Rio+20 - United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development

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Brazil, Host country to Rio+20

Rio+20 Dedicated Secretariat

The UN Secretary General in May 2010 nominated the Under-Secretary-General of Economic and Social Affairs as the Secretary-General of the Conference. To support the Bureau and the Conference Secretary-General in steering the preparatory process, a secretariat has been established within the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. The Conference Secretary-General in his functions is supported by two Executive Coordinators and a team of special advisors. The Secretariat?s work is organized under five clusters covering support to the Bureau and delegations; assessment and analysis; national and regional preparations; major groups, outreach and communications; logistics and fund-raising.

Mr. Sha Zukang, Secretary-General of Rio+20

A career diplomat, Mr. Sha Zukang became the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs on 1 July 2007. As such, he heads the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, which is responsible for the follow-up to the major United Nations Summits and Conferences, and services the Second and Third Committees of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council as well as the vast majority of its functional commissions and expert bodies. He also convenes the Executive Committee on Economic and Social Affairs, the UN Secretariat?s network for joint planning and initiatives on development.

Ms. Elizabeth Thompson - Executive Coordinator

Ms. H. Elizabeth Thompson, a former Minister for Energy and Environment of Barbados, was appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations as Executive Coordinator for the UNCSD Rio + 20 Conference and assumed her duties in 7 December 2010 . Ms Thompson also served as Minister for Physical Development and Minister for Health. Ms. Thompson was appointed to the Barbados Senate and was a practising attorney as well as a journalist. In addition, she was a lecturer in ecology, economy, energy and politics. Ms. Thompson graduated from the University of the West Indies and obtained an MBA, with distinction, from the University of Liverpool and a Master of Laws from Robert Gordon University, Scotland.

Mr. Brice Lalonde - Executive Coordinator of Rio+20

Mr. Brice Lalonde is a former French Ambassador for climate change negotiations of France. He was appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations as Executive Coordinator for Rio+ 20 in 1 January 2011. Prior to this, he served as French Minister for the Environment, Chairman of the Round Table for Sustainable Development at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and Senior Adviser for the Environment to the French Government. In addition, he held the position of Director of the Paris office of the Institute for a European Environment Policy. Mr. Lalonde graduated from the Sorbonne University with a degree in classics and law.

Mr. Nikhil Seth - Head of Office

Nikhil Seth is currently the Director of the Division for Sustainable Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).

Juwang Zhu - Special Advisor