Sustainable devt still a feasible proposition, experts say

(Updated 5:06 p.m.) BANGKOK, Thailand — 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.

“At 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 Nations…” Stigson said in an interview with journalists from Vietnam, Indonesia and Philippines.

“In this situation, I believe so…” Stigson told GMA News Online. “…Because trying to reform those in the intergovernmental organizations will take too long — 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, “Sustainable development is the use of the world’s resources in a way that does not limit the choices of our future generations.”

“In other words, we are just the custodians of the world’s resources so that our children and their children’s children can still enjoy life here on earth,” Pitsuan added.

The feasibility of sustainable development in this day and age “lies in the fact that… ‘necessity is the mother of invention,’” 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 “sustainable 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. “It 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:

The first factor is, without doubt, the growing numbers of the world’s 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.

While exerting a negative impact on people’s lives, infrastructure and ecosystems, these factors – at the same time – are the much “needed driving forces to a better change,” Trakhoon said.

To accommodate economic growth, “the concept of sustainable development should be applied in every element of society,” the SCG official said.

Sanctions, Trakulhoon said, are vital and important if sustainable development is to succeed. “The government plays an important role by determining framework and direction for the country through appropriate laws and regulations.”

Those who fail to comply will then be sanctioned by other communities, he said. “The lack of social recognition will not allow them to operate in a competitive or sustainable manner,” he added. – KBK, GMA News