14 May 2012: A group of UN independent experts has called on the Group of Eight Industrialized Nations (G8) and EU countries to support a proposal for a global financial transaction tax (FTT). Such a tax would be applied to mitigate the costs of the economic, financial, fuel, climate and food crises, and to protect basic human rights.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and General Assembly (UNGA) President Nassir Abdulaziz al-Nasser are jointly convening a High-Level Thematic Debate on “The State of the World Economy and Finance in 2012”. The debate aims to explore ways to improve the overall global economic and financial situation and to discuss its impact on development efforts and social processes. It is part of the ongoing consultations mandated by the UNGA on the topic. Particular focus will be given to sustainable development, thereby addressing specifically the needs of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people. The debate also aims to contribute to other UN processes and events, most notably the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20), and the Group of 20 (G20) annual Leaders’ Summit. Four round-table discussions will focus on: combating unemployment, creating jobs, addressing poverty and social protection; debt sustainability and managing inflation/deflation; creating an environment for increasing production, trade and investment; and increasing stability, predictability and transparency in the global financial system. The debate will result in a summary document.
13 May 2012: The First Stakeholder Forum of the Africa-EU Energy Partnership (AEEP) took place from 9-10 May 2012 in Cape Town, South Africa, with the aim of progressing on the AEEP 2020 targets to radically improve African deployment of renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy access, and energy security.
11 May 2012: An informal ministerial meeting took place to address small island developing States’ (SIDS) position for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20), on 9 May 2012, in Bridgetown, Barbados. Representatives of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) stressed a focus on “the day after Rio." Other delegates addressed issues relating to utilization of ocean resources; gender aspects of resource access; principles of rotation between Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean, and South China Sea (AIMS), Pacific and Caribbean; and strengthening of governance structures.
April 2012: Together with civil society organizations (CSOs), the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Group on Sustainable Energy for All has participated in a civil society consultation process on the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) initiative.
April 2012: The Poverty and Conservation Learning Group (PCLG) has published the latest issues of its biodiversity and society bulletin, called “Biosoc,” and its monthly newsletter. The PCLG is a multi-stakeholder forum, coordinated by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), for promoting dialogue and fostering learning on the links between biodiversity conservation and poverty reduction.
10 May 2012: At the Ministerial Meeting of the Coordination Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UN General Assembly (UNGA) President Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser called on NAM members to support their initiatives ahead of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20), as well as a strong outcome for the Conference.
10 May 2012: The UN Development Programme (UNDP) has released its regional human development report for Asia Pacific, titled "One Planet to Share – Sustaining Human Progress in a Changing Climate." The report emphasizes that, to achieve a shift to a greener economy, countries in the region will need to change their production patterns, including in the energy, industrial and agricultural sectors.
9 May 2012: In a briefing to the UN General Assembly (UNGA), UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced that he had appointed three Co-Chairs for a high-level panel of eminent persons to advise on the post-2015 development agenda. He said that he plans to announce the full panel following the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20).
5 May 2012: The 45th meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) was organized around the theme “Inclusive Growth through Better Governance and Partnerships” and addressed how to bring the benefits of Asia's growth to all, especially the poor.
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Sustainable Energy |
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Climate Change |
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Sustainable Development (UNCSD) |
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Biodiversity |
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Small Island Developing States (SIDS) |
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African Regional Coverage (ARC) |
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Latin America & Caribbean Regional Coverage (LARC) |
| Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) |
| Your Meeting Bulletin (YMB) |
