Rio summit concludes without important agreements

Talks in Rio come to a close, with many important decisions not taken. This has left many criticising the event, as the future of the planet has not been secured.

The Rio+20 agreement is too weak to tackle social and environmental crises, environment and developmental charities have claimed.

Nations have agreed, following the summit, to spend three years developing sustainable development goals and work towards improving the protecting of marine life in the oceans around the world. However, the summit failed to produce a pledge to eliminate subsidies on fossil fuels. Subsequently, the summit came under criticism.

“We had the leaders of the world here, but they really did not take decisions that will take us forward,” the chief executive of Oxfam GB, Barbara Stocking told the BBC.

“It was a real lack of action that is very worrying, because we know how difficult the situation is in much of the world in terms of environment and poverty, and they did not show the leadership we needed them to bring.”

Similarly, President Michel Martelly, also told the BBC of his disappointment at the outcomes of Rio+20.

“I feel like these poor countries, these countries that are always being hit by catastrophe- things have not changed much,” President Martelly said.

“So on this summit I will say that much more effort needs to be done so we can correctly and precisely come out with resolutions that will have an impact on the lives of people being affected.”

 

Image: Rio | flickr Hector Garcia