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DSDS 2006World Sustainable Development Forum

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De l h i S u s t a i n ab l e Deve l opmen t Summi t

LINKING ACROSS MDGSTowards innovative partnerships and governance

Organized by TERI, New Delhi, 2–4 February 2006

Summit BulletinIn

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. K E Y N O T E S E S S I O N

Environmental threats and the MDGsModerator Mr Ian JohnsonSpeakers • Dr Alok Adholeya • Ms SoledadBlanco • Mr Yvo de Boer • Ms Cornelia Richter

Unsustainable agricultural practices havecontributed towards the rising extent ofdegraded land areas, declining productivity,and soaring price of food, eventually translat-ing to higher rates of child malnutrition. Thisgrave situation calls for promoting researchand bringing in innovative technologies, suchas promotion of energy crops for biofuels.

The damage due to disasters alone has risenby a factor of 12 in the past four decades,making it evident that the global environmentis under immense stress. The ecological foot-print for several countries show that theresources required to meet the present needs ismuch higher than what can be sustained. TheMDGs certainly cannot be met if the trendcontinues.

Environment protection is often regarded asa cumbersome obligation both in developedand developing countries, with each preferringgetting rich now and cleaning later. In thisrespect, it is felt that eco-efficient innovationscan contribute to competitiveness, growth, andemployment. The role of the business sector inenabling sustainable solutions is imperative.Hence, the MDGs should be treated as invest-ment portfolios rather than as isolated goals.

Some concrete measures need to beundertaken collectively by the internationalcommunity for ensuring environmental

sustainability. These include adhering to theODA (official development assistance) com-mitments and ensuring consistency betweendevelopmental objectives and country policies.Moving towards sustainable developmentrequires a holistic thinking, and joining handscan enable attainment of the MDGs.

K E Y N O T E A D D R E S S

Chairperson Mr R K NarangSpeaker Mr Claude Mandil

Going by theprevailing energyconsumptionrate, it is ex-pected thatworld energydemand wouldincrease by 52%between nowand 2030, and

would be dominated by fossil fuels. Conse-quently, carbon dioxide emissions wouldincrease at an annual rate of 1.6%–1.7%,aggregating to nearly 37 billion tonnes by2030. On the other hand, the number ofenergy-deprived population would marginallydecrease from 1.6 billion to 1.4 billion. This isa clear diversion from the proposed MDGs.However, there is a possibility of change.

In order to attain a sustainable fuel mix, theWorld Energy Outlook provides an alternative

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To meet the energy demand andstabilize carbon dioxide concentrations,unprecedented technology changes must

occur in this century… No singletechnology or policy can do it all.

Claude MandilExecutive Director, International Energy Agency, France

scenario. The alternative case envisages thatthe total energy requirement of the worldwould decrease by 10% along with a 14%decrease in the share of fossil fuels, andcarbon dioxide emissions would go down by16%. Most targeted energy savings and emis-sions reduction can be attained throughenergy-efficient measures across sectors.

In the long run, the key challenge forachieving a sustainable fuel mix is adoption ofbetter and environmentally benign technolo-gies. Technological changes need to occurimmediately, considering the need to replacethe long-lived technology capital. However,there is no single technology or policy option,which would be able to achieve the desiredresults. Hence, there is a need to pursue a'portfolio' approach for policy, technologydeployment, and R&D for achieving a sustain-able fuel mix.

Eradicating poverty and hungerModerator Mr Saeed NaqviSpeakers • Ms Sowmya Anbumani • Mr JafarAhmed Chowdhury • Mr R Gopalakrishnan• Prof. Mohan Munasinghe • Dr ShivSomeshwar • Dr Maritta R Koch-Weser

The session highlighted case studies and issuesrelating to improvement in education, focusingon the girl child; promotion of people-centricmarkets; integration of community, livelihoodand environmental challenges, and recentpublic policy initiatives; and effective resourceutilization.

There are clear inter-linkages betweeneradicating poverty and hunger and addressingthe MDGs. The Employment GuaranteeScheme, which recognizes 'employment' as abasic right rather than a 'provision', aims toprovide 100 days of employment to the poorin India. It aids the mitigation of short-termpoverty and hunger by employment, besidespromoting rehabilitation of resource bases.

There are global impacts like climatevariability that have clear implications onpoverty. The patterns of monsoon variability

and other climatic shifts across the world haveto be carefully studied to address their impactson agriculture. Finance for poverty alleviationwould mean making market-based develop-ment investment feasible. Creation of aninternational social re-insurance facility wouldneed to be preceded by creation of a marketfor international development aid.

Mere dependence on public investment isnot a sustainable strategy. They are catalystand people-centric public policies and effec-tive decentralized institutional mechanisms arefacilitating systems to eradicate poverty andhunger. However, in the long run, skills of thepoor need to be transformed into commoditiesso as to attract market investment. Micro-credit assists the poor to fulfil immediate basicneeds, but in long run, it must converge intomicro-enterprise. It requires addressing threefundamental issues: risk mitigation, portfoliomanagement, and leveraging catalyst aidfunds.

K E Y N O T E A D D R E S S

Chairperson Ms Radha Singh

Speaker Mr Ian Johnson

The develop-ment of theagriculturalsector holdsrelevance in theecological,social, andeconomic con-texts. Since thesector seeks toprovide food forthe world atlarge, it is faced with challenges in terms ofproduction and distribution. The sustainabledevelopment framework includes interrelated

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Sustainable development lies at theheart of social sustainability: the abilityof humans to live with mutual tolerance

and respect in a harmonious world.Sustainable development is not only

about today but also about tomorrow; itis about the future we want to create for

our children.Mr Ian Johnson

Vice President and Head, Environmentally and SociallySustainable Development, The World Bank, USA

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The Green Revolution improved the agri-cultural scenario of India and many othercountries. Yet, it brought along greater de-pendency on chemical fertilizers and pesticidesby nearly 20 times and increased irrigationrequirements, as inevitable trade-offs. Bothscience and technology and public policy have,however, in this regard, had a major influenceon the development of the agricultural sector.

Though the share of agriculture in the GDP(gross domestic product) contribution forIndia has fallen over the years, it still contrib-utes to a large share and is central to povertyreduction with nearly two-thirds of theworkforce engaged in this activity. In view ofthis, an expected increase in the worldeconomy from 40 trillion dollars to 140 trilliondollars by 2050 would require tremendousgrowth in the agricultural sector. In the Indiancontext, the feasibility of an 8% growth in theGDP could not have been possible without a4% growth in agriculture.

Agricultural growth lies in the heart ofwater resource management and land usemanagement. Ecological threshold levels foreffective farm management are, therefore,required to be developed.

M I N I S T E R I A L S E S S I O N 2Meeting the MDGs: technology andfinancing issuesModerator Prof. John D PodestaSpeakers • HE Mr Børge Brende• HE Mr Hamdun Abdulla Hameed• Prof. Tsugio Ide • Dr Mamphono Khaketla• HE Mr Brice Lalonde

Since science and technology are essentialelements for addressing developmental needs,countries should have technology visions withclear priorities reflecting the changing socio-economic situation. It is necessary for develop-ing countries to invest in science education.

Eradication of poverty – the greatest globalchallenge – is possible only if the existingresources are used more efficiently and aholistic approach is taken towards peace,poverty, and development. It was emphasized

that the MDGs are achievable since the estab-lishment of global targets does make a differ-ence at the ground level.

Technology and finance becoming theweakest link in meeting the MDGs is a matterof concern. Improvement in access to technol-ogy and financing as well as global earlywarning systems for disaster management arelacking in the developing countries.

The session ended with the recognition ofpartnerships as a key factor in achieving theMDGs. There is need for recognizing theenvironment as one of the major assets andthus protecting it while aiming to achieve theMDGs. It is important to have a transparent,accountable, and responsible system of func-tioning in place.

C L O S I N G P A N E L D I S C U S S I O N

Energizing the World SustainableDevelopment Forum: charting outthe road aheadChairperson Ms Frannie LeautierSpeakers • Dr Bindu N Lohani• Dr R K Pachauri • Mr Khalid Sheikh• Mr Björn Stigson • Mr S Sundar

The underlying theme of the session wasmoving from debates and discussions on toaction. The importance of the findings of theDSDS and now the need of the World Sustain-able Development Forum further emphasizethe need for re-energizing the sustainabledevelopment agenda. The three Ps – purpose,patronage, and programme – need to be inplace to take on the gigantic responsibility.This cannot be done without a nodal agencywith a well-defined structure and role, ad-equate resource mobilization, data collection,coordinated efforts amongst differentstakeholders, and effective partnerships.

Bulk of the global growth, infrastructuredevelopment, and resulting implications areexpected to largely flow from the Asian countries.However, a separate forum for Asia as of now is amissing entity in the overall planning and sustain-able development scenario. It is, therefore,imperative to build partnerships among privatesectors, governments, and the civil society.

DSDS 2006 supporters

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Department of Industrial Policyand Promotion, Government of India

Ministry of Environment andForests, Government of India

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... Technology and R&D have a significant role

to play in the process of the developmentalefforts. Unless values of environment andsocial equity are featured into the marketsconsciously, they will always remain a second-ary priority. It has also been established thatwithout partnerships, trust, and mutual coop-eration, goals of sustainable developmentcannot be achieved. However, the most chal-lenging and basic task remains the simplifica-tion of the entire process of sustainable devel-opment so as to make it perceivable to thelayperson, arriving finally on a commonpathway for a sustainable future.

V A L E D I C T O R Y A D D R E S S

Importance of water-related issuestowards achieving MDGsWelcome remarks Dr R K PachauriChairperson Dr A RamachandranSpeaker HE Mr Ryutaro HashimotoVote of thanks Ms Annapurna Vancheswaran

Mr RyutaroHashimotodelivered theaddress withinthe larger frame-work of finding asolution to theissue of water.This issue is themost pressingone globally andalso has direct

consequences on the very serious problem ofpoverty.

He spoke about the traditional importanceof water in all civilizations and the concept

that water brought benefits to mankind. Wherewater-related problems are concerned, he saidthat the world cannot keep sitting and watch-ing without taking action or offering help.Surprisingly, Japan ranks last among thedeveloped nations in terms of the per capitaavailability of water even though its annualrainfall is twice the world average.

Currently, water resource management andthe required infrastructure are in good shapein Japan, providing for a proper balancebetween the supply and demand of water. Inorder to properly manage these resources,rules need to be devised and a system put inplace. Efforts are on to conserve groundwater,as excessive consumption causes land subsid-ence and salination. Other nations can learnfrom the Japanese experience, which hasgenerated a rich database derived through theprocess of dealing with failures.

Problems relating to water differ from countryto country; hence, water resource managementshould take into account the economic andsocial milieu of the country involved. Countriesalso need to cooperate with each other in findingsolutions to problems.

In order to accomplish a ‘sustainablewater supply’, we, the mankind, need to

acknowledge the common issues related towater as a resource, water for fulfilmentof dignified life, and water as a platform

to use the wisdom of human being.HE Mr Ryutaro Hashimoto, Former Prime Minister of Japan

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