Associations 21 s’associe aux débats organisés à Rio par FAIR (Forum pour d’autres indicateurs de richesse), avec une contribution d’Isabelle Cassiers, UCL et FNRS. 2 de ces débats auront lieu au Sommet des Peuples, le 17 et le 19 juin. Le 3ème débat constitue un des side events du sommet officiels, le 21 juin. Tous ces débats auront lieu en anglais.
FAIR Project at Cupula Dos Povos
FAIR: Forum for Alternative Indicators of Riches (France-Belgium)
June 17: “Sustainability indicators for and by citizens: developing and monitoring macro and micro environmental, social and economic indicators with the participation of all stakeholders”
From 9 to 11am, Tenda 26, Patativa do Asseré (code 29256, id. 1039)
The construction of new macro-indicators or micro-indicators for the common good is not a technical issue that can be given to experts. Societal values are at stake in this process and they must be discussed, along with the methods of developing indicators, among all stakeholders. « Expertocracy » must be replaced by democracy.
In the case of organizations, whether public or private, managers continue to affirm that the objective of enterprises is to maximize the financial benefit. But employees, suppliers and customers are affected in their daily lives by the methods used by organizations to pursue their activities. Their understanding is deeper, and many have developed abilities for monitoring the social and environmental impacts of economic and financial activities.
What are the environmental and social indicators needed to balance the emphasis on the financial result? Only the participation of all stakeholders will lead us towards acceptable solutions.
June 19: “Beyond GDP : towards strong sustainability indicators”
From 9 to 11am, tenda 29, Pe Josimo Tavares (code 26606, id. 803)
This issue investigates environmental and social indicators according to their ability to guide us toward a more sustainable world. It provides a critical discussion of monetized and « weak sustainability » indicators such as the ANS, « adjusted net savings » of the World Bank.
The focus on a « green economy » is ambiguous. It needs clarifications as to the main targets. For this purpose, we need relevant indicators of success or failure. Some of them admit that economic progress and green growth, or even financial savings as in the case of China ANS, may offset a loss in natural resources since they are based on a controversial « monetization » of natural assets or « services ».
Others, which rely on a « strong sustainability » assumption, do not accept this substitution. If the global strategy is to preserve and enhance common goods, the strong sustainability should be preferred.
Side Event UNCSD
June 21, 11h-12h30 : “Beyond GDP: towards social and environmental sustainability indicators”
Room: UN6 (Barra Arena)