President Barack Obama is not yet committed to attend.
Does your country have a Rio+20 preparatory committee?
The United States does not have a formal Rio+20 preparatory committee
Has your country completed a sustainable development review?
The United States is currently conducting a sustainable development review
Is your country planning on announcing new initiatives at Rio?
Along with other governments, the United States agreed to initiate and fund a new international research coordination venture for ocean acidification. The Ocean Acidification International Coordination Center will serve as an important means by which to coordinate and carry out activities that will help us develop a more comprehensive understanding of the global effects of ocean acidification. Although there is already a tremendous amount of ongoing research and science to study ocean acidification, there is a clear need for enhanced international cooperation and coordination on this issue.
This office will increase international collaboration and data sharing on research, monitoring, and observations so as to better understand and predict the effects of ocean acidification on the marine environment. This will be especially important with regard to the effects on shell-forming organism and coral reefs, marine biodiversity, and food security. Read more here.
The U.S.-Africa Clean Energy Finance Initiative (US-ACEF)is an innovative financing mechanism developed by the U.S. State Department, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA). The initiative aligns US Government resource in new ways in order to catalyze much-needed private sector investment in clean energy projects in Africa. US-ACEF represents an unprecented model of cooperation within the US Government with the potential to be replicated in other regions and sectors. Read more here.
The United States joined a partnership with the Consumer Goods Forum, which represents more than 600 retail, manufacturing and other companies with annual revenues of $3.1 trillion, to achieve the goal of zero net deforestation in their supply chains by 2020. The forum companies are major purchasers of soya, palm oil, beef, paper, and board - all of which driving degradation of forest.. This initiative will raise yields and production on existing agricultural lands, conserve and monitor forests, improve enforcement and governance, and create market incentives for sustainable production through procurement, investment, and lending programs. The next step in the development of this partnership will be a dialogue in Washington this Fall to adopt a set of common recommendations. Read more here
The United States and Italy recently announced the launch of Lighting India, which will to bring modern lighting services to two million people in India by the end of 2015, in affiliation with The Global Lighting and Energy Access Partnership (Global LEAP).
In March 2011, President Obama and President Rousseff announced the creation of the U.S.-Brazil Joint Initiative on Urban Sustainability (JIUS), an innovative public-private partnership for catalyzing investment in sustainable urban infrastructure and expanding markets for clean technology, products and services. JIUS highlights examples of policy instruments, financial mechanisms, and projects from Rio de Janeiro and Philadelphia that can serve as building blocks for other communities seeking new sustainable development strategies. Read more here.
What is your vision for success at Rio+20?
The United States would like to see active participation from all delegations and the involvement of civil society
