The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) submitted the "The IGES Proposal for Rio+20" to UNDESA (Rio+20 Secretariat) on 1 November as an input to the compilation document of the outcome document of the Rio+20 to be held in June 2012.

"The IGES Proposal for Rio+20" captures the experience of the triple disaster of 11 March 2011 in Japan as one of the significant lessons to be drawn at Rio+20, and points out that strengthening resilience in environmental, economic, and social dimensions is an important and global challenge for achieving sustainable development.

In this regard, the proposal provides key messages on the themes of Rio+20 from the Asia-Pacific perspective of an area facing rapid economic growth and its associated social and environmental changes. To achieve the transition to green economy, IGES recommends introducing safe, secure, low-carbon energy through a phased approach and promoting a change in consumption patterns. To enhance the Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development, IGES proposes strengthening United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and creating a relatively small regional organisation or focal point to improve environmental cooperation in Asia.

The United Nations started drafting an outcome document, which is expected to be agreed upon at Rio+20, based upon the inputs from member states, international organisations and civil society organisations, including this IGES Proposal. IGES launches the Issue Brief series as contributing to the negotiations of the Rio+20 outcome document.