiro)
20-22 June 2012
Rio+20: The UN Conference on Sustainable
Development. (Rio de Janeiro)

mobilization through social media can help
ensure that we achieve the #FutureWeWant at
#RioPlus20. :-)
The “zero draft”, or first negotiating text, will
become the primary basis for Member State
negotiations, ultimately leading to a formal
outcome to be adopted by world leaders at
Rio+20.
UPCOMING EVENT
Global Transition
2012
17-18 March 2012
New York, United
States
More Information
UPCOMING EVENT
Major Groups
Expert Meeting on
the Rio+20 Zero
Draft and
Compendium of
Commitments
24 March 2012
New York, United
States
More Information
UPCOMING EVENT
UN/Canada
Citizens' Summit
for Sustainable
Development
24-25 March 2012
New Haven, United
States
More Information
UPCOMING EVENT
Planet Under
Pressure 2012 -
New Knowledge
Towards
Solutions
26-29 March 2012
London, United
Kingdom
More Information
Upcoming Rio+20 Deadlines
30 March 2012
Side Events at Rio+20, 13 – 22 June 2012, submit your requests by 30 March.