RIO+20
Side agreements pitched as the real meat behind Earth Summit
RIO DE JANEIRO -- This year's reprise of the international Earth Summit here produced hundreds of side agreements that U.N. officials, diplomats and activists cited as evidence that the conference wasn't the washout many claim. The attendees spent much of their time attending side meetings and plenary sessions meant to drum up conversation on sustainable development, a global green economy and how the planet's governments might get on the same page to enact policies that would encourage attention to both concepts.