Sustainable Development:n.development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. (United Nations’ recognized Brundtland Definition)
_______________________________________________________________________________

On Wednesday, July 2, 2008, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) identified the biggest
issues that are hampering sustainable development internationally, including rises in energy costs, a declining world economy, an international food crisis, and climate change.

Along with regular ECOSOC members, several foreign ministers outlined their countries' plans to promote sustainable development.

According to one of the foreign ministers, Japanese Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Yasuhide Nakayama, there are three priority areas of sustainable development:

1. economic growth
2. insuring human security
3. environmental issues and climate change.

He explained that these three areas are interrelated and must all be in place in order to achieve sustainable development within a country.

Nakayama made it clear that international cooperation is necessary in fighting climate change. “There are a variety of opinions about climate change, but one thing is certain,” he said. “We share the responsibility to make progress for future generations.” He also added that technology is an important tool in solving environmental issues and creating low carbon societies.

After promising that Japan will donate over ten billion US dollars towards fighting climate change, the Vice-Minister said that Japan would fight the international food crisis as well. “Japan is ready to release over three hundred thousand tons of imported rice. [We will also] donate fifty million US dollars to poor farmers,” he said.

Nakayama called upon all countries to join efforts in helping societies grow and promote sustainable practices. He made an analogy between countries’ efforts in achieving sustainable development with Japan’s national reconstruction following World War II. “As all of you know, Japan has had its own experience of recovering and rebuilding,” he said. “We didn’t start from zero, but sub-zero.”

Like Nakayama, Iran’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Manouchehr Mottaki also called for international cooperation.

“The world economy is worsening during a severe economic downturn and a food crisis is impeding on the [ Millennium Development Goals ]by reversing progress made,” he said. “Obviously, [developed countries] should not remain indifferent to the situation because overcoming these obstacles requires vigorous cooperation. It is imperative for ECOSOC to assume a leading role in promoting cooperation.”

While other foreign ministers identified climate change and financial problems as threats towards sustainable development’s progress, Mottaki blamed the “management of world affairs.” He warned the council that “before thinking about the future, we should think about where we are now.”

“The management of the world should be carefully scrutinized in order to find its shortcomings,” he said. “The political aspect of the management of world affairs today is non-democratic and faces serious constraints in decision-making process. In economic progress, there is a deep gap between the rich and the poor. Wrong economic policies by certain economic powers have lead to the increase of the price of powers, and the world is at the stake of these policies by these powers. The weakest countries have been harmed the most.”

After Mottaki identified problems that are limiting sustainable development, Lichtenstein’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Rita Kieber-Beck, pointed towards solutions.

Noting that “the food crisis and energy costs are presenting serious threats to sustainable development” and that “we must do more to solidify our gains,” in a unique approach, Kieber-Beck suggested mirofinance as an effective tool in helping countries become sustainable.

Microfinance is the provision of small loans to the world’s poorest people to help them start their own businesses and create sustainable lives. In this way, microfinance services promote economic sustainability for people by giving the poor the chance to take control of their financial futures and become completely self-reliant.


“Microfinance is an important tool that has proved to be successful,” Kieber-Beck said. “It is estimated that there were over 64 million borrowers worldwide in 2006, up from 9 million in 2000.” (Refer to the graph to the left.)

While microfinance isn’t the only way that we can promote sustainable development, few other foreign ministers besides Minister Kieber-Beck were able to provide concrete suggestions. What other things can governments, groups, and people do to become more sustainable? What can YOU do to lead a more sustainable life?