These are the stakes: In the next 40 years, the Earth's population will expand to 9 billion people, and they will all count on the planet to provide them with energy, water, and food. The course we are on right now will make that extremely difficult.

Rio+20 is a stage to promote green inclusive growth as the path to sustainable development and natural capital accounting is a critical tool to help us get there.

Although nothing can be done to prevent these natural hazards, disastrous consequences are not inevitable.