DSDS: inviting global solutions from global leaders

The DSDS (Delhi Sustainable Development Summit) 2002 was held in New Delhi during the period 8?11 February 2002 with the Inaugural Session, at which the Prime Minister of India, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, was the Chief Guest, held on the evening of 8 February. It is gratifying that this event, the inspiration for which came from TERI?s silver jubilee celebrations in February 2000, has now firmly established itself as an item on the calendar of several distinguished persons from a round the world. DSDS carries a great deal of importance and potential for a number of reasons. Firstly, this is perhaps the only such global event held in a developing country. Secondly, it has great relevance to what one-sixth of humanity, namely the population of India, will do in the years and decades ahead. Of course, one major reason why this year?s DSDS was greater significance relates to the fact that the World Summit on Sustainable Development will be held in Johannesburg during August?September this year, and DSDS 2002 would provide valuable inputs for the Johannesburg event. The theme of this year?s DSDS related to sustainable livelihoods. It is indeed sad that even as the world has entered the 21st century, a large part of the human population on this planet continues to suffer from extreme deprivation and poverty, and the global community has so far shown inadequate commitment to the eradication of hunger and hopelessness for this large section of the human race. The creation of conditions to promote sustainable livelihoods is not merely a question of transferring financial resources or handing out doles. It requires a solid and lasting partnership between the rich nations and those that are poor. It also needs considerable understanding of the factors that lie underneath continuing poverty in several parts of the world. Agenda 21 agreed during the Rio Summit gave the world a blueprint for a sustainable future. Unfortunately, this did not receive the attention that such a monumental and important piece of work deserved. The challenge, therefore, is to revisit Agenda 21 and translate some of its provisions into action. DSDS 2002 attempted to do that by mobilizing a number of influential, authoritative, and knowledgeable viewpoints from all over the world. The fact that DSDS, while focusing on the most serious problems of the developing world attracts so many distinguished persons from developed countries is a measure of its success. We hope to build on this year after year.