Rio+20

Rio+20: An open letter from the United Nations Foundation - I am writing you this e-mail because I think you are a person of influence.  People listen to you.  I listen to you.  We all know you’re smart and want to follow the things that you think are important. This is why I am inviting you to attend a Summit meeting with me. (Aaron Sherinian, UN Foundation)

Ban Ki-moon: the momentum for change at Rio+20 is irreversible - This week, world leaders gather for a momentous occasion – the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro. Will it be a success? In my opinion, yes. To be sure, the negotiations have been lengthy. Even now there is more disagreement than agreement on the details of the so-called "outcome document" that will emerge. Yet that will not be the defining measure. Far more important is what the Rio conference has already accomplished. And that is to build a global movement for change. (Ban Ki-moon, The Guardian)

Going Green: Pioneering Private Sector Already Embracing Sustainable Future - Businesses making the transition towards the green economy are already reaping rewards worth hundreds of millions of dollars in savings and high return on investment, while benefiting consumers, communities and the environment, says a new report entitled The Business Case for the Green Economy: Sustainable Return on Investment. (Nick Nuttall, UNEP)

Rio+20: 'Encouraging progress' made on outcome document - “Encouraging progress” was made by countries on the final day of the last round of talks aimed at reaching agreement on the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), a UN official said today. (UN News Centre)

Rio+20: 'Extraordinary' coalition warns governments can't go it alone - By their own admission, it is an "extraordinary" group of leaders from across business, NGOs, trade unions and science that have come together to find a new path towards sustainable development. But then again, these are extraordinary times. (Jo Confino, The Guardian)

Rio+20: Prince Charles in climate change warning - The Prince of Wales has warned of the "catastrophic" consequences of inaction on issues such as climate change, at a UN sustainability conference in Brazil. (BBC)

Africa: Putting Forests At the Heart of a New, Greener Economy - The world's forests have a major role to play in the transition to a new, greener economy, a theme being discussed at the Rio+20 Conference. But to spark that shift, governments must enact programs and policies aimed at both unlocking the potential of forests and ensuring that they are sustainably managed, FAO said today. (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)

Why Mashable Is in Rio to Build the Future We Want - The world is round. And now more than ever, we are all connected. This means that we are all responsible for building the future we want. (Stacy Green, Mashable)

Africa: Women and Sustainability - Recognizing the Role of Women At Rio+20 - Nourishing the Planet is collaborating with Women Deliver to highlight the important role of women, youth, and reproductive and sexual rights in sustainable development at the upcoming Rio+20 conference. From sustainable cities to renewable energy, some of the most crucial areas of development policy remain devoid of any mention or dialogue on the issue of women's rights. (Seyyada Burney and Emilie Schnarr, AllAfrica.com)

High-Level Panel on Global Sustainability and The Elders Prepare Declaration for Rio+20 - The Nobel Laureate Symposium Series on Global Sustainability convened an event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, gathering Nobel Laureates, members of the UN Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Global Sustainability (GSP) and members of The Elders to focus on the scientific support for policy action, in particular for the actions contained in the GSP report. (IISD)

Energy access

Power and Progress - We grew up in entirely different regions of the world: one in Norway, the other in Sierra Leone. The gap between our two countries in terms of development could hardly be starker: Norway’s GDP per capita is more than 50 times that of Sierra Leone. (Helge Lund and Kandeh Yumkella, Project Syndicate)

Eight19 to drive energy access at Rio+20 - Eight19 has joined forces with leaders in their respective fields to push for action at the Rio+20 conference to address energy poverty. (Eight19)

Sustainable energy policy

International Solar Energy Survey Reveals Consumer Optimism and Misperceptions - In celebration of the summer solstice on June 20, the day the sun shines for the longest period of time all year in the northern hemisphere, Applied Materials, Inc. today announced the results of its fourth annual solar energy survey, which measures consumers' understanding and awareness of this renewable energy source. (Amaya Wiegert, Reuters)

Rio+20: Coke, Unilever, Other Giants Lead Natural Capital Initiative; Plus a Summit Business News Roundup - The Coca-Cola Company, Dow Chemical and Duke Energy are among 24 major companies that have agreed to develop a methodology to assign value to the world’s forests, freshwater and marine systems. (Environmental Leader)

Denmark Pushes Through First-Ever EU Energy Efficiency Law - With the clock running out on its EU presidency, Denmark achieved on June 13 one of the chief aims of its six months in control of the European agenda. (Justin Gerdes, Forbes)

Renewable energy

India's Jammu and Kashmir Pursuing Massive Hydroelectric Expansion - The government of Jammu & Kashmir reemphasized its commitment to adding about 8,000 MW of hydropower capacity in the next decade, HydroWorld.com has learned. (Michael Harris, Renewable Energy World)

Japan approves renewable subsidies in shift from nuclear power - Japan approved on Monday incentives for renewable energy that could unleash billions of dollars in clean-energy investment and help the world's third-biggest economy shift away from a reliance on nuclear power after the Fukushima disaster. (Reuters)

Renewable energy use surged worldwide last year - Renewable energy reached a big milestone in 2011, surging to a record $257 billion in global investments, the U.N. Environment Program announced, up 17 percent from 2010 and a six fold increase over the past seven years. (Russell McLendon, Phys Org)

Energy efficiency

Sales of electric vehicles in India - The withdrawal of subsidy by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) on March 31 has drastically affected the sales of electric cars. (REVE)

EU Sustainable Energy Week: Commission will present financing opportunities for renewables - Between 18 and 22 June 2012, an estimated 150,000 people across Europe will discuss energy efficiency and renewable energy during the seventh edition of the EU Sustainable Energy Week. (European Commission Press Release)

Green Campus Partners and Citi Launch Financing Solution to Fund Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Projects - Green Campus Partners ("GCP") announced today the closing of a $50 million warehouse funding facility with Citi that will give GCP dedicated capital access to fund energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. (MarketWatch)