Rio+20 must launch SDGs to guide countries through complex development challenges, argues Colombian ministry official Paula Caballero Gómez.

Conflicts over shared water resources could be mitigated through science-based environmental cooperation, argue Saleem Ali and Pamela Griffin.

Pakistan urgently needs to refine its crop yield forecasting and estimation system to improve food production, says Ibrar ul Hassan Akhtar.

Poverty, governance and population growth — not physical availability of water — are the real challenges for the continent, says Roger Calow.

World leaders must promote effective land use methods to mitigate drought, says Luc Gnacadja of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.

Feeding South-East Asia's rapidly growing population requires a second Green Revolution, says Crispin Maslog.

Pacific islands must build capacity for their own environmental monitoring to tackle both local and global problems, says Ben Ponia.

Success stories show that food crises can be controlled with the right tools and agricultural policies, says Sam Dryden.

Population forecasts may be based on unrealistic assumptions of demographic change in the developing world, warns Carl Haub.

The current drought in northern Kenya has deep roots in the current practices of pastoralists that need to be addressed, says conservationist David Western.

Environmental engineers Tasneem Abbasi and S. A. Abbasi warn that widespread adoption of small hydro could repeat a history of environmental damage.

A more integrated approach to managing the Lower Mekong River Basin could set an example for future river projects, say R. Edward Grumbine and Jianchu Xu.

Disaster specialists must gather and analyse data systematically to prevent human stampedes, say Frederick M. Burkle and Edbert B. Hsu.

Small-scale water solutions are a key to increasing agricultural productivity in the face of climate change, says water expert David Molden.

The current way of assessing water scarcity in Africa should be abandoned in favour of one designed for local realities, argues Richard Taylor.

Coping with climate change requires a greater understanding of the options for water storage, writes hydrology expert Matthew McCartney.

Policymakers must find flexible plans to ensure water security despite the uncertainties of climate change, says climate scientist Mark New.

Drought-tolerant crops could improve food security — if researchers take downstream adoption challenges seriously, says Travis Lybbert.

Innovative agricultural technologies can produce crops that meet climate change challenges, says ICRISAT head William Dar.

Kenyan MP and remote sensing expert, Wilbur Ottichilo, argues the time is ripe for using satellites to spot developing African droughts.