UN Meeting Agrees Green Economy a Useful Approach towards Sustainable Development

A high-level symposium¹ on the UN Conference on Sustainable Development has just wrapped up in Beijing. UN officials and member states have agreed that green economy is an effective approach to accelerating sustainable development and poverty eradication². 

CRI reporter Wei Tong has more.

 
Sha Zukang is the secretary general of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development. At the symposium in Beijing, he says that green economy can be seen as a new way of approaching economic decision making.

"One that emphasizes potential synergies between economic and social development and environmental protection. One that treats investment in protection and sustainable management of the natural resource base as an integral part of poverty eradication strategies."

Sha Zukang says it is widely accepted that sizeable investment will need to flow into green sectors³. He says domestic resource mobilization will play a key role. But for many less developed countries, enhanced access to international finance and additional resources will also be crucial.

Ethiopia is using green economic concepts to fight current droughts while conserving⁴ the environment. Molla Belete is Ethiopia's representative for the conference.

"The current drought was within ten years' gap. We've started to develop numbers of dams and irrigation systems while balancing nature. The government is now committed on sustainable development through green economy to conserve⁵ natural resources, such as forests."

Belete's view is echoed by Kenya's representative Zena Nzibo.

"I think the biggest asset that Africa has is the natural resources. We can in a short term sell it all. But that is very selfish and nothing will be left for the future. Green economy is not something that can be seen as isolation⁶ but something for the long term in the future."

The other topic for the meeting is institutional framework for sustainable development. Secretary-general Sha Zukang warns that the lack of coordination⁷ between international organizations has weakened the effectiveness of sustainable development efforts.

"There is wide acknowledgement of the need to bring coherence⁸ to the landscape of multilateral environmental agreements, intergovernmental bodies, the UN system and other international organizations."

Sha Zukang says some member states have proposed turning the Commission on Sustainable Development into a Sustainable Development Council so that the council can report directly to the UN General Assembly.

The symposium is a preparation for next year's Earth summit in Rio de Janeiro. That event will mark the 20th anniversary of the original Rio Earth Summit in 1992, which led to the creation of the Kyoto protocol⁹.

For CRI, this is Wei Tong.

1 symposium   

n.讨论会，专题报告会；专题论文集

参考例句：

• What have you learned from the symposium?你参加了这次科学讨论会有什么体会？
• The specialists and scholars present at the symposium come from all corners of the country.出席研讨会的专家学者们来自全国各地。

2 eradication   

n.根除

参考例句：

• The eradication of an established infestation is not easy. 根除昆虫蔓延是不容易的。
• This is often required for intelligent control and eradication. 这经常需要灵巧的控制与消除。

3 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 conserving   

v.保护，保藏，保存( conserve的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Contour planning with or without terracing is effective in conserving both soil and moisture. 顺等高线栽植，无论做或不做梯田对于保持水土都能有效。 来自辞典例句
• Economic savings, consistent with a conserving society and the public philosophy. 经济节约，符合创建节约型社会的公共理念。 来自互联网

5 conserve   

vt.保存，保护，节约，节省，守恒，不灭

参考例句：

• He writes on both sides of the sheet to conserve paper.他在纸张的两面都写字以节省用纸。
• Conserve your energy,you'll need it!保存你的精力，你会用得着的！

6 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

7 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。

8 coherence   

n.紧凑；连贯；一致性

参考例句：

• There was no coherence between the first and the second half of the film.这部电影的前半部和后半部没有连贯性。
• Environmental education is intended to give these topics more coherence.环境教育的目的是使这些课题更加息息相关。

9 protocol   

n.议定书，草约，会谈记录，外交礼节

参考例句：

• We must observe the correct protocol.我们必须遵守应有的礼仪。
• The statesmen signed a protocol.那些政治家签了议定书。