The global South must lead way
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Empowered regions like |Asia-Pacific to take major role in quest to save environment.
To save the Earth, “make peace with nature” by combining economic growth with sustainability, says Jan Eliasson, deputy secretary-general of the United Nations, who was in Bangkok this week for the 69th session of UNESCAP (Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific). Wichit Chaitrong reports.
Can the Asia-Pacific region continue to grow amid the weakening in Europe?
We will see more and more not only trade but also investment flows going between the countries in the region and also with other growing markets. If you look at the world right now, you have not only the downturns in Europe but also the positive developments in Latin America and also in Africa.
So I think South-South relations will be growing more important for not only the country and citizens of the countries in this region but also for the world economy.
What are the challenges we’re facing now?
There are a number of challenges. This is a period of very serious change. Now the |first new factor, of course, is the fact that our planet is in danger. We may have in life sometimes a plan B but we do not have a planet B, and I think our generation is the first in history that has to think about the survival of the planet.
We need to make peace with nature. That is the new dimension to world politics.
Then you have the new tendency of mass migration and rapid urbanisation. People live in the city more than they live in the countryside.
There is vehemence to the financial crisis and its immediate effect all over the world. Natural disasters, floods and hurricanes seem to be more vehement and violent than before, probably related to climate change.
All of these are new factors. When we define the road forward for the world after 2015 when the present Millennium Develop-ment Goals (MDGs) expire and are to be achieved in principle, then we have to think about three things, in my view.
We have to think about poverty eradication, which will continue to be the uppermost agenda.
Second, sustainability. There must be sustainable development.
And third, the rule of law and institutions that will make this change possible. If we don’t have strong and honest institutions and good infrastructure, then we will not have the vehicle for a catalyst for change in the future.
How can we make peace with nature, as many say that economic growth is the priority?
I think if you accept the long-term perspective, then you must combine growth and sustainability. We may have short-term gains but if we in the meantime rob the natural resources, water or forests or everything living, if we deplete the world of resources, we leave nothing for the next generations.
So I think we need to take a much more long-term approach, which is really an approach of survival. So therefore I think we now come to the situation where there is pressure on resources and pressure on populations.
My life has been very much about mediation, conflict solutions, wars to end and humanitarian disasters to alleviate. But now I really think the big historic project is making peace with nature. We must |show our respect to every living thing, whether it’s an animal or plant.
We also have another problem. That is growing inequality. If growth goes on without taking into account growing inequality, we create not only an unfair world environment but also a dangerous world environment. The growth of this part of the world means that this part of |the world has a very important responsibility to set the direction.
It seems to me that only small countries worry about climate change. Do you agree?
No, I hope that is the position of the past. I just visited China only six weeks ago. I was made aware of the efforts that China is making. And also in the United States you see the similarity – mayors of cities taking measures. I think we are in the same boat. We are swimming or sinking together.
What is the reaction from the private sector?
To deal with today’s global issues, we need to mobilise the efforts of all actors. The other actors are the private sector, the very dynamic engine of growth. Of course they have the responsibility for running their companies but they also have social responsibility.
Then you have civil society. It’s very important for any living democracy to listen to civil society and the academic world |– scientists, researchers.
You have visited the field in Thailand. What did you find in Ayutthaya?
I went to see the second capital of Thailand and flood areas around the pagoda. By that I was reminded of the importance of water conservation and water management. This is the most lagging goal of the MDGs.
This is a fact. The slowest moving of all is the water sanitation goal, and I wanted to see how the people in Thailand and organisations or the government deal with water management. I was impressed by the way they recovered from the flood of 2011. They also saw the challenges of cleaning the water and river.
Are you convinced by our government’s water-management plan?
I’m very glad that Thailand takes the water issue seriously. The ambassador of Thailand [to the United Nations] in New York is very active on water issues.
