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Sustainable devt still a feasible proposition, experts say
By VIC SOLLORANO, GMA News
(Updated 5:06 p.m.) BANGKOK, Thailand â Despite the deadlock in the United States and European debt crisis, sustainable development remains a feasible approach to saving the world from an economic and ecological disaster, participants to the second Sustainable Development Symposium here said on Monday. The catch is that there is no single person, government or company that is leading the world toward sustainable development, said Prof. Dr. Bjӧrn Stigson, president of the Geneva, Switzerland-based World Business Council for Sustainable Development. âAt the moment, there is no solution other than to find what I call a⦠public-private partnerships, finding ways between the leading⦠of governments and the business community to work together⦠Processes⦠that we have to run the world via governmental organizations, to run the world like the United Nationsâ¦" Stigson said in an interview with journalists from Vietnam, Indonesia and Philippines. âIn this situation, I believe soâ¦" Stigson told GMA News Online. ââ¦Because trying to reform those in the intergovernmental organizations will take too long â I think. So the ones that see the problem and want to work together should get on with it." In another interview with GMA News Online, Dr. Surin Pitsuan, secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, said, âSustainable development is the use of the worldâs resources in a way that does not limit the choices of our future generations." âIn other words, we are just the custodians of the worldâs resources so that our children and their childrenâs children can still enjoy life here on earth," Pitsuan added. The feasibility of sustainable development in this day and age âlies in the fact that⦠ânecessity is the mother of invention,â" said Pitsuan. The second Sustainable Development Symposium is organized by the Siam Cement Group, with various participants from the ASEAN region, including CEOs, government officials, and journalists. Newly elected Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said in her opening address for the symposium that the concept of âsustainable development⦠is the key factor for international competitiveness. To be able to compete effectively in an international we therefore must build the strong foundation for our country to achieve sustainable, economic, social and environmental balance under a transparent process." Siam Cement Group president and CEO Kan Trakulhoon noted that abrupt changes are currently plaguing the world. He said these changes affect economies, societies and ecosystems. âIt is challenging for all sectors to work together to find ways to reduce global damages caused by several factors," he said. He then enumerated the causes of such changes:
Dr. Bjӧrn Stigson: There is no single person, government or company that is leading the world toward sustainable development. Vic Sollorano
ASEAN Director General Dr. Surin Pitsuan: "We are just the custodians of the worldâs resources so that our children and their childrenâs children can still enjoy life here on earth." Vic Sollorano
- The first factor is, without doubt, the growing numbers of the worldâs population and change of population structures toward an older society;
- The second factor is the high consumption of natural resources and intensifying competition in the business sector;
- Lastly, and more crucial, is climate change and natural disasters occurring in every part of the world.
Tags: sustainabledevelopment
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