Dominican Republic’s Río + 20 Consultations Underway

Dominican Republic’s Río + 20 Consultations Underway
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic  1/23/2012

With the goal of consulting with representatives of different sectors of society on relevant issues to be discussed at the Río + 20 meeting, a national workshop was held to clarify and nail down the political commitment of the Dominican Republic.

Rio + 20 is an opportunity to assure a safer, fairer, cleaner, greener and more prosperous planet for everyone. Twenty years after the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, where attending countries adopted Agenda 21 with the goal of re-thinking economic growth, social equality and guaranteeing the protection of the environment, …

Participants of the workshop pointed out the progress as well as challenges facing a green economy within the context of sustainable development and the eradication of poverty.

Results of this consultation will form part of the evaluation document on the national situation and the country report being prepared for the upcoming United Nations Sustainable Development Conference to take place in Rio de Janeiro this coming June.

The activity was coordinated by the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development and the Ministry of Foreign Relations in coordination with other public, private and civil society organizations, all of which make up the National Preparatory Committee for Rio + 20.

Rio + 20 is an opportunity to assure a safer, fairer, cleaner, greener and more prosperous planet for everyone. Twenty years after the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, where attending countries adopted Agenda 21 with the goal of re-thinking economic growth, social equality and guaranteeing the protection of the environment, the United Nations is once again bringing together governments, international organizations and important groups in an effort to reach agreements on a series of measures to reduce poverty by promoting decent employment, the use of clean energy and the sustainable use of natural resources.

Participating countries will seek ways to make the transition to an environmentally friendly economy, to protect the ecosystems from the effects of climate change, to make cities more livable and efficient and to increase the use of renewable energy.

The national workshop in the DR was preceded by regional gatherings held in the province of Santiago de los Caballeros for the northern region and in Barahona for the southern area. Local institutions involved in sustainable development in both provinces participated.

The National Preparatory Committee for Rio + 20 also includes the National Energy Commission, the Pontifical Catholic Madre y Maestra University, the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo, the Technology Institute of Santo Domingo, the Agro-Business Group and the National Business Support Network for Environmental Protection.

Other participants include the National Council for Private Enterprise and the following ministries: Public Health, Agriculture, Labor, Women, Youth, Industry and Commerce. The Council on Climate Change, the National Institute of Potable Water, the President’s Cabinet for Social Policy, the National Institute for Hydraulic Resources and the Center for Agriculture, Livestock and Forestry Development are also involved..