Let's face it. The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio +20) was a flop -- at least the part that involved negotiations amongst governments.
The official Rio+20 document doesn't call for binding cuts in carbon pollution or set standards for expanding clean energy. We can't rely only on the slow wheels of government to address the urgent problems facing our planet. We must start doing it ourselves.
World leaders are arriving here in Rio to address some of the most daunting issues facing our planet. To be sure, the myriad problems we now face because we haven't taken more action to address global warming and sustainable development can seem daunting. Here's where to start.
Here's to a future with clean beaches and oceans where children will once again be awed by shells and sea creatures, not the remnants of careless consumption.
Citizens around the world are rallying for governments to clearly commit to phase out fossil fuel subsides at Rio+20. And here are some pictures, a video, and tweets which documents this strong public support.
What the world needs now is a dramatic paradigm shift fronted by brave leadership that is willing to guide us through these turbulent times.
We should not be subsidizing the destruction of our planet. Fossil fuels are literally cooking our planet, polluting our air and draining our wallets. Why should we continue to reward companies to do that?
I now have even greater hope that this Earth Summit will be important and historic. But we will have to be able to see how much has changed since the 1992 summit and what is really going on in Rio and the world.
We know how to fish better, reduce pollution, and revive marine life. The question is: will we put these solutions in place? Will our leaders do what it takes to scale up smart strategies and set real, lasting recovery in motion?
We cannot achieve fair and sustainable development unless we dramatically reduce the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change.
The theme of this year's World Oceans Day seems unfortunate: "Youth: the Next Wave for Change." Doesn't that seem like a dangerous passing of the buck?
For the sake of our planet, a conversation that needs to be heard is the one between generations, between elders and young people around the world -- and those who are in between.
What would you do, personally, to defend life on the planet we call home? Would you dedicate your life to the future of life on earth?
Brittany Trilford, a 17 year old school girl from Wellington, New Zealand is the winner of an international search for a person under the age of 30 to represent youth and future generations at the Earth Summit this June 20-22 in Rio De Janeiro.
In less than a month, world leaders will gather in Rio de Janeiro for the United Nation's 2012 Earth Summit. At stake: a new global green deal that could pull our planet back from the brink of irreversible climate change.
What would I actually say to convince them to start fighting for our children's future, rather than the profits of the fossil fuel companies? What would it take to penetrate that armor of business and politics as usual, and wake them up?
More than 1 billion people will call for the protection of our planet today as they gather around the world to celebrate Earth Day. Their mission: to raise support for a more sustainable future as climate change continues to wreak havoc across the globe.
More people in the world are living better, but the natural world that underpins this prosperity is constantly being eroded.
The organizers of the 2012 Summit aim to leave Rio with commitments to work for a green economy that assures sustainable development and the eradication of poverty.
