Minister of Science calls for international research effort on sustainability

Brazil’s minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Marco Antonio Raupp, says an international program on sustainability is needed. Speaking yesterday, June 11, at a forum at the Catholic University of Rio (“Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro – PUC-Rio’), in one of many parallel events that will be part of the Rio+20 United Nations Sustainable Development Conference, Raupp said the subject required support from international organizations and that his proposal could perhaps become a reality at the conference.

The minister went on to say that Brazil had an obligation to exercise leadership in the discussions on sustainable development.

“As the host country for Rio 92 and Rio+20, and in light of the economic, social and environmental progress over the last two decades, Brazil has a legitimate right to play a leading role in the effort to reverse the sustainable development standstill,” declared Raupp.

The minister added that Brazil is a superpower in food production and exports, as well as the home to vast biodiversity. For that reason, said Raupp, Brazil should invest in sustainable agriculture and the sustainable use of its biodiverse resources.