Concluding day Summit Bulletin (7 February 2004) ...... Delhi Sustainable Development Summit 2004 Partnerships for Sustainable Development Addressing the WEHAB agenda Organized by TERI, New Delhi, 4–7 February 2004 Online at http://www.teriin.org/dsds

In brief . . .

Successfully mobilizing all actors in the develop- KEYNOTE ADDRESS 6 ment process is another key factor. The urgent Leadership is Key to Sustainable Development needs of millions of people can be met only through Chairperson Dr Claude Martin concerted actions on the part of the public sector, Speaker Mr Børge Brende communities, civil society groups, and the private sector. Meeting the water and sanitation targets call for integrated water management, increased official development assistance, better financing mecha- nisms, and good governance. There is also a need to strike a balance between participation, leadership, and ownership. In , new opportunities are now provided through the Panchayati Raj system in terms of building local capacity. However, the conflicts between representative and participative forms of The smallest effort from the smallest of us can democracy can undermine the conducive environ- contribute towards achieving universal ment and these need to be urgently resolved. sustainability goals. There is a pressing need to transform words into action, focus on specific issues, and ensure that commitments are met. The role of the Commission on Sustainable Develop- PLENARY SESSION 7A ment is important to review the progress in meeting Taking Stock: Have We Achieved Anything Since goals, identifying obstacles, and ushering in appro- WSSD? priate policies. Chairperson Assessments from the United Nations Develop- Dr Jan P Pronk ment Programme confirm that India, China, and South Korea are on track with regard to reducing Members of the panel poverty in accordance with the Millennium Devel- • Ms Sheila Dikshit opment Goals. Any remaining • Mr Pekka Haavisto problems can be addressed • Mr Elliot Morley through political courage and • Mr Erich Stather RENDE action at the local and B national levels.

ØRGE The impressive achieve- B

R ments in the water sector in M the 1980s were negated by the subsequent mismanagement of the infrastruc- ture developed. Due to inadequate training in operation and maintenance, many water sources have become defunct. The investments in the water and sanitation sectors were, thus, not sustainable. Right now the challenges lie in three major areas: The first ministerial session, coming nearly at the (1) governance, (2) financing for creative solutions, close of the summit, attempted to strike a note of and (3) mobilizing all relevant actors. Good govern- optimism. ance, at both local and national levels, will effect Though limited, there are indications of some improvements in the quality of life, prevent ineffi- success stories in sustainability since the Johannes- cient and wasteful use of water, and improve pricing burg summit. The global political framework is

and distribution of water. We also need a global tending towards bilateral and M

perspective on financing, though capital inflows S multilateral negotiations; proc- S alone cannot solve the problem. We need innovative esses such as the World Summit HEILA financial institutions that improve the access of the on Sustainable Development are poor to credit. D

transparent and involve a number IKSHIT M R of countries and a diversity of achievements and convert ambition O MAR AAVISTO stakeholders. There is sustained into reality. H commitment towards achieving The ministers felt that for every A BDULLAH

EKKA the Millennium Development three steps taken forward in P

R Goals for providing access to safe achieving the goals, lack of synergy M water and sanitation to the pushes us back two steps. Coordi- poorest people and poor countries by 2015. nation is imperative among In comparison to declarations from Stockholm and nations, within nations, and among various Rio, the output from Johannesburg is weak in terms of stakeholders. Synergy between private investment actions, mainly because trade issues hog the limelight and public funding is necessary to cover extra costs

in international negotiations. M involved in sustainable solutions. The problem is R

The challenge is to combine the E not of inadequacy of funds but of the absence of interests of environment and LLIOT ‘catalysts’. Corporate social responsibility can sustainable development with ensure that investments are not for profit alone but M trade negotiations. also for development. ORLEY There is an urgent need to Steps forward should involve new institutions establish good governance and processes encompassing technical and financial practices and develop long- support to farmers and artisans to adopt sustain- term partnerships between the government and able solutions; early warning systems; and integra- the community. A good example is the Delhi tion of trade strategies. It is important to arrest the government’s Bhagidari initiative to partner with politically motivated reversals whereby resources the citizens towards environ- meant for local bodies are going to higher-level mental improvement. bodies. For sustained long-term ben- Agricultural and rural

TATHER efits, environmental issues must be diversification is vitally

S integrated into poverty reduction important to ensure that LAGH

RICH and development strategies. there are no setbacks to the

E Sustainable energy use is a critical Millennium Development R

M issue of concern and needs to be Goals. One way forward is . Y . K A strengthened. There is also a need for transparency integrated water resource ROF

and proper reporting by national and multinational P planning that has a holistic corporates on social and environmental issues. Finally, approach and takes environmental concerns into to operationalize sustainable development, it is account. The management of water resources imperative to convert political and social resolve into integrates well with other goals like improvements concrete action by implementing a bottom-up in health and food security.

approach with genuine stakeholder participation. Efficient use of existing M R

resources must be the primary P concern, rather than depend- IETER LENARY SESSION ence on official development P 7B Charting the Path Ahead: Creating Political Resolve assistance alone. The govern- VAN and Forward Momentum ment must provide the leader- G EEL ship and facilitate coordination Co-chairs among all stakeholders. • Mr Børge Brende Increasingly, political resolves • Mr Apolonio Ruiz Ligero concerning sustainable development are couched in Members of the panel such dualities as: ‘Should an all-encompassing • Mr Omar Abdullah subject like this, which covers all aspects of life, be • Prof. Yoginder K Alagh tackled by political resolve or used as a tool to win • Mr Pieter van Geel elections?’ • Ms Martha Wangari Karua The ministers felt that sustainable solutions may seem expensive in the short run but will ultimately prove to be cost-effective. The discussions following the ministerial presentations stressed that ‘monitor- ing’ is a key parameter for ensuring the success of development pro- grammes. For monitoring to be effective, it has to be holistic rather than project-based. It should be a coordinated and collaborative effort, ensuring minimum time The session focused on identifying critical elements lag in information flow. that would help the global community cross the threshold from commitments to concrete MS MARTHA WANGARI KARUA D R different stakeholders or inequi- R K P VALEDICTORY SESSION table distribution of decision-

Joining Hands: Common Goals and Partnerships making power. These are exacer- ACHAURI Across Borders bated by resource scarcity. The foundation for a successful Chairperson partnership lies in the realization • Mr Björn Stigson that those with more power and Members of the panel wealth must share more with the underprivileged to • Dr Claude Martin reduce disparities. • Dr R K Pachauri The need of the hour is to move away from • Dr Jan P Pronk negotiation towards implementation. Monitoring of • Ambassador Arne Walther action, though essential, cannot replace action. Local capacity must be built during implementation for establishing ownership and ensuring sustained benefits. This would also assist in replicating successful examples at reduced costs. Many lessons can be learnt from coordination at the international level, common experiences across nations, and actual project implementation at the grass roots. A formal framework is

RONK needed to assess partner- ships and create a body of P

AN knowledge from which

The valedictory session identified lessons learnt, J R experiences can be dissemi-

gaps persisting, and other key issues in the imple- D nated and success stories mentation of partnerships for sustainable develop- replicated, particularly in technology development. ment. We are now at the crossroads; the path we Fruitful partnerships are more than mere choose will determine whether we succeed in memorandums of understanding. They are builders meeting the challenges our world faces. Along with of synergies across interest groups, and deliverers great threats, we have unique opportunities and of win-win situations for all. They require substan- resources available. The track record since Rio and tial commitment of time and resources. Partners Johannesburg may cause pessimism but a pessimis- must share clear, common goals and make compro- tic view can trigger action, as it is hard to solve mises. The number of partners and partnerships itself problems we cannot identify. There are no easy needs to be limited to enhance efficiency of action

solutions and difficult trade-offs A

and avoid duplication of efforts. MBASSADOR are involved. However, there is Feasibility analyses are thus hope that new global leaders will important before the initiation of ARTIN emerge. While partnerships are partnerships and the identifica- M necessary, the more important A

tion of appropriate partners. RNE question relates to the global

LAUDE However, conflicts are governance required to take us W C

inherent in partnerships, arising ALTHER R where we want to go. D from differences in the goals of

CONCLUDING SESSION Summary of DSDS 2004 and Plans for the Future Dr R K Pachauri

Dr Pachauri wrapped up DSDS 2004 by There should be greater attempts to expressing gratitude to the participating include young persons, like students and world leaders and eminent intellectuals. younger professionals from government They elevated the level of discussion, and business. Community leaders should allowing the audience to benefit from be encouraged to share their success their knowledge. He added that the stories and their frustrations about summit’s current size and structure ground-level practicalities. facilitates frank and outspoken discus- The summit could be made more sions. Tying up with media partners can interactive through, for instance, the use help disseminate knowledge from the summit to the of Chatham House rules. The ambit of participation world; videoconferencing or webcasting would could be increased by reaching outside Delhi to allow more people to tap into the rich discussions. form a broader coalition of partnerships in setting While the presence of high-profile leaders could the summit agenda. There is a need for higher bring organizational and security problems, middle- participation by women. A summit output in the level officials could just as effectively communicate form of a report or consensus statement would the summit dialogue to their superiors. contribute to the summit’s visibility and credibility. As they said it . . . The enthusiasm and leadership demonstrated by Enormous lessons can be taken from one part of organizations like TERI can have a crucial the world into another, despite differences in impact on sustainable development. culture. There is a need for a formal framework Mr Børge Brende for partnerships. Hon’ble Minister of Environment, Dr R K Pachauri Government of Norway, Oslo; Director-General, TERI, New Delhi; Chairman, United Nations Chairman, Intergovernmental Panel Commission on Sustainable on Climate Change, Geneva Development, New York The scarcest resource is power… Those with If one is the minister for development, the major more power ought to share and take two steps enemy one has to struggle with is the minister for backwards. finance. Dr Jan Pronk Mr Pekka Haavisto Chairman, Water Supply and Hon’ble former Minister of Sanitation Collaborative Council; Environment and Development Special Envoy for the Cooperation, Government of Secretary-General, United Nations Finland, Helsinki Nothing is unlimited, particularly water. The road may be long and winding but we do We must make the people recognize the necessity have a compass to chart the route to sustainable of conserving water. development. Ms Sheila Dikshit Mr Pieter van Geel Hon’ble Chief Minister of Delhi, State Secretary, Ministry of Hous- India ing, Spatial Planning and Environ- ment, Government of the Nether- lands, The Hague It is a mistake to present the sustainability If we [politicians] cannot build the resolve, let agenda in terms of environment versus institutions like TERI and the courts do it. Put development. They must go hand in hand. pressure on us to build the resolve for sustainable Mr Elliot Morley development. Hon’ble Minister for Environment, Mr Omar Abdullah Department for Environment, Food, Hon’ble former Minister of State for and Rural Affairs, External Affairs, Government of Government of UK, London India, New Delhi We will never achieve the Millennium Is poverty eradication only an income issue? Development Goals if we focus only on aid and not on maximizing existing resources. Dr Claude Martin Director-General, WWF Interna- Ms Martha Wangari Karua tional, Gland Hon’ble Minister for Water Resources Management and Devel- opment, Government of Kenya, Nairobi

DSDS 2004 SUPPORTERS

Partners Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd • The Royal Norwegian Embassy • The Royal Netherlands Embassy • World Business Council for Sustainable Development Associates GAIL (India) Ltd • International Development Research Centre • Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council Co-Associates Container Corporation of India Ltd • Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd • Ltd • National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd • Power Finance Corporation Ltd • The Tata Power Company Ltd • Thermax Ltd Event sponsors Friends Globe Travels Ltd • Hyatt Regency Delhi Media partner Business India Publications Ltd