Pardee Center Task Force Report, March 2011

Beyond Rio + 20: Governance for a Green Economy

March 2011 (106 pages)
ISBN: 978-0-9825683-8-5
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As an intellectual contribution to the preparations for the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, a.k.a. Rio +20), the Boston University Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future convened a task force of experts to discuss the role of institutions in the actualization of a green economy in the context of sustainable development. A stellar group of experts from academia, government and civil society convened at the Pardee Center and were asked to outline ideas about what the world has learned about institutions for sustainable development from the past, and what we can propose about the governance challenges and opportunities for the continuous development of a green economy in the future. The Task Force members were encouraged to think big and think bold. They were asked to be innovative in their ideas, and maybe even a little irreverent and provocative. They were charged specifically NOT to come to consensus about specific recommendations, but to present a variety and diversity of views. This report presents their thoughts and ideas.

The Task Force Report will be distributed to the delegates at the 2nd Rio+20 PrepCom on March 7-8 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, and is available for download here.

Members of the Pardee Center Task Force and contributors to this report include:

Tom Bigg (International Institute for Environment and Development)
Elizabeth DeSombre (Wellesley College)
Mark Halle (International Institute for Sustainable Development)
J.P. (Hans) Hoogeveen (Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature & Food Quality)
Saleemul Huq (International Institute for Environment and Development)
Bernice Lee (Chatham House)
David Levy (University of Massachusetts at Boston)
Ricardo Melendez-Ortiz (International Center for Trade and Sustainable Development)
Adil Najam (Pardee Center, Boston University)
Henrik Selin (Pardee Center, Boston University)
Stacy VanDeveer (University of New Hampshire)
Patrick Verkooijen (World Bank)
Paul Wapner (American University)