Synthesis report on best practices and lessons learned on the objective and themes of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development

At its first meeting, in May 2010, the Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development decided to seek information, inputs and contributions, including through a questionnaire addressed to Member States, organizations of the United Nations system, international financial institutions, major groups and other stakeholders, on their experiences, including success factors, challenges and risks, with respect to the objective and themes of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. An unedited advance copy of the synthesis report was considered during the intersessional meeting of the Preparatory Committee in January 2011. A total of 108 responses to the questionnaire had been received by 18 January 2011. Of the 49 responses from Member States, 24 were from developed countries, including one common submission from the European Union and its member States, and 25 were from developing countries or countries with economies in transition. Responses were also received from 32 organizations or consolidated networks of major groups and from 27 United Nations system organizations. The present report seeks to synthesize the main points in an objective, balanced and coherent manner based on replies to the questionnaire and other statements, as appropriate.