Roundtable in run up to Rio+20

The Planet Earth Institute has hosted a high-level roundtable in the House of Lords on (12th June). The roundtable, chaired by Lord Paul Boateng, former UK High Commissioner to South Africa, welcomed over 30 policy experts, politicians and business leaders to discuss the expectations ahead of Rio+20. Professor Paul Younger, Director of the Newcastle Sustainability Institute, began proceedings by outlining the need for greater scientific education in developing nations to embed indigenous expertise within countries.  Internationally renowned author and long-standing env ironmental consultant to the New Scientist Magazine, Fred Pearce, then discussed the increasing problems relating to land rights across Africa.  Dirk Willem te Velde, Head of the Investment and Growth Programme at the Overseas Development Institute, then closed the presentations by addressing the issues involved with inclusive economic growth in emerging countries.  Eminent guests from the Embassies of both Angola and Brazil attended, as well as members from the UK Department for International Development and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Rt Hon. Nick Clegg, who will be leading the UK delegation to Rio+20. Follow up events will be held throughout Rio+20 and again in the UK Parliament on July 12th 2012.The PEI is sending a large delegation from the Global Scientific Committee and Executive Team to Rio+20, to hold a number of events related to education for sustainable development in Africa, Latin America and India. Throughout the conference, PEI will host a major ‘Partnership Fair for Science in Africa’, as well as a series of side events regarding new green vocational programmes across Latin America, in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay.And indigenous groups made sure the Rio summit got off to a colourful start as tribes people from Mayan, Aztec, Brazillian and North American cultures in traditional costumers greeted the 50,000 plus scientists, delegates, business leaders, politician and activists Rio d Janiro. The conference ends on June 22nd and focusses on population growth and consumption.