High Level Panel on Global Sustainability

Post by Douglas F. Williamson

Gro Harlem Brundtland

In 2010, UN General Secretary Ban Ki Moon convened a High Level panel on Global Sustainability, a group comprised of a variety of experts including world leaders. The panel was tasked with reporting to the Secretary on global sustainability challenges. The group issued its report several months ago in advance of the Rio+20 conference and it included 51 recommendations, including one to use the Earth Charter for discourse on the ethical dimensions of sustainable development. The document was completed by consensus and its endorsement of the Earth Charter shows the declaration's continued relevance to the emerging sustainable future.

Jacob Zuma of South Africa

Sir Richard Branson

Many of the esteemed panels members were present for the meeting, which was packed, and although it wasn't a very interactive dialogue, it was interesting to hear about the process of the report's creation and see all the different minds that contributed. Some of the points that I found compelling were the emphasis on going beyond GDP, some called it GDP plus, and the focus on getting pricing right, meaning integrating all costs and expressing all values including what are now known as externalities, environmental and social. There was also talk of ending subsidies for fossil fuels and youth and women empowerment. All of these points and many more are elaborated in the report. All relevant information can be found at the panel's Web site.