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Rio+20: Agreement reached, say diplomats Rio+20: Agreement reached, say diplomats
(about 3 hours later)
By Richard Black Environment correspondent, BBC News, Rio de JaneiroBy Richard Black Environment correspondent, BBC News, Rio de Janeiro
Negotiators have agreed a text to be approved by world leaders meeting this week in Rio at a summit intended to put society on a more sustainable path. Negotiators have agreed a text to be approved by world leaders meeting this week in Rio in a summit intended to put society on a more sustainable path.
Environmental groups and charities working on poverty issues believe the agreement is far too weak. Environment groups and charities working on poverty issues believe the agreement is far too weak.
The Rio+20 gathering comes 20 years after the Earth Summit, also held in the Brazilian city.The Rio+20 gathering comes 20 years after the Earth Summit, also held in the Brazilian city.
The text has yet to be signed off by heads of government and ministers, but it seems that no changes will be made.The text has yet to be signed off by heads of government and ministers, but it seems that no changes will be made.
The European Union was the group most unhappy with what they saw as the low level of ambition in the text. "We have reached the best possible equilibrium at this point; I think we have a very good outcome," said Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota.
"We consider that the spirit of Rio has been kept alive after 20 years."
However, the European Union was unhappy with the level of ambition in the text, in particular Denmark, which holds the EU presidency.
But Danish Environment Minister Ida Auken told BBC News that she believed it would be signed off.But Danish Environment Minister Ida Auken told BBC News that she believed it would be signed off.
"The EU would have liked to see a much more concrete and ambitious outcome, so in that respect I'm not happy with it," she said."The EU would have liked to see a much more concrete and ambitious outcome, so in that respect I'm not happy with it," she said.
"However, we managed to get the green economy on the agenda, and so I think we have a strong foundation for this vision that can drive civil society and the private sector to work in the same direction, to understand that environment and [that] the social side must be integrated into the heart of the economy." "However we managed to get the green economy on the agenda, and so I think we have a strong foundation for this vision that can drive civil society and the private sector to work in the same direction, to understand that environment and the social side must be integrated into the heart of the economy."
As the current holders of the EU presidency, Denmark has been the most strident critic of the lack of ambition in the text that was issued by the Brazilian host government last Friday and discussed over the weekend. For the US, lead negotiator Todd Stern described the deal as "a good step forward", adding that he did not expect heads of state and government to re-open discussions.
"I believe this document is done," he said pointing out that Brazil has "no plan or intention to let the document open up."
DismayDismay
Environmental and developmental groups are dismayed by many aspects of the agreement. Environment and development groups are dismayed by many aspects of the agreement.
In large part, it merely "reaffirms" commitments governments have made previously. In large part, it merely "reaffirms" commitments nations have made previously.
Activists mounted a huge Twitter campaign on Monday in an attempt to persuade governments to make a commitment to end fossil fuel subsidies. Activists mounted a huge Twitter campaign on Monday in an attempt to persuade governments to commit to ending fossil fuel subsidies.
However the final text reaffirms previous commitments to phase them out if they "harmful and inefficient", without setting a date. However the final text reaffirms previous commitments to phase them out if they are "harmful and inefficient", without setting a date.
There will be a limited upgrade for the UN Environment Programme. Corporations will be invited - but not mandated - to report on their environmental and social impact. The text calls for "urgent action" on unsustainable production and consumption, but it gives no detail or a timetable on how this can be achieved, and no clear direction as to how the world economy can be put on a greener path.
A process will be established leading to a set of sustainable development goals (SDGs), to come into affect in 2015 alongside extensions to the current Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Developing countries might have agreed to go further it developed countries had offered tangible financial support, but it did not do so.
The text calls for "urgent action" on unsustainable production and consumption, but it gives no detail, or a timetable, on how this can be achieved, and no clear direction as to how the world economy can be put on a greener path. Several processes will be established leading from the summit. One will eventually establish sustainable development goals (SDGs), but there is nothing in the agreement on what they might promise.
The UK's environment minister, Caroline Spelman, praised the deal on SDGs as a "good outcome".
"We have backed SDGs from the outset and helped drive them from a good idea to a new agreement that will elevate sustainability to the top of the agenda."
The UN Environment Programme will be strengthened, but not fundamentally reshaped, as some governments, in particular the French and Kenyans, wanted.
Another process will eventually lead to new protection for the open oceans, including the establishment of marine protected areas in international waters, and stronger action to prevent illegal fishing.
Corporations will not be obliged to measure their environmental and social performance. They are merely invited to do so.
Missed opportunity?
Overall, observers here, as well as some government delegates, felt the world community has missed an opportunity to change the world's development track.
"This damp squib of a draft negotiating text makes it clear the Rio talks lack the firepower needed to solve the global emergency we're facing," said Friends of the Earth's director of policy and campaigns, Craig Bennett, in Rio."This damp squib of a draft negotiating text makes it clear the Rio talks lack the firepower needed to solve the global emergency we're facing," said Friends of the Earth's director of policy and campaigns, Craig Bennett, in Rio.
"Developed countries have repeatedly failed to live safely within our planet's limits. Now they must wake up to the fact that until we fix our broken economic system we're just papering over the ever-widening cracks.""Developed countries have repeatedly failed to live safely within our planet's limits. Now they must wake up to the fact that until we fix our broken economic system we're just papering over the ever-widening cracks."
More than 100 world leaders are expected in Rio from Wednesday to attend the summit.More than 100 world leaders are expected in Rio from Wednesday to attend the summit.
They include presidents and prime ministers from the large emerging economies, including China, India, Indonesia and South Africa.They include presidents and prime ministers from the large emerging economies, including China, India, Indonesia and South Africa.
But US President Barack Obama will not be there, and neither will UK Prime Minister David Cameron or German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who are all sending ministers in their places.But US President Barack Obama will not be there, and neither will UK Prime Minister David Cameron or German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who are all sending ministers in their places.
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