Conferences:
Many groups hold conferences to discuss current issues they want to focus on.
1972: Stockholm "on environment" 1992: Rio was "environment & development" in the North but "development & environment" in the South. Huh. 2002: Johannesburg on "sustainable development" 2012: Rio "sustainable development (+ 20)" (via http://www.aguanomics.com/2011/12/notes-from-nexus.html)
The energy and intent is already there.
They want to get people talking about the issues.
We have an alternative: to be able to persistently talk about the issues, without flying everyone across the world, and leaving those who can't afford tickets on the outside.
This can be more resistent to derailing the conversation, as each issue can get it's own focused platform to develop.