Delhi Sustainable Development Summit 2002
Ensuring sustainable livelihoods: challenges for governments,
corporates, and civil society at Rio+10 8 - 11 February 2002, New
Delhi
Mr Jairam Ramesh
Secretary (Economic Cell), All India
Congress Committee, India
"If there is one community that actually believes in
globalization, it is the anti-globalization community."
Session summary
Mr Chengappa observed
that ‘not much has happened since Rio. The degradation of environment continues as
before.’ The growing global concern for the environment is good; globalization of
environmental issues kills local initiatives. Care needs to be taken to spread the
benefits.
Mr Ramesh was very vocal about his fears on the link between trade and sustainable
development, the ‘democratic deficit’ in international organizations like the
WTO and the ‘locus standi of civil society in dispute’. He stressed that the
shift of incorporating sustainable development concerns into trade may impede the economic
growth of many developing countries though its objectives are well placed. How to
globalize them is a matter of concern as giving NGOs a ‘voice in governance’ may
open Pandora’s box.
Mr Ramesh emphasized the importance of distinguishing between genuine concern and
neo-protectionism to bring in adequate safeguards in the agreements. He concluded on an
optimistic note, saying that it is essential to make ‘sustainable development the
most potent anti-poverty move’.
