Rio+20 is finally here. For those of you that don't about Rio+20, it is a global UN conference that brings together world leaders, along with thousands of participants from governments, the private sector, NGOs and other groups, to discuss and shape how we can reduce poverty, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection. It is also the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), in Rio de Janeiro, and the 10th anniversary of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg. In other words, it's a big deal with the real potential to lay the framework for an improved future for billions of people.
I have the unique opportunity to not only attend this important conference, but to participate. I am sitting on three panels over the course of the event, and I am looking forward to listening, learning and sharing. Here is a brief overview of the events I am speaking at. If you are going to be down at Rio+20, please come by, sit in and say "hi." And stay tuned for posts offering insights and themes that I pick up at the event.
Responsible management and leadership education has a crucial role in enabling leaders to embrace the challenges involved in creating a sustainable and equitable world for the future we want. This interactive session will be orchestrated using the collaboratory concept introduced in the Agenda for Management Education for the World by the collaborative project 50+20. Three collaboratories will be built around key issues developed by working groups of the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) initiative of the UN Global Compact: Anti-Corruption; Gender equality; and Poverty reduction through business actions.
The session aims at strengthening collaboration between academia and business and will work hands-on to develop pragmatic solutions for companies and academia on how to work together on key issues of the UN Global Compact.
Despite increased efforts, corporate sustainability and gender equality concerns often remain disconnected. This session will explore how business can maximize its contribution to sustainable development by prioritizing and integrating gender equality and women's empowerment as key components of corporate sustainability. Examples of concrete, innovative business approaches and practices in this area will be highlighted.
Information & Communication Technology: The App Store for Sustainable Development - June 21, 2012
The panel will explore activities that are already occurring, and engage the audience on additional ideas for how governments, civil society, and the private sector can best leverage the participatory and transformational powers of ICT. Featured will be a new partnership commitment - to be announced in Rio and supported by the U.S. government - between the Digital Energy and Sustainability Solutions Campaign (DESSC), the UN Foundation, The Climate Group, and the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, supporting the goals of the Secretary General's Sustainable Energy for All Initiative.
I hope to see you here!