Rio+20 Presents Top-100 Sustainable Solutions

Among the top-100 worldwide technologies/solutions for sustainable cities presented at the Rio+20 conference is the master-planned 600-acre mixed-use Chicago Lakeside development on the site of the former U.S. Steel South Works. The project is led by the Chicago development firm McCaffery Interests. The master plan is by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, in conjunction with Sasaki Associates and Antunovich Associates.

''Sustainia'' is a concept developed by a Scandinavian think tank (Monday Morning) in a collaborative effort with global businesses and foundations to kick start global awareness about creating a sustainable society.

A key element of Sustainia is ''Sustainia100,'' an initiative to compile 100 concrete sustainable technologies and solutions for creating sustainable cities. It's collaboration with the UN Global Compact and Arnold Schwarzenegge's new climate initiative R20 – Regions for Climate Action. R20 promotes and implements projects designed to produce local economic and environmental benefits in the form of reduced energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions; strong local economies; improved public health; and new green jobs. The 100 technologies/solutions www.scribd.com/doc/97807293/Sustainia100, submitted by leading companies, organizations and experts worldwide, were unveiled to heads of state, governments and high-level representatives at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), June 20-22 in Rio de Janeiro.

On hand at Rio+20 were some 150 VIP guests, including Gro Harlem Brundtland, politician, diplomat, physician and sustainable development leader; media mogul Ted Turner, whose $1 billion gift to support UN causes created the United Nations Foundation; and EU Commissioner for Climate Action Connie Hedegaard.

''Sustainia100 is the greatest story never told,'' said Laura Storm, executive director of Sustainia. ''We have solutions available to transform societies into desirable and sustainable hotspots. With Sustainia100, it is our hope that these solutions will inspire and facilitate the political debate around possibilities and not obstacles.''

Sustainia100 is designed as a tangible tool for sustainability professionals, from design firms and developers, to politicians and CEOs. It is described as a complete guide to innovative and available solutions for creating sustainable societies, focusing on city planning, energy, water and waste management, high-tech and transportation.

''I am very excited and inspired by this, as it makes it absolutely clear that our mission is possible; that we do have the ammunition we need to tackle this challenge; that we have what it takes to create fun and attractive societies without destroying our planet,'' added Arnold Schwarzenegger, Honorary Chairman of Sustainia.

One of the Sustainia100 solutions will receive the Sustainia Award. The announcement and award ceremony will take place at the Global Sustainability Forum in Copenhagen in September 2012.