Rio+20 – an opportunity

Building NCDs into sustainable development

Today, 20 June 2012, is the start of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (‘Rio+20’), 20 years since the historic ‘Earth Summit’, in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The 1992 Summit put people at the centre of concerns for sustainable development – entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature. The outcomes of the conference will form a major part of the development agenda after 2015 (when the Millennium Development Goals are due to come to an end).

Many in the health world are calling for health issues to be more closely tied into sustainability. In particular, non-communicable diseases need to be better integrated into existing and future sustainable development policies and frameworks. There are many links between NCDs and the environment (for example, agricultural policies that ensure food security and prevent land degradation, as well as improving urban planning to encourage healthy cities, and policies to reduce pollution and ensure clean energy). In addition, NCDs impact greatly on the finances of individual families as well as the economies of nations. Acknowledging and acting on these links will help to foster sustainable development that factors in the increasing global epidemic of NCDs. A useful document on ‘Tackling NCDs to enhance sustainable development’ has also been produced by the NCD Alliance, highlighting three priority areas for integrated intervetions: nutritious food for all, clean energy, and healthy cities (click here >>).

Side events on NCDs are also being held at Rio to coincide with the meeting.

• The Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership, the Global Health Council, the NCD Alliance, Novo Nordisk and Sustainia are holding a meeting on ‘Next generation living: exploring integrated solutions to NCD prevention and sustainable development’, to illustrate how preventing NCDs will help to foster sustainable development, and identify key priorities for future partnerships.
• The American Cancer Society and the NCD Alliance are holding a panel discussion on ‘Health within the green economy: multisectoral frameworks for NCD control and sustainable development’, with panellists including the Brazilian director of NCD prevention and control.

C3 will report further on the Summit as it progresses.

Sources: Haines et al., ‘From the Earth Summit to Rio+20: integration of health and sustainable development’, The Lancet, 9 June 2012; NCD Alliance website and Tackling NCDs to enhance sustainable development’ briefing paper.

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