The
Seven Critical Issues at Rio+20
In June 2012 world leaders, along with thousands of participants from governments, the international community, the private sector, and NGOs came together to shape the ways we can reduce poverty, advance social equity, and ensure environmental protection on an ever more crowded planet. This meeting, Rio+20, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, also saw IIASA participate in various events.
Discussions at Rio+20 highlighted seven areas which need priority attention; these include energy, sustainable cities, food security and sustainable agriculture, water, oceans, disaster readiness, and decent jobs. This issue of Options presents some of IIASA’s work in each of the seven areas. Our research shows the crucial advice that science can bring to achieving the sustainability goals of Rio+20.
Alternative water futures
Options Magazine, Summer 2012: IIASA is bringing its experience in scenario development and global assessments to a new partnership with UN-Water to explore alternative futures for the world’s water and its use to 2050 More
Preserving ocean resources
Options Magazine, Summer 2012: Preserving ocean resources romoting sustainable management of fisheries and other ocean resources is critical for future generations More
Shared Socioeconomic Pathways: Linking climate
change & socioeconomic development
Options Magazine, Summer 2012: A new cooperative scenarios framework puts climate change into the context of human socioeconomic development, to support the next generation of climate models. More
The Global Energy Assessment: Toward a Sustainable Energy Future
Options Magazine, Summer 2012: A comprehensive, integrated analysis of how to transform energy systems to meet the world’s multiple energy challenges—namely, providing affordable, safe, secure, and environmentally sound energy for all More
The urban energy challenge
Options Magazine, Summer 2012: What can be done to make cities more sustainable in terms of energy? More