Sustainable Development

hear from the news are persistent poverty, instable governments, global economic crises,
religious conflicts; challenges that have arisen mostly due to human actions.
Unsustainable production and consumption that created climate change is not only affecting our
ecosystem, but the very core of our everyday lives. Unsustainable economic development
resulted in global economic crises that toppled every sector of business in the world like a
domino.
The uneven distribution of wealth has created an irony where one part of the world is dying of
hunger, and the other of obesity. Unequal education opportunities led to the widening gap
between those who are unequipped with knowledge, and those with nothing. Indeed, the world
is coming apart at the seams.
Distinguished delegates, between 1970 and 1995, the world lost 30% of its natural wealth,
based on measure of the state of forest, freshwater and marine environments. More than 113
million children have no access to primary education. 880 million adults are illiterate, and
gender discrimination continues to permeate education systems and the quality of learning and
the acquisition of human values and skills fall far short of the aspirations and needs of
individuals and societies.
Only those caught deep in denial can ignore the mountain of scientific data about destructive
effects of human activities on the Earth. Only those who choose not to see can ignore the
human tragedies unfolding before our eyes evident in poverty, malnutrition, and violence. That
paradigm must be replaced by one that places us in the web of life as citizens of the biotic
community. We must come to see ourselves as implicated in the world, not simply isolated, selfmaximizing
individuals.
Distinguished delegates, a sustainable society is one that can persist over generations, one that
is far-seeing enough, flexible enough, and wise enough not to undermine either its physical or
social systems of support.
The sustainability transition is the process of coming to terms with sustainability in all its deeply
rich ecological, social, ethical and economic dimensions. It is about new ways of knowing, of
being differently human in a threatened but cooperative world. Sustainability also means
working to understand and realize sustainability values. It‟s about creating the conditions of
survival, security and wellbeing for all.
Distinguished delegates, we are gathered here to talk about sustainable development. But more
importantly, we are gathered to discuss the future of the next generation. Every statement,
every action, every knowledge that you share with fellow delegates should be an echo that will
resonate and impact all corners of our world. For these reasons, I fully appreciate the
importance attached by Delegation to social and human sciences in the consideration of the
social dimension of sustainable development.
On behalf of all the Members of the Secretariat, and in my own name, let me wish you a very
fruitful Conference filled with enriching dialogue and exchange, and the successful
accomplishment of your vital work.
Let us continue to work together so that the consensus we have built is carried beyond these
walls, helping to foster open and respectful dialogue among all peoples of the world. Thank you.
VI. Organization of the Work of the Session
The President asked the Delegations for any comments or objections about the “Organization of
the Work of the Session”. There were no objections about the document.
The President approved the “Organization of the Work of the Session”.