A more perfect setting could not be asked for. The famous statue of Christ the Redeemer will oversee the proceedings of Rio 2012. This conference marks the 20th anniversary of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, in Rio de Janeiro. So what progress has been made?
Arguably we are in a worse state now then we were 20 years ago: environmental degradation is accelerating at a rapid rate and the poorest will be the worst affected. Incredibly, unlike 1992, world leaders are not being asked to sign any document that would legally commit their countries to meeting any particular targets or timetable. Instead, they will be asked to set their own targets and work voluntarily towards establishing a global green economy. There seems little sense of urgency or ambition to implement changes and Rio 20 risks being more a meet and greet than an agenda for change. This lack of enthusiasm for tackling climate issues is illustrated by the non anttendance of David "greenest government ever" Cameron, despite the date of the summit being changed to avoid a clash with the Queen's diamond jubilee.
Instead, he and many other influential world leaders chose to attend the G20 Summit in Mexico.
"We need an international commitment to end all fossil fuel subsidies now at the Rio+20 summit. There are currently over $450billion in subsidies to burn fossil fuels as well the massive financing of new fossil fuel power stations around the world, which keep us pinned to a path of runaway climate change. Instead the UK should lead in committing to reduce our demand for even more energy consumption and commit to only subsidise and invest in renewable energy."
Jonathan Essex, Green Party Energy Spokesperson
This disparity between the aspirations for the economy and the survival of the planet is the death of a promise made at the first Rio summit twenty years ago, that economic and environmental issues should not be regarded in isolation.
It remains to be seen whether any binding decisions will be made regarding the common vision of the summit, "that with full participation of civil society, renew our commitment to sustainable development, and to ensure the promotion of economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable future for our planet and for present and future generations."
Spending by governments worldwide on fossil fuel subsidies currently total over $1 trillion.