World leaders gather at RIO for Sustainable Summit
The last segment of the mega UN Summit RIO + 20 on Sustainable Development initiated yesterday with its secretary general Ban Ki Moon addressing the summit. There were many expectations prior to the summit that it will help on greening the world’s economy; hence will be able to take the Sustainable Development Goals. But there were many different view points that developing countries say that they need more open framework to act freely on their development goals.
Sri Lanka’s president Mahinda Rajapakse addressed the summit yesterday around noon in Brazilian time as the fifth world leader addressing RIO + 20. The President’s speech highlighted that any new macro economic framework should include environmental sensitivity, but without hindering the development space for countries that are developing. Imposing various barriers and compliance with standards of environment protection will hamper the efforts of developing countries in achieving growth. The developed countries, which largely contribute to the environmental crisis cannot and should not leave the responsibility of saving the environment to the developing countries and at the cost of their economic development transition to a green economy.
This has been largely the stand of the G77 position. The developed countries wanted to promote green economy, which means new technologies to reduce carbon emission and promote sustainable ways, but developing countries argued that these will be barriers for their development. The developing world has not being offered free technology transfer, so that they can also embrace the technologies. This kind of debates has stalled the chances that negotiations to get into a strong agreement out at RIO + 20.
Hemantha Withanage of the Centre for Justice who is currently in RIO following the negotiations said that the outcome was not bad as expected, but it wasn’t strong either to put activities in sustainable path. He said the nations agreed to continue with original RIO goals, but there wasn’t a clear financial mechanism, which could hinder its implementations.
In his speech, president also talked about that there should not be encroachment of natural resources of land or in oceans by external interests. HE said “Protection of the sea bed and ocean floor against damage by the user of environmental unfriendly methods of fishing, such as modern trolling, should be guaranteed by international law and practices”. This could directly attribute to the raw over northern fishing grounds that has been encroached by South Indian fishermen. However, Oceans too has been an area that has been highly discussed in the RIO +20 agenda, but again the final document doesn’t promise much for oceans as per the experts.
President’s speech also included that “I say with great pride our development model is find one which respects the environment. We are within economic gains while preserving and protecting the environment”.