European Hearing Rio+20 International Governance of Sustainable Development European Hearing Rio+20 International Governance of Sustainable Development European Hearing Rio+20 Sascha Gabizon, executive director WECF Women in Europe for a Common Future Women Rio+20 Steering Committee

European Hearing Rio+20 UN GA RESOLUTION 64/236 (from 24/dec/2009)

European Hearing Rio+20 Living with less than 1 dollar a day Social and economic inequities are especially hard on women and children Women are 70% of the 1.3 billion poor More pressure on women from current food, fuel and financial crises

European Hearing Rio+20 Priorities for women and international governance of SD The economy should support well- being for all within the carrying capacity of the planet Currently; most of humanity (women) and the planet are used for the economy of a few

European Hearing Rio+20 Markets needs legal frameworks and incentives to assure equity The vulnerable and poor cannot rely on market mechanisms alone They need rights to protect their lives and livelihoods A green economic system must promote social equity and gender equity Link International Government and Green Economy

European Hearing Rio+20 Linking IFSD x IEG x GE ? ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIAL ECONOMICAL INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR SD ENVIRONMENTAL IEGIEG ESMOESMO Existing Strong Multilateral Organizations GAPS IN CURRENT SD COMMITMENTS

European Hearing Rio+20 Possible priorities for women and the Green Economy Target: 40% womens share in new green jobs Social protection floor - especially for women house-workers / informal sectors Regulation for safe, decent and healthy jobs (chemicals, radiation..) Beyond GDP The American way of life: obsolete

European Hearing Rio+20 Promote womens economic contributions: enable them! Secure womens property rights, land tenure, and control over natural resources Promote womens access to finance, technologies, information, health care Enable women - and men - to combine their jobs with childcare Promote women in decision making in policy and business (e.g. Norway)

European Hearing Rio+20 Possible priorities for women and international governance Outcome from Rio+20: Support an agreement to implement Rio Principle 10* Assure womens equal access to information, public participation and justice * Examples exist a.o. in UNECE Aarhus Convention, Biosafety Protocol as essential elements of capacity-building, in many national legislations in all regions

European Hearing Rio+20 Making the economic sector work for society and environment Governance of financial and economic systems Abolishing perverse subsidies = cheapest way to sustainable development New funding for social and environmental protection, and women in GE: –Financial Transaction Tax (tobin) –Ocean levy –Kerosene tax –Mining/Primary extraction tax

European Hearing Rio+20 Strengthen international environmental governance structure Which fits these objectives (form fits function): Bring environment ministers higher on the agenda Influence financial decisions with impact on the environment Assess and monitor new technologies before widespread use (geo-engineering, nanotech,..) Provide new funding means, incl.soft funding Have the authority to improve coherence between international agencies Equitable, transparent, accountable, dispute settlement

European Hearing Rio+20 Possible Options? Fundamental reform: Cost reductions at the right places: review UN/Bretton Woods privileges Upgrade UNEP Cluster (the smaller) MEAs as with the 3 chemical conventions? Review of UN commissions - CSD, CSW..

European Hearing Rio+20 Bottom up - support local womens organisations

European Hearing Rio+20 Thank You