In focus #4 The future local and regional governments want: Rio+20
The first Earth Summit in 1992 achieved wide consensus and was considered a major step forward in the understanding of environmental issues and their broader impact. It also re-affirmed the growing awareness of non-state actors, through the formal recognition of stakeholders through Major Groups among which local authorities are mentioned in chapter 28.
Over twenty years, the challenges faced by the world have changed and local and regional governments are more than ever recognized as key stakeholders in sustainable development policies.
In this context, UCLG and UNHabitat, with the support of Cities Alliance and UNACLA, gathered local and regional government leaders and networks in New York on 23rd April where 8 joint recommendations were presented to the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, to other UN officials and to the 29 states members of the Group of Friends of Sustainable Cities. The meeting allowed the networks to unify messages before the negotiating parties for Rio+20 and increased the profile of local and regional authorities in the final days of the negotiation. High-level Session of Cities, metropolises, regions and their associations United Nations Headquarters - New York 23 April 2012
32
LOCAL AND REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS, PARTNERS FOR THE GLOBAL AGENDA | www.uclg.org