Green Cross Returns to Rio:
Developing a sustainable future for the planet and its people
Date/time: 16 June, 9am to 6pm (followed by reception)
Location: Getulio Vargas Foundation Auditorium, Botafogo (map)
20 years after the 1992 Earth Summit, the world’s focus returns to Rio de Janeiro as it seeks solutions to the challenges facing our planet and people, especially on sustainable development.
Green Cross International (GCI), which was born out of the Earth Summit 20 years ago, is joining with partners and experts from many fields at a daylong examination of the major threats and opportunities facing the world today.
How do we overcome the global water crisis, search for safe, renewable energy, promote environmental security and sustainability, enable value change, especially among youth, and deliver social and medical support to affected communities?
These will be the issues tackled by leading civil society and government representatives. Statements from the audience and questions and answer sessions will be part of this interactive event.
Agenda
Morning sessions:
9.30am: Opening and introductory remarks: Alexander Likhotal, President of Green Cross International, and Celso Luiz Claro de Oliveira, President of Green Cross Brazil.
10am: Give Humanity a Chance, Give the Earth Future: Video message by President Mikhail Gorbachev, Founding President and Chairman of Green Cross International.
10.15am: A message for youth and building a sustainable future: Severn Cullis-Suzuki, environmental advocate. (TBC)
Youth and water: the essential elements of life: Jean-Michel Cousteau, President of the Ocean Futures Society, Chairman of Green Cross France et Territoires.
10.45am: From victims to leaders: Accounts by world’s youth on how to overcome and prevent environmental emergencies.
11.30am: The Global Water Crisis – Implications for Access to Water and Sanitation and Cooperation over Shared Water Resources:
- Jean-Michel Cousteau, President and Chairman of the Ocean Futures Society, Chairman of Green Cross France et Territoires.
- Jean-François Donzier, Permanent Technical Secretary, International Network of Basin Organizations.
- Hon. Mohamed Merzoug, High Commissioner of the Organisation pour la Mise en Valeur du Fleuve Senegal (OMVS).
- Hélène Boussard, Research Coordinator, WaterLex.
- Sherifatu Yussif, Ghanaian representative of the World Youth Parliament for Water.
12.30pm-1.45pm: Lunch break (not provided during event)
Afternoon sessions:
2pm: An Ethical Framework for Sustainable Development:
- Mirian Vilela, Executive Director, Earth Charter Initiative.
- Brendan Mackey, Co-Chair, Earth Charter Initiative.
- Xavier Guijarro, Director, Value Change Programme, Green Cross International.
- Mohan Munasinghe, Chairman of the Munasinghe Institute of Development (MIND), former Vice-Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (TBC)
2.45pm: Disarmament and Development: Upscaling arms control, disarmament and nonproliferation globally can help global efforts to meet the MDGs by 2015.
- Paulo Buss, Professor of Health Planning of the National School of Public Health, Oswalda Cruz Foundation, Brazilian representative to the World Health Organization’s Executive Board.
- Paul Walker, Director, Green Cross International Environmental Security and Sustainability programme.
- Others (TBC)
3.30pm: Climate Change and the Need for Action – The work of the Climate Change Task Force: Bill Becker, energy expert, CCTF member and architect of the Future We Want campaign.
4pm: Environmental Emergencies and Sustainable Development:
- Ambassador Toni Frisch, Senior advisor to the Swiss government on Rio+20 and former Chief of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit.
- Arab Hoballah, Chief, Sustainable Consumption and Production Branch of UNEP’s Division of Technology, Industry and Economics.
- Jeff Stys, President, Strategic Decision Associates.
- Vladimir Sakharov, Director, Environmental Emergency Preparedness project, Green Cross International.
- Walter Amman (moderator), President, Global Risk Forum Davos
5pm: Closing remarks: Vandana Shiva (TBC)
6pm: Reception
Important details:
- Registration from 9am and the event starts at 9.30am.
- The event is open to the public and media.
- People can attend the whole day or only sessions of interest to them.
- Green Cross documentation will be available electronically at the event, and selected items will be available in printed form.
- The event will be followed by a reception. No lunch is being provided.
Further information, contact:
- Overall agenda: Adam Koniuszewski, adam.koniuszewski@gci.ch
- Media: Paul Garwood, paul.garwood@gci.ch
- Logistics: Marianne Berner, marianne.berner@gci.ch