The Arab region participates in Rio+20

The Arab region participates in Rio+20 20 to 22 June, 2012 , Brazil

1. Event Details

RIO+20 official website

2. Rio+ 20 Side Events for the Arab Region

	Draft Program
	Food Security and Safety for Development in a Changing Arab World
	Green Economy in the context of Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Development
	Outcome document
	Video on Food Security
	Outcome document (Ar)

3. Documents

	Arab Preparation for Rio+20
	Green economy (Ar)
	Review of SD institutions
	Review of SD institutions (Ar)

4. Ministerial Declaration

	The Arab Ministerial Declaration on Rio+20
	The Arab Ministerial Declaration on Rio+20 (Ar)

5. Links

	Earth Negotiation Bulletin (ENB)
	DESA

Newsletter

Led by Executive Secretary Rima Khalaf, ESCWA took an active part in Rio+20 and the third Preparatory Committee Meeting (13-15 June), during which the outcome document of the Conference was debated. Throughout the Conference, ESCWA closely monitored the deliberations and coordinated with Arab delegates, to ensure that they drew maximum benefit from the event. In addition, ESCWA organized side events at Rio+20 with regional and international partners, including the other regional commissions of the United Nations. The work of the regional commissions has shown the unique value of a regional perspective in articulating a demand driven, holistic and multidisciplinary agenda for sustainable development. During the Conference, ESCWA participated in four major side events, namely: "Green Growth and Sustainable Development: Regional Perspectives"; "United Nations System: Together for the Future We Want"; "Food Security and Safety for Development in a Changing Arab World"; and "Advancing Sustainable Development in Post-Conflict and In-Transition Countries: The cases of Lebanon and Liberia".

In this context and as shown in the matrix, ESCWA is organizing a series of national and regional workshops and seminars targeting different stakeholders such as government, civil society and the private sector, in addition to the publication of a number of reports. It is hoped that these activities will help develop a common Arab understanding of how the green economy can support sustainable development, and the measures and tools needed for ensuring a fair, advantageous and timely transition to such an economy in the region.

Color Code

Global and Regional Meetings

National Meetings

Publications

Preparatory Activities for Rio+20 (May 2010 onward)

Activity title	Venue and Date	Deliverables/Outcomes
Global: 1st Preparatory Committee (PrepCom I)	New York, 16-18 May 2010	Discuss focus areas of Rio+20
The 12^th Session of the Joint Committee on Environment and Development in the Arab Countries (JCEDAR)	Cairo, 16-19 October 2010	Discuss conceptual framework for a green economy and Arab regional Rio+20 preparations
Regional Workshop on Trade and Environment: Developing the Environmental Goods and Services Sector in the Arab Region for Transformation into a Green Economy	Beirut, 15 to 16 December 2010	Discuss the basic concepts of a green economy and the contribution that Environmental Goods and Services can give to the achievement of such an economy
The 22^nd Session of the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for Environment (CAMRE)	Cairo, 19-20 December 2010	Discuss the conceptual framework for a green economy and Arab regional Rio+20 preparations
Global: 1st Inter-Sessional Meeting	New York, 10-11 January 2011	DESA Report
3rd Roundtable Meeting on Sustainable Consumption and Production in the Arab Region: Paving the Path to Green Economy in the Arab Region	Cairo, 26-27 January 2011	Showcase best practices, review progress and exchange views on the needs and priorities of the region to promote the shift to SCP and the transition to a Green Economy
Global: 2^nd Preparatory Committee (PrepCom II)	New York, 7-8 March 2011	Joint statement by Regional Commissions
ESCWA Technical Committee Meeting	Beirut, 6-7 April 2011	Present a background note on Rio+20 and green economy
Side Event to 15^th RCM Meeting: Briefing Session on the Progress of Arab Regional Preparations for Rio +20	Beirut, 2 June 2011	Discuss potential UN-LAS cooperation for an inter-agency initiative on green Economy
Meeting on Economic Policies Supporting the Transition to a Green Economy in the Arab Region	Beirut, 20-21 July 2011	Discuss with representatives of ministries of finance available options for economic policy reform and financial instruments for transition to a green economy
Workshop on Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) to promote sustainable agricultural production, food quality and safety, environmental protection and trade in the Arab Region	Beirut, 27 September 2011	Review and raise awareness regarding the concept of VSS and its potential contribution to enhancing market share and market access for products and commodities from the region; and propose a framework for developing an operational regional initiative that enhances sustainable agriculture through voluntary sustainability standards
Conference on the Role of Green Industries in Promoting Socio-Economic Development in the Arab Region	Beirut, 28-30 September 2011	ESCWA will develop an Action Plan on Green Industries, notably Small and Medium Industries (SMIs) in partnership with the Arab Industrial Development and Mining Organization (AIDMO), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)/ Regional Office for Western Asia, the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the League of Arab States/ Technical Secretariat of the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for the Environment.
Workshop on Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development in the Arab Region	Jeddah, 3-5 October 2011	Discuss existing institutional framework in the Arab region and possible reforms to address emerging challenges of sustainable development; Develop an Arab position in relation to international environmental governance, in partnership with the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Training Session for Major Groups in the Arab Region	Cairo, 15 October 2011	Increase the awareness of major groups and other stakeholders about the themes of the Rio+20 Conference and build their capacity to engage with the UN
Civil Society Consultation Meetings on Rio+20: Regional Multi-Stakeholder Meeting in the Arab Region Regional Civil Society Consultation in Preparation for Rio+20 Major Groups consultation
	Beirut, 12-13 October 2011	Consultation with Civil Society on Rio+20, in partnership with the Arab NGO Network for Development (ANND)
	UAE, 9-10 October 2011	Consultation with civil society and major groups, led by UNEP
	New York, 14 October 2011	Consultation with Major Groups, led by DESA
Arab Regional Preparatory Conference for Rio+20 (Arab PrepCom)	Cairo, 16-17 October 2011	Discuss and adopt regional outcome reports to be submitted to JCEDAR and DESA Secretariat
13^th Session of the Joint Committee on Environment and Development in the Arab Countries (JCEDAR)	Cairo, 18-20 October 2011	Discuss outcomes of the Arab Regional Preparatory Conference for Rio+20 and reporting to CAMRE the Arab Declaration for Rio+20.
Annual Conference on Green Economy in a Changing Arab World	Beirut, 27-28 October 2011	During the conference, the Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) will launch the Arab Green Economy report. Among the side events, ESCWA in partnership with the International Labor Organization (ILO) will organize a round table on Green Jobs. The conference is Led by AFED
16^th Meeting of the Regional Coordination Mechanism (RCM) for Arab States	Beirut, 25-26 November 2011	• Discuss UN-LAS cooperation for Rio+20 and post Rio
Briefing of the Arab Group	New York, 13 December 2011	• Brief the Arab Group on the outcomes of the Arab regional preparatory process for Rio+20
Global: 2nd Inter-Sessional Meeting	New York, 15-16 December 2011	• Discuss outcomes of 1st Inter-Sessional Meeting and the zero draft outcome document
The 23^rd Session of the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for Environment (CAMRE)	Cairo, 21-22 December 2011	Endorse the Arab Declaration for Rio+20
Global: 3^rd Inter-Sessional Meeting	New York, 26-27 March 2012	• Discuss outcomes of 1st and 2^nd Inter-Sessional Meetings and Rio+20 final agenda
ESCWA 27^th Ministerial Session	7-10 May 2012	• ESCWA Resolution on Sustainable Development in the Arab Region
Global: 3^rd Preparatory Committee (PrepCom III)	13-15 June 2012 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	• Discuss draft outcome document of Rio+20
Global: United Nations Conference on Sustainable development (UNCSD- Rio+20)	20-22 June 2012 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	• Outcome document

Activity title	Venue and Date	Deliverables/Outcomes
National Syria: Transition into Green Economy	Damascus, 23-25 March 2011	Discuss Green Economy and Environmental Goods and Services from Syrian perspective, including working groups discussions
National Jordan: Workshop on the Role of Productivity Improvement in Enhancing Competitiveness of Manufacturing Firms in Jordan	Amman, 6-9 June 2011	Two days are devoted to discuss industrial energy generation and consumption efficiency, role of private sector in a green economy, environmental goods and services and eco-labeling
National Lebanon: Green Business Opportunities Conference	Beirut, 14-15 June 2011	Discuss green business opportunities in Lebanon
Green Jobs Kick-Off Workshop in the Arab States: Lebanon Case Study	Beirut, 28-29 July 2011	led by the Regional Office for Arab State of the International Labor organization (ILO). It will present and validate assessments on Green Jobs potentials in different sectors, including the energy sector, waste management, agriculture and construction
National Saudi Arabia: National Approach to Sustainable Development	Riyadh, 21-22 November 2011	This national meeting would cover issues related to green economy, Rio+20 progress in addition to approaches to National Coordination on Sustainable Development. It will be organized in partnership with the Ministry of Economy and Planning in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Publication title	Date	Deliverables
Reference paper on Green Economy in the Arab Region	April 2011	LAS resolution # 341 of CAMRE’s 22nd session, this paper lays the ground for discussions of an Arab Green Economy initiative
ESCWA Portal and Newsletter on Rio+20	May 2011-May 2012	Monthly newsletter, 12 issues until Rio+20
Review of Productivity and Sustainable Development in the ESCWA Region, First Issue: Green Economy in the Context of Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication: Principles, Opportunities and Challenges in the Arab Region	September 2011	Report will provide a review of the current regional status and identify green economy opportunities for the Arab region
Regional Review of Institutions for Sustainable Development in the Arab Region	October 2011	Assess developments since the World Summit on Sustainable Development (2002)
The Arab Regional Preparatory Meeting report	1 November 2011	This outcome report will be submitted for Rio+20 secretariat for inclusion in compilation documents for Rio+20

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