Business Models for Small-Scale Farmers and Solutions for Big Cities among the Innovations Put forward at Private Sector Track to Rio+20
Jun 17, 2012 10:30 PM ET
Campaign:
Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum
(3BL Media) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - June 17, 2012 - New ways to bring energy, light and water to the world´s rapidly expanding cities, and possibilities for small-scale farmers to emerge from poverty and feed the world´s growing population, emerged from the third day of the private sector track to the Rio + 20 summit.
By 2050, 75 per cent of the world population will live in urban areas, creating huge infrastructure and sustainability challenges. One of them is that a smaller part of the population will need to grow food for the rest, in a fashion that supports the environment and can cope with anticipated effects of climate change. Organized by the UN Global Compact, the 15-18 June Corporate Sustainability Forum brings together close to 3,000 participants from the private sector, as well as educators, environmentalists and grassroots leaders. Results from the Forum will be reported to the upcoming UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), also taking place in Rio de Janeiro. The Spanish network of businesses participating in the Global Compact convened companies such as Endesa, Telefónica, BBVA and Agbar to present their projects in the areas of smart grids, innovative use of information and the incorporation of new technologies to solve urban water challenges. Marcelo Soria-Rodriguez of the multinational bank BBVA’s Smart Cities unit highlighted how banking data can be used to assist local government in better allocating resources within cities. In a separate event, the results of a global trial of LED public lighting in 12 cities will be presented in a “Lighting the Clean Revolution” report. The results include energy savings as high as 85 per cent, and strong public endorsement of low carbon lighting and its social benefits. Harry Verhaar,senior director at Philips Lighting, and Mark Kenbler, chiefexecutiveof The Climate Group, are expected to make a strong call for an international outdoor lighting standard to drive LED use in cities globally. UN International Fund for Agricultural Development President, and Nigerian national, Kanayo F. Nwanze said today that the UN needs to partner with the private sector. “Private sector investment is the critical ingredient to achieve sustainable agricultural development and food security,” Mr. Nwanze said today. “But it has to be clearly directed toward enabling small farmers to increase their productivity and incomes.” Mr. Nwanze will lead a workshop at the Forum tomorrow on “the sweet spot” -- the experience of smallholder farmers from São Tomé and Príncipe teaming up with a French chocolate company. NGO and private sector representatives came together at the Technology and Knowledge Sharing for Sustainable Agriculture. The discussion demonstrated how innovative technologies, when partnered with knowledge-sharing mechanisms, can positively benefit farmers’ livelihoods, environment and productivity (http://actionforag.org/page/agriculture-green-economy). Examples of successful collaboration for food and nutrition security and announcements of new partnership commitments will be addressed as well. Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Food Security and Nutrition David Nabarro will participate, along with chief sustainability officers Naty Barak, of the drip-irrigation firm Netafim, and Gail Klintworth of Unilever, as well as Jane Nelson, director of the Corporate Responsibility Initiative of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. In other developments at the Global Sustainability Forum today:- Corporations in The Climate Group showcased studies of innovation in clean technology and low-carbon solutions by governments and businesses.
- Grassroots entrepreneurs, big thinkers and fashion industry insiders at the Good Business Models for a Sustainable Future session will include designers Ilaria Venturini Fendi and Oskar Metsavah, who shared experiences in doing real business that is fair, green and benefits the poorest of the poor.
- In 2050, 75 percent of the population will live in cities. Therefore, Cities for a Sustainable Future will be one of the themes of the event organized by the Spanish Global Compact Network, Endesa, Telefónica, BBVA and Agbar, will present their projects in the areas of smart grids, innovative use of information and the incorporation of new technologies to solve today's challenges of urban water.
9:00 AM- 10:30 AM
- The session elucidates the best practices on voluntary based actions or programs that involve Global Compact Network members and related stakeholders for healthier living and better environment, which also engage community as the beneficiaries.
- NGO and private sector representatives came together today at the Technology and Knowledge Sharing for Sustainable Agriculture session to explore impacts of agricultural technologies on farms worldwide. The discussion demonstrated how innovative technologies, when partnered with knowledge-sharing mechanisms, can positively benefit farmer’s livelihoods, environment and productivity. http://actionforag.org/page/agriculture-green-economy
- The Climate Group is joined by international organizations to showcase case studies of innovation in clean technology by governments and businesses. This session is a must-visit for those interested in real low carbon change on the ground.
- Doing good and making a profit just takes the right business model. Join us to create a ground-breaking agenda for action with grassroots entrepreneurs, big thinkers and fashion industry insiders at the Good Business Models for a Sustainable Future session. International designers Ilaria Venturini Fendi and Oskar Metsavaht share their experiences in doing real business that is fair, green and benefit the poorest of the poor.
- For the first time the results of a global trial of LED public lighting in 12 cities are presented in the Lighting the Clean Revolution report. The results include energy savings as high as 85% and strong public endorsement of low carbon lighting and its social benefits
