1. Rio +20: Towards the Green Economy and Better Governance Outputs of Rio +20 Consultation

2. Consultation Process  DECLG circulated a consultation document in July 2011 and invited stakeholder input as part of Irelands’ national contribution to the Rio +20 preparatory process.  Comhar SDC summarised the received responses and will shortly produce a report highlighting the main issues raised in the submissions  DECLG will submit this to the UN as part of Ireland’s input to Rio +20 (Deadline 1 st November)

3. Stakeholder Responses (23) CDBs  Donegal  Fingal  Kerry  Kilkenny  Laois  North Tipperary  South Dublin  South Tipperary  Waterford County  Waterford City State  Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Food  Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation  Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport  Environmental Protection Agency Environmental  Environmental Pillar  Friends of the Environment  VOICE Social/Development  Dóchas  Goal  Irish Aid  Irish Presentation Justice Network Energy  Bord Gáis Éireann Independent  Elizabeth Cullen

4. Outline  Introduction  Progress since Rio 1992  Green Economy  Comments on existing proposals  Implementation  Expectations from Rio +20

5. Introduction  The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development takes place from 4-6 th June 2012  Marks 20 th anniversary of the Earth Summit held in 1992, main outcomes of which included:  Agenda 21  Rio Declaration on Environment and Development  Statement of Forest Principles  UN Framework Convention on Climate Change  UN Convention on Biological Diversity

6. Progress Since Rio 1992: Successes International  Aarhus Convention, 1998  Millennium Development Goals, 2000 European level  EU Strategy for Sustainable Development  EU Emissions Trading System  Europe 2020 Strategy  Roadmap to a Low Carbon Economy  EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Action Plan National  National Energy Efficiency Plan 2009-2020  Water Framework Directive and River Basin District Management  National Waste Prevention Programme  Strategic Environmental Assessment  Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland schemes

7. Progress Since Rio 1992: Successes Local  Progress under Local Agenda 21  South Dublin and Waterford County Councils Climate Change Strategy  Waterford City Council and others Environmental Awareness Officer and Sustainable Neighbourhood Unit Development Officers  Waterford County Council Economic Plan 2010-2014

8. Progress Since Rio 1992: Failures International  International fight against poverty  Failure to halt Biodiversity Decline National  Energy consumption in Transport Sector  Energy Security  GHG Emissions  Failure to decouple waste generation from economic growth  Failure to halt biodiversity decline  Inadequate designation of SACs  Poor planning of development during ‘boom’

9. Green Economy: Advancing SD  Rising fuel prices  Ireland is over-dependent on fuel imports  Leaves the country exposed to market price fluctuations  Green economy will result in greater investment into energy efficiency, renewables and transport technology which will decrease carbon emissions and increase energy security

10. Advancing SD  Meeting renewable energy and emissions targets  16% of all energy from renewable sources by 2020  Reduce emissions by 20% of 1990 levels by 2020  Ireland is well placed to exploit renewable energy but several hurdles have limited progress  Green economy must overcome hurdles to reduce dependence on fossil fuels  This will make it easier to reach targets

11. Advancing SD  Green Public Procurement  Involves including economic, environmental and social criteria in the public procurement process  Recognises the need to decouple economic growth from resource use  Takes account of legislation put in place to protect biodiversity and ecosystem services  Will help drive the green economy forward

12. Green Economy: Advancing SD  Consumer preferences  Recent years have seen changes in consumer preferences  Clean technology, resource efficiency, eco- design, secondary resource standards and innovation could all be enhanced by focus on green economy  Still a way to go in breaking consumer cycle  Need to change consumers’ expectations regarding products

13. Advancing SD  Other comments  The green economy alone does not guarantee sustainable development  A green economy is one which is low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive  Need an economy that secures growth and development while respecting environmental boundaries and improving human well being

14. Development Aid  Ireland has a good track record in fighting poverty and hunger  Has committed to raise development aid to 0.7% of GDP by 2015  Main issues are food security, climate change, access to quality resources and insufficient knowledge on how to manage resources sustainably

15. Development Aid  Food security  Rio +20 must deal with the issue of agriculture and food security  Agroecology links ecology, economics and society with the aim of providing sustainable agricultural production, food security and environmental protection

16. Development Aid  Climate Change  Developing countries are often hit hardest by climate change, despite contributing the least to it  Ireland has an obligation as a developed country to set a positive example as a successful low carbon country  Must minimise our contribution to climate change

17. Development Aid  Access to resources and knowledge on how to use them efficiently  A move towards the green economy should reduce irresponsible resource use by developed countries  The green economy also continues to bring advances in key technologies and research capabilities which developing countries could benefit from

18. Comments on Existing Proposals  Green Economy Roadmap  Would be useful in informing and shaping national and local policies and responses to global issues  Resource Efficient Europe Flagship Initiative  Would aid progress on renewable energy, reduce dependence on energy imports, reduce emissions and provide energy security  Sectors within Ireland’s renewable energy mix could become more economically competitive  Could provide sustainable employment  Will promote sustainable development by outlining targets for all member states

19. Implementation: Closing the Gap  Framework  Bottom up  CDBs and local authorities must cooperate to implement action in all areas of sustainable development  At national level, governments must provide direction and resources required to implement sustainable development  Targets decided at Rio +20 should be incorporated into all national and regional plans and policy decisions  There must be cohesion between global initiatives  UN institution is required to deal with sustainable development issues, would fall under the UN Delivering as One initiative

20. Implementation: Closing the Gap  Measure of success  We must decouple economic progress from resources exploitation  The way that we measure growth and success must change  A new economic model should embrace all three pillars of sustainable development  Progress indicators must be redefined

21. Implementation: Closing the Gap  Knowledge dissemination  Need a stronger commitment to increasing understanding of sustainability and involving the community in decision making  Ireland has yet to ratify the Aarhus Convention  There are some positive community-based initiatives  Need collaboration between government, non- state actors and marginal groups to close implementation gap

22. Implementation: Mechanisms and Tools  Implementation of existing sustainable development strategies  Adoption of policy framework that promotes a low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive society  Formation of national Environmental Governance Network  Appointment of sustainable development Ombudsperson at UN and national level

23. Implementation: Mechanisms and Tools  Sustainability workshops run by CDBs  New set of indicators for well being  Resources specifically aimed at promoting sustainability  More support for NGOs  Use of incentives to promote change  Set of legally binding rules  Enforcement of compliance

24. Expectations for Rio +20: Outcomes  Reiteration of commitment to Principles contained in the Rio Declaration, 1992  Commitment from all sectors to ensure understanding of SD and communication and cooperation between communities and government  Shift in focus from the current economic model  International commitment to halt climate change

25. Expectations for Rio +20: Outcomes  Targets set based on what needs to be achieved  Commitment from all nations to the implementation of action  An enhanced governance framework to promote and monitor progress

26. Expectations for Rio +20: Outcome Document  Set of specific goals  A clear pathway of implementation  An agreed timeline for achieving targets

27. Thank You Email: Sheila.George@environ.ie Phone: 018882909