OneWorld.net (U.S.)

February 08, 2005; New Delhi The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are achievable by 2015 if concerted efforts are made by the global community. This was the message delivered at the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit 2005 (DSDS 2005), which focused on `Beyond Universal Goals: Steering Development Towards Global Sustainability'. Organised by the Energy Resource Institute (TERI), the three-day summit was inaugurated by the president of Iceland, Mr Olafur Ragnar Grimsson on February 3 and was attended by representatives of governments, multilaterals organisations, businesses, civil society and scientific establishments from all over the world. Claiming that the formulation of the MDGs has catalysed the progress on sustainability, the speakers however admitted that the progress was slower than expected and unequally distributed across countries. It was emphasised that the developed and the developing countries must work together to operationalise sustainable development. Partnership was the buzzword, with the focus being on alliances not only between the developed and the developing countries but within the developing world as well. According to Norwegian Trade and Industry Minister Børge Brende, “We face threats that no nation can solve alone. We have to address them in a new manner … in a multilateral manner.” The South African Deputy Environmental Minister Rejoice Mabudafhasi felt that, “Establishment of new kinds of partnerships and cooperatives is imperative.” Though the conference did not offer any notable solutions for achieving the MDGs, it definitely gave a fillip to the momentum being built around MDGs, which hopefully would translate commitments into actions. Putting the event in perspective, the Director General of TERI, Dr. RK Pachauri said that the MDGs, important as they are, really represent a modest effort compared to what is actually required to eradicate poverty globally and to establish a sustainable pattern of development.