On 20th to 22nd of June, heads of state and key political and economic decision makers came together to try to address the issue of sustainable development at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20. Despite unprecedented mobilisation from youth organisations to secure a deal that could pave the way for a sustainable future, the outcomes were disappointing on most fronts, with the final outcome document “The Future We Want” falling dramatically short of expectations and proposing few tangible measures to bring the world onto a more unsustainable path.
The creation of an Ombudsperson for Future Generations, to speak up for those who don’t have a voice, was notably absent from the final Rio+20 outcome document. Furthermore, parties have decided not to create a World Environment Organisation to address sustainable development, instead choosing to strengthen the current United Nations Environmental Programme. Among the most notable disappointments was the failure to define a clear path towards the development of a “green economy” and an international economic system that is not based on unsustainable growth. Human rights and gender equality organisations also expressed disappointment at a lack of references to sexual and reproductive health and rights in the final outcomes.
One of the few positives for young people was an acknowledgement of the importance of the active participation of young people in decision-making processes and the need for the contribution of youth in order to achieve sustainable development. The document encouraged participating countries to promote sustainable development awareness among young people by promoting programmes for non-formal education. The need for a global employment strategy for youth was also recognised.
The next steps in the struggle for sustainable development and international solidarity are difficult to foresee as, while the Rio+20 outcome document does acknowledge the challenges we are facing, it proposes few solutions. Moreover, the final text does not include any mechanisms to ensure civil society input or monitoring mechanisms for sustainable development goals. What is certain is that young people and the European Youth Forum will continue to fight for sustainable development and our rights for a better future.
