High-Level Panel on Global Sustainability

1.      August 2010---> the U.N. Secretary General -----> “High-Level Panel on Global Sustainability"------> formulate a “new vision for sustainable growth and prosperity”

2.      Co-chaired by the Presidents of Finland and South Africa, submitted detailed report in January 2012 ----> under consideration ------> key input to the upcoming U.N. Conference on Sustainable Development ‘Rio+20' June in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

3.      Has many positive elements:

o    admits that the “current global developmental model is unsustainable

o    notes the growing inequalities between the poor and the rich

o    failures are a result of lack of political will

o    repeatedly stresses women's and youth empowerment

o    urges full respect for human rights,

o    a move towards green and dignified jobs,

o    universal education access,

o    integrated governmental planning,

o    regular reporting on sustainable development using multiple indicators, combining food, water and energy for sustainable agriculture,

o    the spread of relevant technologies,

o    the greening of finance,

o    doing away with environmentally destructive subsidies (like India's for chemical fertilizers)

o    a close interface between science and policy.

4.      But unfortunately,

o    need for democratic governance but doesn't talk about devolution of powers to each local settlement, to decide on their issues

o    does not advocate even partial delinking of the local from the global though it is accepted widely that:

·         communities are increasingly vulnerable to the vagaries of national and global markets and politics,

·         at least for many of their basic needs, be self-reliant

o    does not explicitly challenge the obscene power of the private corporate sector, nor even demand that this sector be strictly regulated;

o    panel fails to acknowledge the importance of empowering and learning from indigenous peoples

o    No mention of traditional or indigenous knowledge

o    No independent civil society member,  no indigenous people's or local community representative. 

5.      India's Rural Development Minister, Jairam Ramesh, was in panel.