The conference, also known as Rio+20 as it coincides with the twentieth anniversary of the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, is intended to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development.
See konverents on tuntud ka kui Rio+20, kuna satub ajaliselt 1992. aastal Rio de Janeiros peetud ÜRO keskkonna- ja arengukonverentsi 20. aastapäevale.