The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD or Rio+20) will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, marking the 20th anniversary of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED).

Working closely with partners in Brazil and with global networks and alliances, the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) will host a major conference ‘Fair ideas: Sharing Solutions for a Sustainable Planet’ in Rio de Janeiro on 16th and 17th of June, 2012. This conference will take place immediately before – and will feed into -- the Rio+20 summit. Fair Ideas will attract more than 2000 people from across the world ranging from policymakers to business representatives and community actors to discuss on key issues.

Development Alternatives Group will be a key contributor to this conference. It will be primarily involved in the following sessions:

June 16th, 2012
14.00 - 15.30: Business Models for Sustainability (Co-Lead)

Aim of the session will be to focus on Sustainable Business Models (that apply business principles for their sustainability and scale-up) like that of the Development Alternatives Group for achieving economic, social and environmental goals.

June 17th, 2012
18.00 - 19.30: Social Enterprise for a Green Economy (Lead)

Aim of the session will be to explore the idea of creating Green Economies with Social Enterprise as the main vehicle. It will also address the tricky question of whether this is considered as a prerequisite for the future or still treated as preference of a few.

Fair Ideas Conference aims to build commitment to the Rio+20 agenda by acting as a platform for stimulating debate and highlighting practical solutions to global challenges. The two days (16-17 June) will see a mix of plenary sessions, panel discussions, seminars, workshops and networking opportunities to add important knowledge, experience and momentum for the official summit. All sessions will contribute to one or more of the event’s key themes: Shaping Sustainable Development Goals; Urbanization that Improves Lives; Business Models for Sustainability; Transforming Economic Systems for People and Planet.

Check out www.fairideas.org and the event flyer attached here to see who all will be there and what action awaits! Hope to see you there!