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The International Human Dimensions Programme (IHDP) was established in 1996 to address critical gaps and provide leadership in international social science research related to global environmental change. IHDP pursues its mission through activities in three core areas: mobilizing the social sciences, bridging science and policy, and education and training. (source)

IHDP's mission is to produce, promote and coordinate innovative social science research that informs and improves societal responses to global environmental change.

In order to better understand the interactions of humans with and within their natural environment, IHDP advances interdisciplinary interaction and collaborates with the natural, physical and social sciences.

IHDP enhances the capacities of research and policy communities through a large network and research community, and furthers a shared understanding of the social causes and implications of global change.

Finally, IHDP facilitates dialogue between science and policy, including decision-makers of all kinds, to ensure that research results feed into the appropriate policy-planning and law-making processes.(source)

Envisaged as a summit involving head of state, it will mark the 20th anniversary of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), in Rio de Janeiro, and the 10th anniversary of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg. (source)

• Unilever's Sustainable Living Plan, which aims to integrate sustainability into business models, has led to savings of over US $10 million dollars annually. At the same time, their "one rinse" washing formulas, which save an average of 30 litres per wash, are now used across 12.5 million households worldwide - a 60 per cent increase over 2010.
• AVIVA, who launched its insurance product for Low-Carbon and Environmental Goods and Services in 2011, expects the sector to grow by an estimated UK £45 billion by 2015, supported by government decisions and financial incentives.
• PUMA conducted the first Environmental Porfit and Loss Account in 2010, in collaboration with Pricewaterhousecooper and Trucost. The value of environmental impact was calculated at €145 million (seen as negative financial impact). Using the tool allows PUMA to reduce future financial loss while strengthening its operating margin by taking into account emerging risks. The company committed itself to having 50 per cent of its products made from sustainable materials by 2015.
• IGeneral Motors saved more than US $30 million in 6 years through their resource productivity programme, they also reduced waste volume by 40 per cent.

• In China, the Zhangzidao Fishery Group saw revenues grow by 40 per cent annually between 2005 and 2010 (compared to the industry's 13 per cent average) through offering an alternative to monoculture methods. The integrated Multi-Tropic Aquaculture approach employed by the company provided for a more balanced ecosystem, taking into account local conditions and environmental quality.
• The Colombian Coffee Growers Federation ensures a sustainable income for more than 27,000 coffee growers with its Rainforest Alliance certified coffee, as part of the Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality^TM program

The first three NEON sites are expected to be completed and publicly streaming limited data in late 2013, and to be in full operations by 2014. Completion of a NEON site, which includes the physical infrastructure, sensor installation, and field data collection, can take anywhere from one to three years, depending on permitting, weather and other factors. Sites are considered fully operational when all physical infrastructure and data collection procedures are in place and sensor and field data are being collected and are streaming. (source)