Invitation to an Ice Coalition/Stakeholder Forum Conference with support from DLA Piper
WEDNESDAY 26 OCTOBER 2011 at 3 NOBLE STREET, LONDON EC2V 7EE
Context
The UN Conference on Sustainable Development also referred to as ‘Rio+20’ or the ‘Earth Summit 2012’ will take place in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012, twenty years on from the ground-breaking Rio Earth Summit in 1992. Leaders from all over the world will meet to address some of the most urgent social and environmental challenges of our times.
The Conference has three objectives – to secure renewed political commitment to sustainable development, to review progress towards globally agreed commitments on sustainable development, and to address new and emerging challenges. To complement these overarching objectives there will be a focus on two specific themes – the green economy, and the institutional framework for sustainable development.
Discussion and dialogue on these important issues has been underway in international meetings for some time but there has been little impact in the UK. On 5 and 6 October the UK government held two events, one with NGOs and the other with businesses to discuss the issues. Meanwhile, the UN has invited contributions from governments and NGOs to the content of the final outcome document of the Rio summit known as the ‘zero draft’. The deadline for these submissions is 1 November 2011.
This event will provide the opportunity for different groups to discuss their proposals and seek support for them prior to the deadline; for distinguished speakers to stimulate further discussion on the two themes; and for the ICE Coalition to show how an International Court for the Environment would complement the institutional framework for sustainable development.
Objectives
To provide an opportunity for discussion around the themes of the Rio 2012 summit, in particular
- To provide a forum for distinguished speakers from a range of backgrounds and professionalisms to stimulate discussion on the Rio 2012 themes
- To enable UK NGOs concerned about the outcomes of the Rio 2012 summit to seek support for their contributions to UN zero draft
- To launch the BOND DEG contribution to the UN zero draft for Rio 2012
- To build a wider understanding of the importance of the Rio 2012 summit.
- For the ICE Coalition to garner support for the proposal for an International Court for the Environment
Audience
We have invited representatives of the UK Government and Parliament, environment and development NGOs, environmental lawyers, business/industry leaders with an interest in environmental issues, Trade Unions.
Speakers
Confirmed: Lord Giddens, author, “The Politics of Climate Change” (2nd edition just published)
Invited: Caroline Spelman MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Mary Creagh, Shadow S of S for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Joan Whalley, Chair, Environmental Audit Committee; Peter Roderick, Legal Consultant for WWF; John Wotton, Law Society President
Programme
Morning
1000 Arrival, registration and coffee
1045 Introductions and welcomes from DLA Piper, ICE, Stakeholder Forum
1100 NGOs discuss their policy priorities for Rio with time for discussion and questions and opportunities for participants to sign up to the policy narratives that they support.
1330 Lunch and networking
Afternoon
1500 Distinguished speakers
1600 Break
1630 Distinguished speakers
1730 Concluding remarks by DLA Piper, ICE, Stakeholder Forum
1800 Reception hosted by DLA Piper
ICE Coalition
The ICE Coalition is campaigning for an International Court for the Environment. See our website http://icecoalition.com/
We are advised by our International Advisory Council whose members are: Lord Giddens, Sir Crispin Tickell, Sir David King, Teresa Hitchcock, Nigel Howarth, Caroline Lucas MP, Isabel Hilton, Jarvis Cocker, Professor John Schellnhuber, Professor Peter Spencer, Professor Richard Fortey, Sir Jonathon Porritt, Fabio Feldman.
RSVP
Jon Brewer at DLA Piper, email [email protected]
