In June 2012, Brazil will host the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, known as Rio+20.

The time is right: there are clear signs that the current development models must be reformulated. Countries - regardless of their wealth - face serious economic and financial crises, social inequality, hunger, unemployment, losses in biodiversity and climate change. These multiple crises point to the timely and urgent need to implement sustainable development models: national projects that take a balanced and integrated approach to economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection.

Rio+20 will be an opportunity to hold this discussion at the highest level. The conference will be fundamentally different from its predecessor, Rio 92. The summit held 20 years ago represented the final stages of long negotiation processes that culminated in the signing of important documents and conventions. While Rio 92 was a destination point, Rio+20 may be considered a point of departure. Rio+20 looks to the future, building a new sustainable development agenda.