Earlier this month we launched our new website and this is the first in a new series of regular monthly newsletters where we keep you updated with all that's happening at IIED.
Countdown to Rio+20
This month the focus is on Rio+20 and with with less than 30 days to go - don't miss the opportunity to
register for Fair ideas, a free, two day event hosted by IIED on 16-17 June 2012 in Rio.
We know there's a lot going on in Rio over these days with lots of organisations and networks holding events to explore key issues on the summit agenda. So if you need help deciding why you should attend Fair ideas, here are three great reasons:
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The agenda has been carefully put together to bring out cutting edge ideas and examples, which can make a major difference in addressing problems of poverty and unsustainability.
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The speakers and organisations holding sessions during Fair ideas are experts in the field and can throw light on what’s happening now around the world. They are also well placed to listen and act on opportunities which emerge during the event.
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IIED is committed to translating our expertise and convening capacity into a wider movement for change. We see the Rio summit as the start of a process which can lead to real change from local to global levels, and Fair ideas is an important step in this direction.
Over 2000 people are expected to attend and registering will mean getting into the event much quicker.
Brazilian Environment Minister confirmed guest speaker
The opening plenary will be led by the Brazilian Environment Minister, Isabella Teixeira and will include reflections on major trends in environment and development since the last summit, as well as considerations of likely outcomes from the official Rio+20 summit. It will open up debate on how best we are to address the challenge ahead, given the tight planetary boundaries faced. And it will ask how to gain political weight behind the green economy, and the design of a set of Sustainable Development Goals, by 2015.
We now have over 20 high profile speakers confirmed, including:
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Ida Auken, Minister of the Environment, Denmark
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Gro Harlem Brundtland, ex Prime Minister, Norway and Chair of the World Commission on Environment and Development
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Eduardo Braga, Senator and leader of the Senate, Brazil
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Achim Steiner, Executive Director UN Environment Programme
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Rene Castro, Minister of Environment, Costa Rica
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Jan McAlpine, Director UN Forum on Forests
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Christian Friis-Bach, Minister of Development, Denmark
Spread the word
We want
Fair ideas to add real momentum to the official summit and stimulate the conversations that will lead to lasting change - and we need you to join us to share your ideas. Please forward this to anyone you think will be interested in joining us to share solutions for a sustainable planet.
Follow us on Twitter for the latest news in the lead up to Fair ideas and we'll also be live tweeting from the event. Take part in the conversation
#fairideas.
We hope to see you in Rio and will be in touch again soon with all the latest news on
Fair ideas.
Fair Ideas Team
We are grateful for the support provided to this event by: the Rockefeller Foundation; PUC; session lead organisations; and IIED’s core donors, Danida (Denmark), DFID (UK), Irish Aid and Sida (Sweden).
