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PM Manmohan Singh: Resource efficiency is key to the economic pillar of sustainability - DSDS 2013

2,646 views · Published 31 January 2013 · 19:45 · Indexed 31 October 2026

Channel: TERI · 2013 · Nonprofits & Activism

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Inaugurating the 13th Delhi Sustainable Development Summit, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that resource efficiency is a necessary condition for sustainable development and a key element of the economic pillar of sustainability. 

He said there are genuine concerns that in an unequal world, scarcity of resources would affect the poor more adversely, and key resources may become accessible only to a small section of people on this planet, leading to the exclusion of a large number of people who live in poverty and persistent deprivation. Resource efficiency is thus a critical element of inclusive growth and development agenda. 

He said the adoption of a second commitment period till 2020 under the Kyoto Protocol for emissions reductions by the industrialized world is also a welcome development. But, real progress cannot be achieved if developed countries are not willing to enhance their ambition levels. 

He also added that for its part, India is committed to meeting its domestic mitigation goal of reducing the emissions intensity of our GDP by 20-25% by year 2020 compared with 2005 levels. We have already taken several major steps on the path of low carbon growth. Now is the time for the richer industrialized countries to show that they too are willing to move decisively along this path. If they fail to do that in the commitments they will make under the Kyoto Protocol and other agreements, then it will be difficult to persuade governments, industry and the general public in India and other developing countries to step up the pace at which they are moving on this path.

A planet of 7 billion people, a number that is growing every minute, is likely to face increased conflicts over scarce resources. So unless we begin to use our resources efficiently, we are likely to reach tipping points that will not only harm our own well-being, but also that of our future generations. The decisions we make today will define our tomorrow.

It is in this context that DSDS 2013 deliberated upon 'The Global Challenge of Resource Efficient Growth and Development'. For more information, visit http://dsds.teriin.org.

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