Brasilia, 28 feb (EFE).-the European Commissioner for climate Connie Hedegaard, action said today in Brasilia that the UN Conference on sustainable development RÃo+20, to be held next June, “can and must” yield concrete results, although it added that everything will depend on the political will.
“Absolutely imperative is that all (world leaders) understand that RÃo+20 can and must achieve results and adopt specific positions” on the relationship between environment and development, Hedegaard said at press conference.
The European official clarified that the Conference to be held in Rio de Janeiro will not be focused exclusively on environmental issues, but noted that it is “impossible” to consider development without taking into account measures to tackle the process of climate change.
Explained that these matters dealt them with foreign relations of Brazil, Antonio Patriota, Minister at a meeting this Monday night and he found in the organizers of RÃo+20 a “perfect harmony” in that sense.
Hedegaard said that during the 20th century the economic and environmental agendas were treated separately, but said that “with the threats that exist in the 21st century” is must understand the need to “end this artificial division”.
The European Commissioner considered that RÃo+20 will raise a discussion “in the future”, but you must still serve to give a strong impetus to various initiatives, such as those aimed at the adoption of the so-called green economy, which proposes less aggressive development models for the environment.
In this regard, said that there was a “huge appetite to reach the green economy” in the world and inspired by this idea models have already been adopted even by “many large companies”, who have made a commitment for the protection of threatened ecosystems and sustainable production methods.
Hedegaard came Monday, when he met an ecological reserve on the outskirts of Brasilia and visited the facilities of a laboratory for research on climate change to Brazil.
During his stay in the capital, will meet with the Minister of environment, Izabella Teixeira, whereupon will depart towards the city of Sao Paulo, where morning interview with regional authorities in that same area.
“Absolutely imperative is that all (world leaders) understand that RÃo+20 can and must achieve results and adopt specific positions” on the relationship between environment and development, said Hedegaard. EFE/file
