The Informal Environment Council celebrated in Horsens, Denmark, ended with the Ministers agreement in that the inclusive green economy is a vehicle for achieving long term sustainable development to ensure global job creation and for eradicating poverty. Janez Potočnik, the European Commissioner for the Environment, welcomed the strong support for the approach suggested by the Commission which will provide a clear negotiation basis in the run up to the Rio Conference.

Ministers discussed at the Informal Environment Council celebrated in Horsens, Denmark, the upcoming United Nations Conference in Rio 20-22 June 2012. Ministers agreed that the EU and its Member States should continue to come forward with concrete and ambitious proposals in the negotiation process.

Ministers also agreed that the inclusive green economy is a vehicle for achieving long term sustainable development to ensure global job creation and for eradicating poverty while safeguarding the natural resource base that our economies depend on. In the light of this agreement, the European Commissioner for the Environment, Janez Potočnik, highlighted that an inclusive green economy will be essential for growth and poverty eradication, offering opportunities for all countries around the world and in all stages of development. The Commission already highlighted green economy as one of the priorities for the Rio+20 Conference in September 2011.

Moreover, Ministers also recommends linking the roadmap for an inclusive green economy to the emerging discussions on a set of global goals for sustainable development. More than 100 heads of state and government are expected to attend the decisive, final negotiations on a global push towards green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication at the Rio+20 Conference.