International UN-Water Conference Water in the Green Economy in Practice: Towards Rio+20. Conference background: Roadmap towards Rio+20 | International Decade for Action 'Water for Life' 2005-2015

International UN-Water Conference. Water in the Green Economy in Practice: Towards Rio+20. 3-5 October 2011

The Roadmap towards Rio+20

UNEP´s Green Economy Initiative highlights that the multi-trillion dollar stimulus packages could, if targeted at environmental investments, be deployed to revive the global economy, save and create employment, while also assisting in addressing emerging environmental challenges. UNEP values the investment needed at about 2% of the world's GDP. About 2/3 will be energy related. Such investments coupled with domestic policy reforms in some key areas and the development of international policy and market infrastructure, could set the stage for a transition to a truly 'green economy': one which achieves increasing wealth, provides decent employment, successfully tackles inequities and persistent poverty, and reduces ecological scarcities and climate risks. Greening the economy across a range of sectors can drive economy recovery and growth, and lead to future prosperity and job creation, while at the same time addressing social inequalities and environmental challenges.

There are a number of important global landmarks in the roadmap towards Rio+20 specifically related to water and the green economy.

Date	Place	Organizers	Title	Role
7 March 2011	New York U.S.A.	UN-Water and UNSGAB	Official Side Event at the 2nd UNCSD 2012 Prep Com 'How the Green Economy depends on Water'	First Identification of key challenges (warming up)
20 March 2011	Cape Town South Africa	Korean Government and World Water Council with OECD	World Water Day 2011: Side Event "Water and Green Growth"	THE APPROACHES: Presentation of national approaches and approaches from different international organizations. Preparation of the World Water Forum
21-27 August 2011	Stockholm, Sweden	SIWI	2011 World Water Week UN-Water Round Tables Rio+20 day. Stockholm Statement to Rio+20 Summit Stakeholder dialogue	Political debate Analysis of key objectives and strategies for water and green growth. Discussion on beyond 2015 in the stakeholder dialogue
21-23 Sept. 2011	Astana, Kazakhstan	UNECE	The Seventh Ministerial Conference "Environment for Europe" main theme: water in the green economy	EUROPE: Specific challenges and best practices in Europe on water and the green economy
3-5 October 2011	Zaragoza, Spain	UNW-DPAC	Water in the Green Economy in practice: Towards Rio+20	EXAMPLES OF USE OF TOOLS: Providing examples of how specific tools have been used in practice to deal with the green growth challenges (input to the toolkit)
25-26 October 2011	Paris	OCDE	OECD Global Forum on Environment: Making Water Reform Happen	GOVERNANCE: Addressing the specific governance challenges in water and green growth
16-18 November 2011	Bonn Germany	German Government	Bonn 2011 The Water, Energy and Food Security Nexus. Solutions for the Green Economy.	COHERENCE AND COORDINATION of water, agriculture and energy policies
22 March 2012	Marseille, France	France and World Water Council	6th World Water Forum	Steps in achieving targets – contribution to roadmap.
22 March 2012	To be decided	FAO on behalf of UN-Water	World Water Day	Water and Food Security
4-6 June 2012	Rio, Brazil	UN DESA	UNCSD: United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development: Rio+20	Final presentation of proposals on objectives beyond 2015 Presentation of report on monitoring progress in IWRM

Other specific meetings in preparation for Rio+20 where water will/can be discussed

Date	Place	Organizers	Title
3 October-23 December 2011	New York USA	PGA UN Secretariat	2nd Committee of the 66th General Assembly
15-16 December 2011	New York USA	UN Secretariat	2nd Intersessional Meeting of UNCSD
26-27 March 2012	New York USA	UN Secretariat	3rd Intersessional Meeting of UNCSD
28-30 May 2012	Rio de Janeiro Brazil	UN DESA	3rd Preparatory Committee Meeting UNCSD