Rio+20
Posts relating to Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. The DE USRG are providing the web infrastructure for the @UniSouthampton presence at Rio+20.
Humbled, Troubled and Inspired in Rio
by Sotonde
By Professor Guy Poppy
Director of Multidisciplinary Research at the University of Southampton
Guy Poppy at Rio+20 Earth Summit 'Looking down on Rio De Janeiro - a city of contrasts in so many ways. I've been humbled, troubled and inspired in Rio'
I write this blog sitting in a hotel lobby in Copacabana as the staff prepare for the arrival of the worldâs political leaders. Iâve already seen the retinue around the King of Sweden, the red carpet treatment at waiting and the bouquets of flowers which are ever present as those in a position to make historic decisions arrive in Rio. So why does this trouble me? The Rio+20 Earth Summit is about equality and justice for the poor as much as it is sustainable development and the environment. The move from poor and clean often rises through rich and dirty before it can become rich and clean. We realise that sustainable development means trying to climb this curve without going over the top â somehow trying to tunnel through to the richer and cleaner society. Rio is a city full of contrasts â the super rich live next to those in the favelas and the dangerous side of Rio involves both communities who often blame each other for the crime statistics. Returning to my hotel lobby, it is interesting to see the powerful people of the world arriving to make decisions which affect the poor of the world. Letâs hope the huge transformation in the business world represented here in Rio sends a message that economic growth and prosperity can go hand-in-hand with sustainable development!
Being in Rio has been a humbling experience for me in many ways. I have met and listened to brilliant people who have really made a difference and the younger generation seems to be even more engaged in the debate and search for solutions. Mohan Munasinghe has been a monumental figure in sustainable development and coined the term sustainomics at Rio 92 and was also awarded the Nobel Prize with Al Gore for his role as Vice Chair of the IPPC AR4. I was fortunate to share the stage with Mohan and felt humble in his presence. I spoke about Global Food Security and introduced our new Assets project which will try to deliver food, nutritional and ecological security to over 2 million people in Colombia and Malawi. I am so energised to really make this project deliver world-leading science which makes a real difference to people across the world.
The session was held in the opulent botanical gardens and included the CEO of Vale and the Brazilian Minister of Science and the Minister of the Environment, both of whom gave excellent and passionate speeches. The sessions also included many people from the green cross, the global reporting initiative and other bodies/fora in any list of influential bodies concerning global environmental issues. These inspirational people are showing leadership and are generating the solutions the world needs. Yet, they are going home now as the political leaders and their retinues arrive. The sign of good leadership is to do right things and to offer solutions and not just mention the challenges. Â Letâs hope the people called leaders show leadership in the same sense as those now leaving Rio prior to the summit itself.
I return to Southampton and the UK inspired to generate solutions. In the words of Professor Munasinghe âWe cannot solve the problems of the 21st Century using the tools of the 20th centuryâ.  During the reception, Mohan and I shared our experiences of undertaking multidisciplinary research and he has agreed to visit me in Southampton – I will ask him to give one of our multidisciplinary research seminars we are launching in the autumn 2012. Science has much to offer, especially multidisciplinary approaches.  My new role as Director of Multidisciplinary Research at Southampton has made me proud that our university has shown leadership in promoting multidisciplinary research and the creation of the University Strategic Research Groups has already generated solutions, impact at many levels and a community embracing the worldâs grand challenges. A University like ours is best placed to undertake research and education which will generate the solutions and personnel able to make a difference. Our political masters are looking to us as much as we are looking to them to make the right decisions. Letâs hope there will be no need for a Rio+40.
Follow me on twitter @GuyPoppy1
Related research projects- ESPA Assetsproject âAttaining Sustainable Services from Ecosystems.
@GuyPoppy1 tweets from Rio+20
by Sotonde
Blog posts from Guy Poppy at Rio+20 are available here.
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The Road to Rio
by Sotonde
By Professor Guy Poppy
Director of Multidisciplinary Research at the University of Southampton
Having the opportunity to attend events at the Rio+20 Earth Summit is both exciting and worrying. It has been twenty years since Rio 92, which set the stage for many of the major targets, goals and policies we see in the world relating to the environment and poverty. So where are we now twenty years later and what will Rio +20 achieve which does not require/necessitate a Rio +40? These thoughts and questions were filling my mind as I flew to Rio late on Saturday night. Taking part in such a potentially important meeting in human history was an honour for me after years of undertaking pure academic research and now realising that applying this work to the âGrand Challengesâ was the best way in which Universities can really contribute to civil society, government and business. That is what we are doing at University of Southampton in our university strategic research groups and I am pleased that important progress is being made in this exciting new part of the Universityâs strategy.
Guy Poppy at the Rio +20 Earth Summit
On my journey to Rio, the plane was full of people coming to Rio+20 and we engaged in discussions about the summit itself and whether our political leaders will rise to the challenge to shape how we can reduce poverty, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection on an ever more crowded planet to get to the future we want. Whilst the view is pessimistic about our politicians, the civil society and business delegates at Rio will make a difference. It is in these meetings where knowledge, ideas and the pressure will grow. We are all in this together, but we as individuals can make a difference. It is worth looking at your personal consumption and lifestyle and telling others how they can help â our leaders will then not be able to ignore our thoughts and beliefs and will do what is right, even when it involves tough decisions. This is the sign of good leadership.
On arriving into Rio early in the morning, I decided to walk along Copacabana beach to get some sunlight. What a beautiful place with such beautiful people! Rio is the perfect setting to discuss protecting the earth and ensuring that mankind lives within its boundaries.  Since Rio 92, the population has grown by 26% and today stands at a staggering 7 billion. That presents a huge environmental problem for our limited planet. We currently need 1.5 earths to support our consumption and that is growing towards three!
Today, I have been given a t-shirt and hat from a union parade representing the Brazilian people. This was a great experience and reminds me of the importance of civil society. Unfortunately, I cannot understand the commentary but the music and passion is evident and I am reminded again of the power of human spirit. I thus return to my hotel optimistic and keen to play my part in a potential turning point in society â as UN Secretary General Ban-Ki-Moon has said â Rio+20 Earth Summit is too important to fail.
Follow me on twitter @GuyPoppy1
Related research projects- ESPA Assets project âAttaining Sustainable Services from Ecosystems.