“Rio+20 should lead to better coherence, integration and implementation in our development efforts,” Mr. Sha, Secretary-General of the conference, told participants at a panel discussing the role of development cooperation to enhance sustainable development.

The panel was held at UN Headquarters in New York as part of the Development Cooperation Forum.

Mr. Sha outlined seven priority areas that have been agreed by Member States and stakeholders that will help guide the creation of a framework to advance green economies. They include poverty eradication and green jobs, energy, water, food security, urbanization, disasters, oceans and seas, as well as climate change and biodiversity.

Mr. Sha emphasized that during informal discussions on the initial draft of the Rio+20 outcome document, there had been a strong call to strengthen south-south cooperation so countries can share the lessons they’ve learned in the seven key aspects.

He also stressed that development cooperation programmes should be driven by recipient countries taking into account their priorities and specific national circumstances.

“Rio+20 therefore is an opportunity for reinvigorating development cooperation,” Mr. Sha said. “Now is the time for an in-depth discussion on how it can better support green growth and sustainable development,” he added.

Source: UN News

In addition to the presentation of Forest Heroes Awards, the ceremony will feature the winners of the 2011 Universal Postal Union letter-writing contest, which drew entries from more than 2 million children and youth worldwide, and the announcement of the winners of the 2011 children’s art contest “Celebrate the Forests”. There will also be film clips from the first-ever award-winning International Forest Film Festival, as well as the launch of the commemorative book Forests for People with 75 articles from 35 countries.

Jan McAlpine, Director of the United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat and a member of the jury panel for the Forest Heroes Awards, said the well-being of forests was a concern for everyone. “Each of us, all 7 billion people on Earth, has our physical, economic and spiritual health tied to forests. We launched the UNFF Forest Heroes Awards for the International Year of Forests 2011 to identify and honour the countless individuals around the world who are dedicating their lives to nurturing forests in quiet and heroic ways. The programme aims to spotlight everyday people working to make positive changes for forests.”

Through many activities, the 2011 International Year of Forests helped promote awareness of the issues confronting the world’s forests and the people who depend on them. Forests cover 31 per cent of the world’s total global land area, store more than 1 trillion tons of carbon and provide livelihoods for more than 1.6 billion people. Deforestation accounts for 12 to 20 per cent of the global greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming.

The UNFF Secretariat received 90 nominations from 41 countries and selected 15 finalists. After a long and difficult deliberation, the jury finally decided on the following regional winners: Africa’s Paul Nzegha Mzeka (Cameroon), Asia’s Shigeatsu Hatakeyama (Japan), Europe’s Anatoly Lebedev (Russian Federation), Latin America’s Paulo Adario (Brazil) and North America’s Rhiannon Tomtishen and Madison Vorva (United States).

The jury decided to add a special award in recognition of the deceased couple José Claudio Ribeiro and Maria do Espírito Santo, two activists tragically murdered in Brazil while trying to protect their natural forests. Each hero embodied innovative approaches and grass-roots initiatives that make a direct impact on the forests to which they have dedicated themselves.

Through education, reforestation, and sustainable bee farming, Mr. Mzeka and his team have helped 30 communities in Cameroon to protect their watersheds and conserve community forests, and he still works tirelessly at the age of 77.

As an oyster fisherman, Mr. Hatakeyama understands the critical role of forests in maintaining clean water for his oyster beds and has become an iconic advocate of sustainable forests and farming practices in Miyagi, an area of Japan recently devastated by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Working through the legislative system, as well as through outreach and education, Mr. Lebedev has successfully campaigned against illegal logging and destructive land practices in the Russian Federation that threatened indigenous communities and Siberian tigers.

Despite death threats and warring interest groups, Mr. Adario has dedicated himself to the protection of rainforests and the forest-dependent communities in the Brazilian Amazon.

As 11-year-old girl scouts, Ms. Tomtishen and Ms. Vorva worked to raise awareness about palm oil, which is linked to the destruction of rainforests and an ingredient used in girl-scout cookies. Now at 16, these inspiring girls are working to educate consumers and persuade multinational companies, such as Kellogg’s and Cargill, to change their supply-chain practices to help reduce deforestation.

While these Forest Heroes come from varied backgrounds, they share a common courage, passion and perseverance that serve as inspiration to anyone wishing to make a difference for forests.

Since its launch in February 2011, global observance of the International Year of Forests has been dedicated to raising public awareness of the vital role of people in sustainable management and catalysing actions in the development and conservation of all types of forests.

The international jury for the Forest Heroes Award comprised senior leaders in the international forest community: Ms. McAlpine; Eduardo Rojas-Briales, Assistant Director-General, Food and Agriculture Organization; Frances Seymour, Director-General, Center for International Forestry Research; Emmanuel Ze Meka, Executive Director, International Tropical Timber Organization; and Jan A. Hartke, the Clinton Foundation.

Source: UN Department of Public Information, News and Media Division

The global economy faces acute uncertainties and volatility, which present serious concerns to all UN Member States. In order to better understand the structural or systemic challenges of the current global economic and financial order, and explore adequate policy responses, the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) held a special briefing in New York, followed by an interactive discussion, to brief Member States on the current economic and financial situation.

At the outset of the discussion, the President of the Council and Chair of the ECOSOC Special Briefing, H.E. Mr. Miloš Koterec (Slovakia) stated, “With growing inequality within and among countries, it is my view that the current development model needs to be revisited… Studies estimate that the global crisis has caused between 47 million and 84 million persons to fall into or remain trapped in poverty. Furthermore, prolonged unemployment affects medium-term growth prospects due to its impact on workers’ income and skills. I believe that a more inclusive and balanced growth strategy should be adopted in order to address these challenges.”

Distinguished economists were invited to share their views and insights on the current global economic situation as well as existing risks and structural fragilities, and propose various policy options for the future. The panel of speakers included Professor Peter Diamond, Professor of Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and 2010 Nobel Laureate in Economics; and Professor Carmen Reinhart, Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Discussions focused on three main areas: 1) Unresolved structural fragilities in the global economy; 2) Alternative development models for sustained growth and job creation; and 3) Global policy coordination to mitigate uncertainties and reduce risk.

Addressing the current highly complex challenges may require urgent, coherent, coordinated and systemic interventions, including appropriate policy responses. However, as the global economy appears to enter into an uncharted area, existing mechanisms for global economic governance have been so far unable to respond effectively.

Many view that the UN, as a legitimate and inclusive forum, should play a more proactive role in coordinating international economic policy-making to mitigate uncertainty to complement the efforts of the G20 and Bretton Woods Institutions.

To foster greater understanding of the prevailing situation, another opportunity for exchanging views continued today at an ECOSOC briefing chaired by H.E. Mr. Koterec. Mr. Vos presented the current global economic outlook and the related policy challenges based on the findings of the recently released World Economic Situation and Prospects 2012.

Sha Zukang, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, told a conference on Saturday at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, that so-called connection technologies – such as the Internet, mobile telephones and text messages – can play a critical role in building a more sustainable future.

The conference, jointly organized by the US Department of State and Stanford University, brought together more than 400 global policymakers, development practitioners and technology innovators and was aimed at exploring how to advance sustainable development in health, environment, agriculture and other fields.

Panel sessions examined the innovation culture, and the role of governments and civil society, in fostering innovation. The three-day conference is being held ahead of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), which is slated to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June.

Mr. Zukang, who is also Secretary-General of Rio+20, pointed out that there were six billion mobile devices worldwide, and 1.2 billion mobile Web users. In 2011, seven trillion mobile phone texts were sent around the globe. By the year 2015, 183 billion smart phone applications are expected to be downloaded.

“These benefits have been vast and profound… connection technologies have enhanced productivity by putting information at our fingertips. They help overcome disadvantages, contributing to social equity. Thanks to these tools, many more groups now enjoy access to essential information, knowledge and services.”

He said connection technologies help complement and enhance traditional education, serving as teaching aids and making it possible to access free textbooks, digital and e-publications.

“My department has projected the world population to reach nine billion by 2050. The resources of our planet will not increase during this span. If we want a future where there is economic growth, equity, social inclusiveness, and environmental sustainability… connection technologies will be critical. We owe our young people, and our children, a hopeful future, a future we all want.”

He called on delegates to advance the sustainable development agenda, through a big push in information and connection technologies. He also urged them to develop and bring new voluntary initiatives to Rio+20.

“I look forward to continued global leadership by the United States in advancing sustainable development. Together we can leverage the transformational power of connection technologies to build a fairer, more sustainable and prosperous world for all,” said Mr. Zukang.

Mr. Zukang said there was a great need to address the digital divide. Experience on the ground strongly suggests that there is a tremendous yearning among the poor – not only for ICTs per se – but also for what ICTs can make possible.

“We must give ICTs the status of basic infrastructure, similar to energy or water. The donor community should review their development policies in the same vein.”

Source: UN News

For the first time, inputs gathered from youth around the world through an extensive online consultation, form the core of the report, entitled Youth Employment: Youth Perspectives on the Pursuit of Decent Work in Changing Times. A total of approximately 1,100 contributions were received during the four-week consultation period. The launch of the report included an interactive panel discussion with questions and comments by young people coming from the social media channels Facebook and Twitter.

Published by UN DESA, “the report explores the transition of young people from schools and training institutions into the labour market,” highlighted Ms. Bas. In 2010, the global youth unemployment rate was 12.6 per cent, dramatically overshadowing the global adult unemployment rate of 4.8 per cent. Even more significant is the crisis in the developing world, home to 87 per cent of the world’s youth, who are often underemployed and working in the informal economy under poor conditions.

The report underlines the social impact of unemployment on youth which includes difficulty in securing independent housing and also accommodations in general, the delay in establishing a family and the lack of participation of young people in the life of society.

The report reveals that young people are worried about the quality and relevance of their education, as mentioned by Amadou, a 24-year-old man from Senegal: “Today it should be easier to find a job because our generation is the most educated but there is an inadequacy between the training offered and the needs of the labour market.”

“Today we have the largest generation of young people the world has ever known,” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. “They are demanding their rights and a greater voice in economic and political life. We need to pull the UN system together like never before to support a new social contract of job-rich economic growth. Let us start with young people.”

In line with the 50th session of the Commission for Social Development, this event is the first in a series of interactive panel discussions to be hosted by the coordinating committee of the International Year of Cooperatives 2012, aimed at raising awareness among national governments on the diverse strengths of cooperative enterprise, and encouraging dialogue between national governments and the cooperative sector.

The panel discussion was organized by UN DESA’s Division for Social Policy and Development and was moderated by H.E. Mr. Juan Pablo de Laiglesia, Permanent Mission of Spain to the UN.

Almeria, an agricultural community located in what was once a historically impoverished area of Southern Spain, was the case-study for the panel discussion. With the establishment of cooperation and interaction between farmers, local agricultural cooperatives sprang up and cooperative banks were established, ushering in a process of development and transforming the poverty ridden area into a vibrant economy.

Ms. Giagnocavo discussed general observations in the networks of cooperatives, the institutional and policy support for cooperatives, and the interaction of a diversity of business forms.

She also touched on the necessity for investment in individual skills, community knowledge and innovation – both technical and social. Emphasis was placed on the fact that economic development in any one area is accompanied by social and cultural transformation, in which, cooperatives have a role to play.

Following yesterday’s event, another interactive panel discussion, “Youth Employment through Entrepreneurship: The Role of Cooperatives” is being held today from 1:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.

Source: UN Cooperatives News

The session, with its priority theme “Poverty eradication”, will be chaired by H.E Mr. Jorge Valero, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and attended by participants from the UN system, member states and numerous NGOs. It will also include a review of relevant UN plans and programmes of action pertaining to the situation of social groups such as: disabled persons, youth, ageing, and the family.

“One cannot talk about poverty eradication without highlighting social and economic inequalities and the need for people’s empowerment and participation,” said H.E. Mr. Miloš Koterec, President of ECOSOC. This is why the Commission will also discuss the emergent issue on youth poverty and unemployment. “With almost one in four young workers unemployed in developed countries, and the majority of young people from developing countries working in the informal economy, the world is experiencing a youth unemployment crisis, which further propagates social unrest and instability,” Mr. Koterec emphasized.

In response to these ongoing challenges, Mr. Sha reiterated, “Our development models should equally confront the persistent challenges of poverty, inequality, social exclusion and demographic change.”

UN Deputy Secretary-General Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro summed up the importance of working towards eradicating poverty, “Development can never be sustainable if it leaves behind millions of people unemployed, poor, hungry and excluded. Development can never be sustainable if ecosystems are damaged in the process.”

The anti-poverty objectives and expected outcomes of the fiftieth session will make a significant contribution towards this year’s events dedicated to the International Year of Sustainable Energy, culminating in the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20, in June 2012.

Highlighting the considerable progress countries have made since the World Summit for Development in 1995, Mr. Sha concluded, “While we acknowledge these remarkable achievements, we still face continued and emerging challenges. Guidance by the Commission on policy action to meet these challenges will be needed, more than ever before.”

• Facing the challenge of measuring the unmeasurable
• Making strides towards extreme poverty eradication
• New ECOSOC President outlines focus for 2012
  

More news stories on topics including: Global dialogue on development; Trends and analysis; Capacity Development

“We need to chart a new, more sustainable course for the future, one that strengthens equality and economic growth while protecting our planet,” he stated. “Sustainable development offers our best chance to change course.”

Speaking at the launch in Addis Ababa of the report prepared by his High-level Panel on Global Sustainability, Mr. Ban stressed that sustainable development is a top priority for his second term of office. Sustainable development offers our best chance to change course.

“Sustainable development is a social, economic and environmental imperative,” he stated. “I call on all sectors of society to join in this effort. We need everyone – government ministers and policymakers, business and civil society leaders, and young people – to work together to create a future worth choosing – a future we want.”

The 22-member panel, established by the Secretary-General in August 2010 to formulate a new blueprint for sustainable development and low-carbon prosperity, was co-chaired by Finnish President Tarja Halonen and South African President Jacob Zuma.

The group’s final report, Resilient People, Resilient Planet: A Future Worth Choosing, contains 56 recommendations to put sustainable development into practice and to make it a part of mainstream economic policy as quickly as possible.

“Today our planet and our world are experiencing the best of times, and the worst of times,” states the report. “The world is experiencing unprecedented prosperity, while the planet is under unprecedented stress.”

It adds that because of the array of overlapping challenges the world faces, it is more urgent than ever to take action to embrace the principles of the sustainable development agenda. “It is time that genuine global action is taken to enable people, markets and governments to make sustainable choices.”

The report calls for integrating social and environmental costs in how the world prices and measures economic activities. It also calls for a set of sustainable development indicators that go beyond the traditional approach of gross domestic product (GDP) and recommends that governments develop and apply a set of “Sustainable Development Goals” that can mobilize global action and help monitor progress.

It underscores the importance of science as an essential guide for decision-making on sustainability issues. It calls on the Secretary-General to lead efforts to produce a regular Global Sustainable Development Outlook report that integrates knowledge across sectors and institutions, and to consider creating a science advisory board or scientific adviser.

“The need to integrate the economic, social and environmental dimensions of development so as to achieve sustainability was clearly defined a quarter of a century ago. It is time to make it happen,” states the report.

“The opportunities for change are vast. We are not passive, helpless victims of the impersonal, determinist forces of history. And the exciting thing is that we can choose our future.”

The report serves as an important contribution to the UN’s work on sustainable development, particularly in preparation for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in Brazil this June.

Source: UN News

The seminar on “Social cohesion in a shifting world”, chaired by DESA’s Development Policy Analysis Division’s Rob Vos and UNDP’s Eva Jespersen, gave an overview of the report “Perspectives in Global Development 2012: Social Cohesion in a Shifting World”, published by the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The OECD Perspectives on Global Development (PGD) is part of a new series of publications from the OECD Development Centre. Each edition identifies, analyses and provides workable policy solutions for a pressing global development challenge. The previous edition published in 2010, “Shifting Wealth,” examined the impact of the rise of large emerging economies on development, inequality and poverty. The shifting wealth and widespread mobilization of citizens calling for justice across the world in 2011 opens up opportunities to discuss importance for social cohesion in fast-growing developing countries.

A cohesive society is one where people are protected against life risks, trust their neighbors and the institutions of the state and can work towards a better future for themselves and their families. Fostering social cohesion is about striving for greater inclusiveness, more civic participation and creating opportunities for upward mobility. It is the glue that holds society together.

For the analysis, social cohesion is built around three key values:  social inclusion, social capital and social mobility. Social inclusion refers to the degree to which all citizens can participate on equal footing in the economic, social and political life, including whether people are protected in times of need. Social capital refers to trust between people and in institutions and the sense of belonging to a society. Social mobility refers to equality of opportunity to get ahead.

How can governments promote social cohesion? The structural transformation of economies brought about by integration into the world economy offers various unprecedented possibilities to foster social cohesion.

“Policies can make a difference” argues Dr. Jütting. New resources are now available and could be invested in social development through better health care, education, social protection and other services. Governments have to rethink social and economic policies to ensure that all citizens have a voice, by fostering civic participation and strengthening democratic institutions.

Furthermore, promoting social cohesion requires the joint involvement and active collaboration of all stakeholders of a society – government, businesses, and civil society to jointly address collective action. “Social cohesion is an end but also a useful means. To go so far without social cohesion, it would be very difficult to maintain the long term growth process,” argued Dr. Jütting.

In the concluding remarks, Mr. Vos underscores “The real question is how we should move forward and what does this mean to social cohesion around the globe? The report is timely as we start the discussion on the post-2015 Development Agenda where we have to take into account both these shifting trends in the global economy and how to address them as a part of our development agenda.”