This June's United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UN CSD) in Rio de Janeiro will largely sidestep discussions of climate-change theories as leaders perceive the subject to be too controversial, according to summit insiders seeking ambitious and wide-ranging agreements on the world’s future. What is being touted as the biggest political gathering of the year will instead focus on framing UN “green” goals in terms of economic prosperity and environmental necessity.

“Sustainability” is often promoted by supporters as protection of the environment for future generations. But to critics — especially in the United States, where suspicions of "Agenda 21" and the global body run deep — it is a term used by the UN and its backers to conceal a much more sinister agenda: Perpetually expanding government control over natural resources and economic development while individual liberty is curtailed and power is consolidated at the global level.

According to chief Andre Correa do Lago of Brazil’s delegation working on the outcome document for “Rio+20” — the upcoming UN conference is set for 20 years after the first Earth Summit was held in the Brazilian city — climate change and global warming have become too sensitive of an issue for many countries. Sustainability, on the other hand, is an idea all governments can rally behind, he told the Associated Press.

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Photo: Rio de Janeiro