Stakeholders renew commitment to sustainable development in Pakistan
Islamabad—A National consultation was held today in preparation for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD)/Rio+20 June 2012. It was jointly organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in its capacity as Co-Chair of the One UN Joint Programme on Environment and the Sustainable Development Policy Institue (SDPI). The Consultation, followed provincial consultations in Lahore and Karachi and engaged a wide range of Pakistani stakeholders (Government, private sector, NGOs/think- tanks & civil society).
Ambassador (Retd) Shafqat Kakakhel, UNDESA Consultant for Pakistan’s Preparations for UNCSD, stated that the objective of the consultation was to secure renewed political commitment towards sustainable development based on the progress in implementation of previous summits on sustainable development and the new and old emerging challenges. He pointed out that Rio +20 Summit will discuss and make recommendations on green economy and institutional framework for sustainable development at global, regional and national level.
The Rio +20 process is of global significance as the outcome from Rio will influence and direct the sustainable development agenda in the post-2015 period. It provides the opportunity to bring inclusiveness for human-focused, low-emission, climate-resilient growth.
Key participants included, Dr Ishfaq Ahmad, Advisor on Climate Change and Development, Planning Commission, Toshihiro Tanaka, Co-Chair One UN Environment/Country Director UNDP, Prof. Dr. M. Qasim Jan, Former VC Quaid-I-Azam University and Member, Board of Governors, SDPI, Mr. Shafqat Kakakel, Former Ambassador Dr Adil Najam, Vice Chancellor, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).Islamabad—A National consultation was held today in preparation for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD)/Rio+20 June 2012. It was jointly organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in its capacity as Co-Chair of the One UN Joint Programme on Environment and the Sustainable Development Policy Institue (SDPI).
Article originally published at Pakistan Observer
