Vice-President Faure, who is representing President Michel at the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit, delivered a keynote speech at the opening of the summit this morning. The address focused on the sustainability of the oceans and the blue economy, which was welcomed by the summit as traditionally the focus of DSDS has been on land-based issues.
In his statement, Vice-President Faure emphasized that “We small islands know very well that it is the oceans that drive the global climate, it is the oceans that contributes significantly to the air that we breathe, and the food that we eat. It is the oceans that connect us through trade routes. And whilst humankind has been notorious in exploiting and polluting our oceans, we have yet to define a framework for the sustainable management of the oceans.”
He concluded his speech by saying that “Our blue economy is the green economy. It is about ocean conservation and sustainable use; it is about creating blue jobs, it is about eradication of poverty, it is about obtaining a more equitable revenue from our resources, it is about creating a link between what we do on land and in the ocean, it is about building partnerships for development. Preserving the oceans is a global responsibility, a joint effort and a long-lasting commitment.”
Also speaking was Mr Kofi Annan, Nobel Laureate and Former Secretary-General, United Nations. He said that climate change continues to affect the poor countries more than the developed countries, adding that a fundamental shift would be needed to integrate policy making and reverse this trend.
“We need the right kind of incentives and support to counter the effects of climate change. Richer countries need to take up global commitments to reduce the amount of global gas emissions.” He added that sustainability must be at the core of global policy planning.
On his side, Mr Salman Khurshid, Minister of External Affairs of India said: “The theme of the DSDS is topical and critical. We need a new global awakening where the needs of the poor are addressed adequately.”
On the occasion, the Tenth Sustainable Development Leadership Award was given to Mr Anand Mahindra, who is the Chairman and Managing Director of Mahindra & Mahindra. The Award felicitates global leaders for their contributions in the field of sustainable development. It is presented during the Summit as TERI’s tribute to eminent individuals engaged in encouraging global initiatives that can lead the world towards a sustainable future. It is to be recalled that President Michel was awarded this prestigious award in 2013.
Vice-President Faure is accompanied by Minister for Environment and Energy, Professor Rolph Payet, and Seychelles High Commissioner to India, Mr Waven William.
Editor's Note
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), since 2001, annually organizes the DSDS, an international platform to facilitate the exchange of knowledge on all aspects of sustainable development. Over the past thirteen years, it has emerged as one of the foremost fora on issues of global sustainability. This flagship event of TERI brings together various Heads of State and Government, thought leaders, policy makers and leaders of industry and academia to deliberate on myriad issues. To date, the Summit has hosted 36 Heads of State, ministers from over 50 countries and delegates from across continents. The Summit has evolved as a significant congregation of leaders from the fields of polity, economy, academia and civil society to deliberate on issues related to sustainable development.
The theme of this year’s Summit is “Attaining Food, Water, and Energy Security For All”. The three day Summit will comprise of plenary sessions on a range of issues, including: Ensuring and Expanding Access to Energy, Water and Food; Re-thinking development; How Can Businesses Help Attain Energy, Water, and Food Security; Dealing with Energy, Water, and Food Security Challenges in Asia; The Energy, Water, Food Triangle; Tackling the Energy, Water, and Food Security Challenge; Gender: The Core Issue in Sustainable Development etc.