Sustainable Development Timeline

1. Sustainable Development Timeline Period of 2008 and 2009 ANH NGOC

2. 2008 – Convergence of global food, fuel and financial crisis • Global food prices increase by 43% in one year • Growing in demand of energy in China, India and many other • Subprime mortgage crisis in the US push global economy into resesscion

3. 2008- Increasing urbanization • For the first time, more than 50% of world’s population lives in big towns and cities • By 2013 the population of towns and cities around the world will soar to 5 billion. • Urban growth are expected to be concentrated in Africa and Asia. • Currently, mega-cities are the hubs of population growth however in the future new growth will occur in smaller towns and cities. .

4. The percentage of urbanized population by country.

5. Pace and scale of urbanisation • Urban growth is mostly caused by natural increase of population and is inevitable • Fertility rate is influenced by poverty, gender quality and health services. • Migration is another substantial contributor to urbanisation.

6. 2008 – Popularisation of green economy ideas • Governments around the globe are investing more heavily into environmental programs. • Low carbon economy and green growth are new priorities and objectives of nationals’ economy

7. 2008 – Popularisation of internet economy ideas • The increasingly critical role of the internet for economies and societies is being recognised by the OECD Minsterial organisation. • Governments are starting to put more investment into developing broadband and wireless networks infrastructure • South Korea is the country with highest investment into internet infrastructures

8. 2008 – Acidification of the Oceans is found related with Carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere • The unexpected increasing in acidic level of the Oceans • Findings from an eight year research shed more light on the serious consequences of this issue for global ecosystems

9. 2009 – Fire and Ice headlines • The disappearance of multiyear sea ice in the Arctic Ocean • Worst wildfire in Australia

10. 2009 – G20 Pittsburgh Summit • Meeting of G20 countries has provided guidance for sustainable and balance global economy of the 21st century • Countries leaders have called for less consumption of fossil fuel and seeks solutions for sustainable energy consumption

11. 2009 – Climate negotiations in Copenhagen • Parties involved have failed to reach an agreement on new policies and commitments that aim to reduce GHG emission. • Many have seen this as the collapse of multilateral process among the international environmental community • National and regions are now the new parties that need to put more efforts into reducing GHG emissions

12. 2009 – The concept of ‘planetary boundaries’ is introduced