Heads of State, Ministers and academics from across the world are arriving in New Delhi, India for the 2012 Delhi Sustainable Development Summit (DSDS), to be held 2-4 February. This year’s summit titled ‘Protecting the Global Commons: 20 years post Rio’ is a landmark event in the run-up to the Rio+20 Conference to be held in June later this year. It will take stock of what has been achieved and what more urgently needs to be done to achieve ‘sustainable development’.

As Dr Pachauri, Director-General of TERI has said: “The Rio Summit of 1992 was a rallying point for those concerned with the planetary crisis faced on account of mounting neglect in this area, but sadly actions since Rio have been far below expectations. It is, therefore, appropriate that DSDS 2012 focus on this major theme, 20 years since Rio and help evolve strategies, by which the neglect of the past can be addressed effectively and urgently in the immediate future".

CDKN is a partner of the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit and ensuring that the debate and discussion goes beyond the conference venue. CDKN is supporting the live online streaming of the event through OneWorld South Asia as well reporting and blogs from conference participants.

Heads of State from India, Botswana, Guyana and beyond will be delivering key note addresses on the state of the international climate regime while Ministers from across the world will be showcasing what action is being taken at the local and national level and the gaps that still exist.

CDKN’s Asia Director Ali T Sheikh will be participating on a panel session titled ‘Overcoming the Divide: Global North vs Global South’ where he will be discussing how developing countries need to forge their own path of development which is low-carbon and climate resilient. He will also be showcasing best practices from CDKN and our partners’ work on innovative tools and processes to support climate compatible development.

In advance of the summit, read today’s blogs reflecting on what progress has been made since the Rio+20 comments include those from Bittu Sahgal, Editor of Sanctuary Asia, Gro Harlem Brundtland, author of the pioneering 1987 report Our Common Future, David Molden, Director-General of ICIMOD, and Ranjana Saikia, Director at TERI.

There are also interviews from Fiza Farhan, Chief Operating Officer of Pakistan-based Buksh Foundation, Björn Stigson, Advisor to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) on what they hope the DSDS will achieve.

Also, listen to hindi audio programmes and interviews on the key issues being discussed at the Summit.