Survey

Goals of the Survey. To collect a set of broad indicators that can be discussed at the May 9th IOM Rio+20 webinar and used to track the progress of health-related goals important for sustainable development. The goals should focus on the seven critical areas that will be discussed at the Rio+20 United Nations Conference in June. These areas include jobs, energy, sustainable cities, food security and sustainable agriculture, water, oceans, and disaster readiness.

Moving toward Rio+20. No single measure can adequately capture the status of a nation or efforts of the world to reach specific goals. Indicators are needed that reflect a broad range of factors such as health, poverty, economics, or environment. In June 2012, world leaders will gather for the 20th anniversary of the Rio Earth Summit to secure renewed political commitment to sustainable development, to assess progress towards internationally agreed goals on sustainable development, and to address new and emerging challenges. As a part of this Summit, a recent proposal has emerged to focus on Sustainable Development Goals as a measure of this meeting. Sustainable Development Goals holistically address economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development as part of a broader framework. They differ from the Millennium Development Goals by also including emerging issues such as climate change, energy security, loss of biodiversity, disaster preparedness, and resilience (click here for more information).

Health-Related Goals. As the world continues to prepare for Rio+20, a renewed emphasis on health is needed. The May 9th IOM Rio+20 webinar will provide an opportunity to discuss health-related goals of sustainable development. In advance of the meeting, the members of the Roundtable on Environmental Health Sciences, Research, and Medicine are encouraging individuals and organizations to submit health-related goals that will be critical to the world's future sustainable development. These goals should have a clear health focus, be measurable and action-oriented, address broad challenges, allow for national and regional assessment/capabilities, and help to set a clear post-Rio+20 agenda. The goals will be shared with PAHO, WHO, and other partners for further consideration.

For additional background information related to health indicators, please refer to the IOM Letter Report on the State of USA Health Indicators.