New Delhi, Feb 22 (Mayank Nigam) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that the environment is not just a global cause, but the personal and collective responsibility of every individual. In a message shared at the inaugural session of the 22nd edition of the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) here on Prime Minister said, “the way farward is through collectiveness rather than selectiveness.” “Environment conservation is a commitment and not compulsion for India,” he noted. The Prime Minister said the transition towards renewable and alternate sources of energy, and the adoption of technology and innovation measures to find solutions to urban challenges. “We have adopted a multi-dimensional approach to chart a long-term roadmap for sustainable and environment friendly lifestyle,” he added.
At the Inaugural address of the Summit, being held on the theme of ‘Mainstreaming Sustainable Development and Climate Resilience for Collective Action’ from February 22-24 by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, Vice President of Guyana, made a clarion call to significantly focus on the principles of equity and justice at forums such as the G20 and the COPs. He pointed out that it is impossible for many developing countries to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) without financing. “The small countries not only need climate finance, but they also need a reform of the global financial system to achieve sustainable development,” said Dr Jagdeo. He also pointed out that climate resilience and sustainable development are interlinked. “Most of the countries in the Caribbean are fiscally and debt stressed. Unless these issues are addressed now by some of the multilateral agencies, these countries will never be able to have a sustainable, medium-term economic framework, leaving much less to address the catastrophic damage of weather-related events,” Dr Jagdeo added.
In his welcome address, Mr Nitin Desai, Chairman Governing Council, TERI, underlined the link between conserving resources and promoting sustainable livelihood. “The idea of a sustainable lifestyle has to become an important component of the global dialogue on sustainable development,” said Desai. With the world approaching the crucial midpoint of the 2030 Agenda and the sustainable development goals, Dr Vibha Dhawan, Director General said. “It has been more than 50 years since the 1972 Stockholm Conference. Since then, the world has made many strides in bringing to the forefront the issues related to the environment, biodiversity loss, climate change, and has achieved many milestones”. Earlier, in the day, speaking at the Opening Session of the Summit, Mr Jeffrey D Sachs, Professor, The Earth Institute at Columbia University, urged the developing world to be the leaders of sustainable development. “We need the whole world in the lead. We need India to be in the lead, we need China to be in the lead, we need Brazil to be in the lead,” he said. The three-day Summit will have ministers from across the world, top government representatives, political leaders, and chiefs of international organizations deliberating on critical themes of G20 leadership and Green Development Pact; equity and climate justice; driving and financing sustainable development.