Publications

The report Roads from Rio+20 analyses how combinations of technological measures and changes in consumption patterns could contribute to achieving a set of sustainability objectives, taking into account the interlinkages between them. The potential exists for achieving all of the objectives. GLOBIO was used to evaluate biodiversity targets under each of the three scenarios of the study.

Since the first Rio Conference twenty years ago, progress has been made in some areas. However, actions have not been able to bend the negative trends in other critical areas of sustainable development – such as hunger, loss of biodiversity, access to energy, climate change and air pollution. This report shows the interconnected pathways of measurements needed to achieve international sustainable development goals after the Rio+20 Conference. The crucial question is how to implement these measurements. The report suggests a pragmatic governance approach consisting of:

• A shared vision for 2050
• Strenghthened short-term targets, based on the long-term vision
• Strong policy actions by governments, building on the strength of civil society and business
• Strengthened global governance through three complementary strategies.

The study was carried out by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency.

GLOBIO contribution

A back-casting methodology has been used to find three different scenarios to achieve global targets on climate change, biodiversity and human development. Biodiversity targets set by the Convention on Biological Diversity have been interpreted in terms of the biodiversity indicator Mean Species Abundance (MSA). GLOBIO was used to evaluate whether the targets can be achieved in the three scenarios. The analysis showed that to achieve these targets, it would take a large effort in all scenarios and a combination of policies, including extension of protected area network, sustainable intensification of agriculture, climate mitigation and changes in life style.