A major summit to transform the prospects for sustainability in the United States and Canada will take place on March 24 and 25 at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies.

The US/Canada Citizens’ Summit for Sustainable Development will host 180 diverse experts, leaders, advocates, entrepreneurs and decision-makers from the United States and Canada for two days of discussions and planning linked to the forthcoming United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, also known as the Rio+20 conference.

Twenty years after the first Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro propelled the environment to the top of the world agenda, Rio+20 is convening in June to secure renewed political commitment for sustainability and address new challenges in green jobs, clean energy, sustainable cities, food, water, and oceans. “In the lead-up to the Rio+20 conference, the Citizens’ Summit will provide a critical platform to develop new approaches and new initiatives to scale up North America’s contribution to global sustainability,” explained Prof. Ben Cashore, a professor of political science at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies and an advisor to the Summit.

The Summit will feature numerous high-level speakers to discuss the past, present, and future of sustainability in the United States and Canada, including Jim Balsillie, the founder and former CEO of RIM/Blackberry and the only private sector member to sit on the U.N. Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Global Sustainability, Daniel C. Esty, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection & Deputy Head of US delegation to the 1992 Earth Summit, and David Runnalls, a distinguished fellow and former Director of the International Institute for Sustainable Development.

Most importantly, the Summit will encourage current and emerging leaders, experts, and entrepreneurs to develop new networks and agendas for change. “Sustainable development isn’t about big government or big business,” said Lindsay Buchanan, a master’s student at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies and one of the organizers of the event. “This Summit is an opportunity for a new generation of trailblazers from all walks of life to help our countries and the world transition towards a greener, more sustainable future.”

There are a limited number of spots still available to attend these two days of discussion, action, and consensus-building: apply to attend the Summit or nominate a leader you know by visiting www.citizenssummit.org. While the Summit is by invitation-only, everyone is encouraged to participate and contribute virtually. Visit the website above for details.

The Summit is being organized by students and faculty at Yale University, in close partnership with the Natural Resources Defense Council, WeCanada, Human Impacts Institute, SustainUs, and Citizens Network for Sustainable Development. To follow the summit on Facebook, search CitizensSummitforSD, and on Twitter at @citizens_summit.

We expect to see you there,
Vanessa
The Citizens Summit Communications Team