“From Burden Bearing to Opportunity Sharing: Reframing Environmental Negotiations”
Monday, 18 June
19:30 – 21:00
P3-F, Rio Centro
Rio de Janeiro
Brazil
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From Burden Bearing to Opportunity Sharing: Reframing Environmental Negotiations
Since the first Earth Summit in Rio, the focus of governmental efforts has
primarily been on the economic and environmental pillars of sustainable
development, but the social pillar needs much more attention. The repeated
economic crises demonstrate that the global economy is far from sustainable.
Income inequality has grown, millions still live in poverty, and the natural
environment is highly stressed. International environmental negotiations
have been largely disconnected from international economic affairs and
development programs, and many of these environmental negotiations are mired
in stale debates. The Rio+20 theme of the “green economy” once again places
emphasis on economic development with an environmental flavor. Improvement
of the human condition is secondary, and the idea of the “green economy”
does not seem to offer any solutions on how to escape the international
gridlock on issues like climate change. A re-framing is badly needed. This
event will explore ideas for how to shift the approach from “burden bearing”
to “opportunity sharing.” The focus will be on how the current negotiations
can shift from a pollution prevention framework to opportunities for
sustainable development through access to cleaner energy technologies,
resilient development, access to fresh water, and improved health. The role
of the World Health Organization’s environmental health indicators in
sustainable development will be discussed.
Panelists include:
Opening: Dr. Bettina
Menne, Climate Change, Sustainable Development and
Green Health Services (CGS), WHO European Centre for Environment and Health,
Bonn, Germany
Moderator: Professor Kelly Sims
Gallagher, The
Fletcher School, Tufts University
Energy for a Shared Development Agenda: Mans
Nilsson, PhD, Stockholm
Environment Institute Sustainable Energy for All: Richenda Van
Leeuwen, United Nations Foundation Clean Energy in the Climate Negotiations:
Jennifer Morgan, World Resources
Institute Globalizing Cleaner Energy Technologies: Professor Kelly Sims
Gallagher, The
Fletcher School, Tufts University Adaptation, Resilience, and Water: Laura
Kuhl, PhD candidate, The
Fletcher School, Tufts University Resilience, Health, and Water: Professor
Elena Naumova,
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts School of
Engineering