OP-ED: We Need Everyone to Build a More Sustainable World

By Tarja HalonenUNITED NATIONS, Feb 13 2014 (IPS) Last week, I had the privilege of attending the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit, an annual event that deals with a subject that is very close to my heart.  The summit gathered together amazing people: Nobel Prize winners, thought leaders, heads of state, corporate innovators, and academicians to deal with the paramount challenges of the 21st Century all focused on three pressing dimensions of sustainability:  food, water and energy. Credit: Todd France Photography, 2012 Clearly these will are critical to the future of humanity. Right now, about one in eight of the human beings with whom we share this planet lives without adequate drinking water. Almost that many lack food security.  And nearly one in five people manage without the additional power and options that electricity affords. How to meet current needs, without compromising the prospects of generations who will follow, is a very complicated issue. It was encouraging to see so many  brilliant and committed scientists, economists and development specialists working so hard on the innovations and ideas that can help us produce, distribute and use precious resources more efficiently and equitably. Their work is essential because it will take all of us working with our unique capacities to solve the really difficult challenges ahead. But from my perspective, it is also critically important to empower the very people who grapple with these issues every day: the girl...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - Category: Global & Universal Authors: Tags: Development & Aid Education Energy Featured Food & Agriculture Gender Headlines Health Human Rights Labour Population Poverty & MDGs TerraViva Europe TerraViva United Nations Women & Economy World International Conference o Source Type: news