Initiative on International Environmental Governance and the Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development

Dear colleagues,

We are writing to share some information on a new major initiative of the Earth System Governance Project related to the upcoming “Rio+20” UN Conference on Sustainable Development.

The Rio conference is less than a year away, and likely to be the biggest intergovernmental event in our field in a decade. What is clear from the preparatory process is that fresh ideas from the policy and academic community are needed. Many proposals are currently being developed.

To further this process, the Project has set up a new online discussion forum on 'international environmental governance' (the key concept used in UNEP reform debates) and on the 'institutional framework for sustainable development' (the key concept at the centre of the "Rio+20" Conference).

We seek here to stimulate debate and share a wide range of online resources to support current reform processes and research efforts. The forum is open for comments and viewpoints. See http://www.ieg.earthsystemgovernance.org for general information, and for more detailed information on how to contribute http://www.ieg.earthsystemgovernance.org/news/2011-05-12/invitation-cont....

The Earth System Governance Project is also compiling a succinct policy-relevant assessment of the state of knowledge about the institutional framework for sustainable development, which is authored by over thirty international experts. This policy assessment, mandated by the four global change research programmes, will serve as a key input to the Rio+20 process. We will share a draft version of this policy assessment on our website soon. More information is at http://www.ieg.earthsystemgovernance.org/news/2011-05-12/policy-assessme....

We are looking forward to your comments, contributions, and feedback!

With best regards,

Frank Biermann, chair, Earth System Governance Project, and VU University Amsterdam and Lund University

Andrea Brock, policy assessment manager, Earth System Governance Project, and VU University Amsterdam

Ruben Zondervan, executive director, Earth System Governance Project, and Lund