Closely linked to the Rio+20 Conference, the 2012 World Congress in Belo Horizonte, organized by ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability, will highlight speakers and city cases about cutting-edge and integrated solutions to the challenges local government's face. This will also be an opportunity for officials to present their own stories and experiences.

As chosen presenters, the Hon. Mayor Herbert Bautista and the City's DRRM Officer Gen. Elmo San Diego will be discussing the Benefits of Carbon Financed Projects to the City and Quezon City's Programs in Disaster Risk Reduction, respectively.

Highlighting the successful rehabilitation of the Payatas Dumpsite to a Controlled Disposal Facility to a Sanitary Landfill, Mayor Bautista, would be able to present not only the City Government's commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development, but as well as the importance of a strong partnership with public and private entities in the application of solutions to operational and environmental problem. The presentation on the City's Biogas Emission Reduction Project effectively showcases a Public-Private Partnership from which the City Government has benefited economically, socially and environmentally, while contributing, even in a small way, to the global reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the arrest of Climate Change.

The City's Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Program to be discussed by Gen. San Diego will feature Quezon City's best practices on DRRM, particularly the effective risk assessment program that involves practical measurements in identifying the most disaster prone areas in the City. He will also be able to showcase to the international community the City's effective strategies that were developed with the involvement of community leaders who had first-hand experience on disaster management, such as the "walk the fault" project.

Mayor Bautista is the newly elected Philippine Representative who shal be a member of ICLEI Southeast Asia Regional Executive Committee for the term 2012-2015. He will likewise serve as a council member of the ICLEI Council, the highest governing and oversight body of the ICLEI global association.

Following the World congress is the Rio+20 Earth summit to be held in Rio de Janeiro. The summit, organized by the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD), has been established with the aim of providing the venue for global leaders to come together and define a sustainable development pathway that leads to a future in which the whole global population can enjoy a decent standard of living while preserving the ecosystems and natural resources. Local governments are expected to adopt clear and focused practical measures for implementing sustainable development.

Rio+20 is a moment for sharing knowledge and experiences concerning successful transitions to greener and more resource-efficient economies. For the Quezon City Government, the summit is an opportunity to learn ways to better reconcile the emerging economic reality with the social values and ethics needed to produce a well-balanced City. Mayor Bautista, together with the other Quezon City officials will actively partake in the event in order to develop capacities and knowledge to be able to transform Quezon City into its vision of a clean, green and pleasant environment.