Launch of the United Nations Environment Programme State of the Environment Report: Global Environmental Outlook (GEO-5)

WASHINGTON, June 4, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- UNEP's flagship publication, Global Environment Outlook (GEO-5) report keeps the state of the global environment under review.  The release of the GEO-5 report, the fifth in the series, is particularly timely and relevant in the lead up to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development or Rio+20, which will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on June 20-22, 2012 – 20 years after the 1992 Earth Summit.   

The GEO-5 report assesses progress towards key goals in the areas of Water, Land, Biodiversity, Atmosphere, Chemicals and Wastes. It also reviews progress made in meeting internationally agreed goals, analyzes successful policy options that have the potential for speeding up their realization, and highlights actions that both countries and the global community can take to advance sustainable development.

WHAT: Press conference launching the GEO-5 Report.  The purpose of the launch is to present the key findings of the GEO-5 report and to highlight its key global recommendations.  The key findings for the North American region will be presented at the press conference.

WHEN: Wednesday, June 6, 2012
10:00 – 11:00 (Eastern Standard Time – EST)

WHERE: National Press Club
529 14th Street NW, Holeman Lounge (13th Floor)
Washington, D.C. 20045

The GEO-5 report will be launched almost simultaneously in UNEP regions, namely in Rio de Janeiro, Nairobi, Addis Ababa, New Delhi, Beijing, New York, Abu Dhabi, Beirut, Geneva and Brussels on the same day.

WHO: Moderator: Elisabeth Guilbaud-Cox, Head of Communications, UNEP Regional Office for North America (UNEP RONA)

• Amy Fraenkel, Director, UNEP RONA
• The Honorable Vincent C. Gray, Mayor, Washington, D.C.
• John Matuszak, Division Chief of Sustainable Development and Multilateral Affairs, Office of Environmental Policy, Bureau of Oceans, Environment and Science, U.S. Department of State
• James Dobrowolski, GEO-5 Chapter Lead Author and National Program Leader, Rangeland and Grassland Ecosystems, Agriculture Water Security, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture

The presentations will be followed by a Q&A session.

Call-in # from USA: 1 (800) 410-4177

Call-in # from outside the USA: 1 (303) 223-2680

A light breakfast will be served

To access the GEO-5 report, please visit: http://www.unep.org/geo/

For more information, please contact: Elisabeth Guilbaud-Cox, Head of Communications, UNEP Regional Office for North America, Tel: (202) 974-1307; Mobile: (202) 812-2100; email: [email protected].

About UNEP's Regional Office for North America
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading authority on the environment within the United Nations system.  RONA's mission is to build support in the region for UNEP's work, to promote effective responses to international environmental challenges and to foster cooperation on environmental issues between North America and the broader international community.  To achieve this mission, RONA's strategy is promote collaboration between UNEP and all sectors of North American society, including U.S. and Canadian governmental institutions, the private sector, non-governmental organizations and other civil society groups.

SOURCE United Nations Environment Programme