The High-level Panel on Global Sustainability, co-chaired by President of the Republic Tarja Halonen, described its work to the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, 16 March 2011. The meeting was organised by President of the United Nations General Assembly Joseph Deiss. Before the dialogue, President Halonen also met with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
On Tuesday, 15 March, the President and the Secretary-General discussed the situation in Libya, the work of the High-level Panel on Global Sustainability and other actual issues.
The Secretary-General Ban also told President Halonen about his forthcoming visit to Egypt and Tunis. The Secretary-General has appointed former Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdul Ilah Khatib as his special envoy to Libya.
On Tuesday, President Halonen met non-governmental organisations from the field of sustainable development as well as leaders of several UN organisations. She also gave a speech at the Women’s International Forum.
On Wednesday, 16 March, President Halonen described, along with other membesr of the Panel, the work of the High-level Panel on Global Sustainability to the UN General Assembly.
According to President Halonen, the Panel has decided that future work should be guided by the following question: “How to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality, make growth inclusive, and production and consumption more sustainable while combating climate change and respecting the range of other planetary boundaries?”
“There is no need to redefine sustainable development. The concept, launched about twenty years ago, has evolved but is still valid, but implementation is lacking. That is where the difficulties are”, President Halonen said.
When the panel met in Cape Town in February, they debated the goals to reach sustainability. Four wide goals or group of goals were proposed at this stage of work:
“First, we have to eradicate poverty, reduce inequality and enhance social justice. Second, we have to shift to sustainable production and consumption as well as to inclusive growth which will generate welfare to all. Third, we must be able to manage scarcity, common goods, and ecosystems with respect to planetary boundaries. Fourth, security in a wide sense has to be enhanced.”
Established by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon last August, the Panel has now convened twice, with the latest meeting being held in Cape Town at the end of February. President Halonen co-chairs the panel together with President of the Republic of South Africa Jacob Zuma.