This issue of South Bulletin focuses solely on the Rio plus 20 Summit held in Brazil and the important follow up actions that were mandated by that Summit.

Although there was negative media portrayal about the Summit, it did have some achievements. At least the Rio principles of 1992 were reaffirmed, including common but differentiated responsibilities. There was an agreed outcome document, something that cannot be taken for granted , after the failure of the WTO to conclude its Doha agenda or the Copenhagen climate meeting.

The Rio+20 also directed the governments to continue negotiating at the UN in New York, to set up a new political forum on sustainable development, a set of sustainable development goals, and a new strategy on finance and the start of a technology mechanism.

As the main article assessing the Summit says, the success of Rio+20 depends on the follow up. Other articles report on the closing session, and on the negotiations on finance and technology which saw a battle between developing and developed countries.The Bulletin also contains reports on the Sustainable Development Dialogues which the South Centre took part in as speakers.To access the whole South Bulletin, please click here