More than 300 civil society organizations submitted their proposals for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio2012). In its paper, Social Watch remembered that the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 stated that “the major cause of the continued deterioration of the global environment is the unsustainable pattern of consumption and production, particularly in industrialized countries (...) aggravating poverty and imbalances”, and warned that “this is still true today”.
As part of the preparations for Rio2012, to be held from 4 to 6 June 2012, states and other stakeholders provided before 1 November their contributions to be included in a compilation that will be the basis for the “zero draft” of the outcome document. That draft will be introduced next January.
In their proposals, Social Watch, Eurostep and the Third World Network (TWN) agreed about the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities of the countries as a cornerstone for the implementation of the sustainable development agenda, which they urged to reaffirm in Rio2012.