New Sustainable Development Initiative announced by UN Secretary-General

As reported by the UN News Service (http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=42658) the Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, has announced the launch of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), a new independent global network of research centres, universities and technical institutions to help find solutions for some of the world’s most pressing environmental, social and economic problems. It will work with a wide range of stakeholders, including business, civil society, UN agencies and other international organizations to identify and share the best solutions to achieve sustainable development.

The SDSN, which is part of the work undertaken in response to the mandate on post-2015 and the outcome of the Rio + 20 Conference, will begin its work immediately under the direction of Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs, director of the Earth Institute and Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General on the Millennium Development Goals. It will operate in close coordination with the High-level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda announced by the UN last week and will provide an independent global, open and inclusive process to support and scale up problem solving at local, national and global levels. Ted Turner, global business leader, philanthropist and founder of CNN and the United Nations Foundation, will also work with other leaders in sustainable development to help guide and advise the network. Substantial emphasis will be placed on collaboration across countries to analyze common problems and learn from each other’s experiences.