Follow-up to Rio+20:
Actions & considerations at the Regional
Level
Dialogue of Executive Secretaries with the Second Committee
Dr. Noeleen Heyzer
Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations
and Executive Secretary of ESCAP
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The Rio+20 Challenge
Creating a new, better model for 21st century economies
“With smart public policies, governments can grow their
economies, alleviate poverty, create decent jobs &
accelerate social progress in a way that respects the earth’s
finite resources”
- UNSG Ban Ki-Moon
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Asia-Pacific Regional Context
Home to 3.9 billion (about 56% of global population)
About 46% live in urban areas
About 36% of global GDP and 34% of world exports
Highest regional growth (about 5.6%) in 2011
Almost 40% of global energy demand in 2011
About 80% of global disaster losses in 2011
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Threats to Asia-Pacific Development
Persistent Problems: Poverty, hunger, growing
inequalities, energy, water, health & vulnerable jobs
Emerging Issues: Transboundary issues such as
financial crises, commodity price volatility, natural
disasters & climate change
The “New Normal” of global turbulence, uncertainty,
and volatility
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Asia-Pacific Development
In spite of growth most Asian populations still in rural
areas & employment remains deeply vulnerable
Most Asia-Pacific countries have only limited social
protection systems
Financing for inclusive & sustainable development
Rio+20 has challenged us to go even further
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Regional Development Solutions
Must rebalance & integrate the 3 pillars of
sustainable development
Asia-Pacific already moving to begin this process
Rio+20 Outcome Document: Specific new mandates
for UN Regional Commissions
New Regionalism: Regional Solutions
Expanding South-South & inter-regional cooperation
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ESCAP: Efforts & Initiatives
Intergovernmental: Engagement with Member
States, Role of Annual Commission & Conference
Structure Review
Institutional: Reorienting Flagship Publications,
Strengthening the RCM & Regional/Global State of
Sustainable Development Report
Substantive: Inter Alia: Green Growth, Energy,
Transport, Urbanization, Oceans & Support to LDCs
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ESCAP: Intergovernmental
Engagement with Member States
Focusing the Role of the Annual Commission
Session
Conference Structure Review
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ESCAP: Institutional
Reorienting Flagship Publications: Economic &
Social Survey; Theme Study; Asia-Pacific MDG Report
etc.
Strengthening regional UN coordination through the
Regional Coordination Mechanism (RCM)
Regional & Global State of Sustainable Development
Report
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ESCAP: Substantive
Green Growth: Low Carbon Green Growth Roadmap
Energy: ‘Asian Energy Highway’
Water: Resilient Systems & Economics of Supply
Food Security: Sustainable agriculture & poverty
reduction
Transport: Dry Ports/Regional Connectivity
Oceans: Special Case of the Pacific SIDs
Support to LDC’s: DRR, SPECA & Fragile States
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Conclusion
Sustainable development is a truly generational
opportunity for change
Our ability to shape and contribute to this change has
never been greater.
For Asia and the Pacific, Rio+20 was a key milestone in
our journey to a more inclusive, sustainable and resilient
future.
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Thank you
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