Dear GEP-ED colleagues,
We are writing to share some information on a new major initiative related to the upcoming “Rio+20” UN Conference on Sustainable Development. The Rio conference is less than a year away, and likely to be the biggest intergovernmental event in our field in a decade. What is clear from the preparatory process is that fresh ideas from the policy and academic community are needed. Many proposals are currently being developed. The Earth System Governance Project has now been mandated by the four global change research programmes to organise an assessment of the state of knowledge in our field. To further this process, the Project has set up a new online discussion forum on ‘international environmental governance’ (the key concept used in UNEP reform debates) and on the ‘institutional framework for sustainable development’ (the key concept at the centre of the “Rio+20” Conference). We seek here to stimulate debate and share a wide range of online resources to support current reform processes and research efforts. The forum is open for comments and viewpoints by all members from the GEP-ED community. See http://www.ieg.earthsystemgovernance.org/ for general information, and for more detailed information on how to contribute http://www.ieg.earthsystemgovernance.org/news/2011-05-12/invitation-contribute-and-share-comments-and-texts. The Earth System Governance Project is also compiling a succinct policy-relevant assessment of the state of knowledge about the institutional framework for sustainable development, which is authored by over thirty international experts. This policy assessment will serve as a key input to the Rio+20 process. We will share a draft version of this policy assessment on our website soon. More information is at http://www.ieg.earthsystemgovernance.org/news/2011-05-12/policy-assessment-institutional-framework-sustainable-development. The Earth System Governance Project is a core project of the International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change (IHDP)<http://www.ihdp.unu.edu/>. More information on its lead faculty, associate researchers, the Global Alliance of Earth System Governance Research Centres, and upcoming events is at www.earthsystemgovernance.org<http://www.earthsystemgovernance.org/>. You can also get regular updates on the Earth System Governance Project, including its various conferences and events, through our newsletter (subscribe at www.earthsystemgovernance.org<http://www.earthsystemgovernance.org/>), our LinkedIn group ‘Earth System Governance Project’, and at www.facebook.com/earthsystemgovernance<http://www.facebook.com/earthsystemgovernance>. We are looking forward to your comments and feedback! With best regards, Frank Biermann, chair, Earth System Governance Project, and VU University Amsterdam and Lund University Andrea Brock, policy assessment manager, Earth System Governance Project, and VU University Amsterdam Ruben Zondervan, executive director, Earth System Governance Project, and Lund University
