Dr Alice
Odingo, SI Representative to the UN Environment Programme, recently attended two UNEP
consultations in Bonn, Germany, along with SI International Assistant Programme Director, Anusha Santhirasthipam.

On September 1st, our representatives attended the UNEP
Consultation for Rio+20: "Engaging with Major Groups and Stakeholders on Rio+20:
the Role of Civil Society in Shaping the Sustainable Development Agenda for the 21st Century!”. The meeting was meant to
analyse strategic opportunities to contribute to a successful Rio+20
event by increasing the input from Major Stakeholder Groups, including
women, into the Rio+20
preparation process.

The following points were underlined:

• Inter-generational equity, poverty eradication and human well being must sit alongside economic prosperity as equally important goals in the development agenda;
• Economies must operate within the limits of natural resources, taking into account the capacity of the environment;
• There is an urgent
  need for new indicators of sustainable development which are more
  environmentally sensitive;
• Community
  participation is essential to the sustainable development agenda (read the DPI/NGO news stories for more information on this);
• International systems need to be re-designed to ensure food security and energy security;
• Sustainable
  development must be inter-ministerial concern to ensure a holistic approach.

On September 2nd, our representatives attended the UNEP Regional consultation for Europe. The meeting was opened by Jeremy Wates, European
Environment Bureau, with the same objectives as above, in addition to seeking
the views of stakeholders on topics to be discussed at the 13th Session of the UNEP Governing Council and other regional challenges specific to Europe. The meeting emphasised the importantance of realising that the per capita carbon foot print and political landscape in Europe has
changed hugely since 1992. Therefore, concrete targets and indicators are required if the proposed eco-efficiency road map is to be realised. 
Further, a treaty or binding document on Environmental Impact Assessment
(EIA) or sustainability was proposed.

It was further emphasised that environmental
movements need to play a major role in Europe to
deal with lack of political will in the region.

The two meetings underscored the need for a new
system of governance which is bottom-up and allows for the major stakeholder
groups to actively participate, alongside governments, in the decision-making
process. The meetings also emphasised the
need for a new approach to indicator sets which reflect the priorities of a sustainable development agenda.
For example, they should be environmentally sensitive, encompass inter-generational equity, social equity
and gender equity, and contribute to economic development whilst shifting the focus away from Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as the sole measure of growth.

A draft statement was made by the women delegates.  Dr Alice Odingo emphasised the need to deal
with escalating per capita carbon foot prints, the need to find suitable region specific indicators to measure sustainable development, and improved
public participation in the sustainable development agenda. She was able to
share the example of the Danish and Kenyan Union project on women and climate
change as a best practice example which has impacted positively on the livelihoods of
many with minimal resources. 

To find out more about the experiences of Alice and Anusha
at this series of meetings, please visit the SoroptiVoice Blog:“From ‘Who?’ to Wow!”

Alice Odingo

SI UN Representative to the UNEP, Nairobi

September 2011