Some reflections by former ICMA President Michael Willis on Rio+20 and what it could mean for us

The cover story of the June edition of PM Magazine on Sustainability: the Leadership difference we must provide, made the point that 'events matter'.  One mentioned was Rio+20: a UN Conference on Sustainable Development, which included an evaluation of Agenda 21, the local government call to sustainable development.

So if events matter did this one, and what impacts will it make?

In the lead-up to the event, I participated in an online Rio Dialogues, which was an opportunity for us, ordinary folks, to identify our sustainability priorities.  The online poll identified 10 such priorities, including energy, forests, water, food and nutrition, oceans, fighting poverty, sustainable cities, taxation measures, education, and tax reform.

Quite clearly, the objectives that were set for the conference covered the full gamut of what we have come to understand as sustainable development.  This is reflected in the objectives that were set for it.

 "The objective of the Conference is to secure a renewed political commitment for sustainable development, assess the progress to date and the remaining gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development, and address new and emerging challenges

 The Conference will focus on two themes: (a) a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication; and (b) the institutional framework for sustainable development."

 Thus, on one reading, it was essentially about three things:

1. Political momentum
2. Green economics
3. Governance

So what did Rio+20 achieve?

One answer can be found in the official Outcomes Document, which sets out 'The future we want' in 53 pages of mind-numbing detail, which includes:

•  Eradicating poverty
•  Mainstreaming sustainable development
•  Accelerating achievement of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015
• Recognizing that people are at the centre of sustainable development
• Good governance and the rule of law
• Committing to a green economy "in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, and the institutional framework for sustainable development'
• A broad alliance of people, governments, civil society and the private sector to secure that future.

No surprise then that the official version of the results of the conference painted a fairly rosy picture.  As Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said at a General Assembly meeting at the conclusion of the Conference,

“Let me be clear. Rio+20 was a success.  In Rio, we saw the further evolution of an undeniable global movement for change… (it is) an important victory for multilateralism after months of difficult negotiations.”

Maybe.

Small wonder in a way that by the time I had worked through the various reports and commentaries, I did ask myself "Is sustainability getting too big for our boots?"  Are we endeavoring to move a mountain with a single bulldozer?  How can something so vast have meaning on the ground?

Certainly, some of the other reactions to the conference were equivocal to say the least.

In the view of one commentator, "There were no histrionics, no last minute deals or walkouts.  In fact, no anything really.  The Rio+20 Summit last week ended with barely a whisper."

A reading of the Outcomes Document would also suggest that.  But the same commentator went on to observe that green economics was on everyone's lips.  To quote him once more:

"Rather than fighting the power of capital, or trying to legislate away its environmental downsides, the idea is to harness market forces to turn economies onto a green track. More carrot and less stick."

Green economics may well be the answer on a global stage and given that Rio+20 was a global event, fair enough.

But what does all that mean for cities and city managers: those of us who are on the frontline of translating the philosophies, concepts and principles into sustainable cities and places to live.

Here there is a message of hope.  When addressing Mayors and local government officials at the Rio+20 Global Town Hall Ban Ki-moon laid great importance on the role of cities:

"Global is local, and local is global.  The country is the sum of cities.  If cities do not work, then countries do not work.  The road to sustainability runs through the world's towns and cities.  By building sustainable towns and cities, you will build global sustainability".

In one sense, sustainability is a bit like eating an elephant (or sitting in a bulldozer about to move a mountain of earth): you do it one bite, one shovel load, one step at a time.  And sometimes it requires courage in the face of awful odds.

Here in Australia, we have recently introduced a Carbon Tax.  It has come at a considerable political cost to the federal government, yet was lauded at Rio+20 as leading the way. Sometimes, we do need the inspiration and enthusiasm that can come from stepping outside of our day to day challenges and to focus on the bigger picture.

The importance of Rio+20 is that it drew worldwide attention to sustainable development on an undeniably international stage.  While the pessimist in me wonders if it will produce real change, the optimist knows that without it, our local leadership would risk withering on the vine if we were to believe that we were alone.

Events matter.  This event mattered, and it mattered very much.