WCEM
2002 REPORT
4th World Congress on Environment Management
7- 9 June 2002 Palampur,
Himachal Pradesh
The
4th World Congress on Environment Management with the theme "Sustainable
Development Through Good Governance" was organized by
the World Environment Foundation at the exquisite S M Convention
Centre in Palampur (Himachal Pradesh) on June 8-9, 2002. Over
400 policy makers, industrialists, businessmen, service providers,
entrepreneurs and environmentalists from India and abroad attended
the Conference. Representatives from international agencies
such as USAID, CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency),
FAO, UNESCO, UNAPCTT, WHO, Legal Luminaries Government of H.
P., Professionals from USA and UK presented the international
perspectives.
The
Congress received special messages from Dr K. R. Narayanan,
the President of India and Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee, the Prime
Minister. The President expressed deep concern on environmental
degradation resulting from human activities. He called upon
human kind to make small adjustments in the life style and
alter patterns of consumption to provide answers to many problems
posed by environmental degradation.
Shri
Atal Behari Vajpayee, the Prime Minister of India has stressed
upon sustainable development which is the only rational option
for the survival and well being of all living beings. While
we move on the path of rapid economic growth, we should ensure
that this is in harmony with nature. Economic development should
be coupled with sound environmental policies for sustainable
living and for improving the quality of life. The government
has put in place an elaborate framework of environmental legislation
for the conservation of forests, the preservation of regulations
governing coastal zones, fragile eco-systems, including those
as varied as mountains and wetlands are in place. Mandatory
requirements of environmental impact assessment for locating
and building industrial projects have been introduced.
Shri
Krishna Kant, Vice President of India lamented on the imperatives
of human progress and environment protection. Sustainable development
is all about finding that space to save mankind from the consequences
of unremitting exploitation of nature and Good governance is
a key element in that mission.
Shri
Yashwant Sinha, Finance Minister of India asserted that the
rapid increase in telecom and internet, while
creating
wealth is also causing incalculable damage to environment.
With the increasing rate of depletion of our natural resources,
the business has a duty to ensure that its processes and services
are environmentally sustainable, eco- efficient and eco-friendly
as well.
Shri
Suresh Prabhu, Minister for Power commented to use all
our ingenuity to find solutions to environmental problems combining best of
old practices blended with benefits of modern science and technology.
Shri
T R Balu, Minister
for Environment and forests lauded upon to
minimize the impact of human development on environment.
Shri
Shanta Kumar, Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution
lauded upon sustainable development by making its processes
and services environmentally sustainable and eco-efficient
causing minimal damage to environment.
Dr
Madhav Mehra, President of World Environment Foundation, asserted
that the biggest stumbling block in improving environment is
poor governance. Our governance systems are also responsible
for wasteful subsidies, which damage the environment without
helping the economic well being. Corruption is another major
impediment for sustainable development. Good governance practices
can ensure better market framework through competition.
Eco – Innovation
is the need of the day. Business has to realize that the markets
of 21st Century will be driven by the aspirations of sustainability.
We have to think of radical and innovative ways that call for
changes in lifestyles. values, technologies and patterns of
consumption as well as production. These must lead to the sunset
of unsustainable products and processes, create cost effective
capabilities that match the aspirations of cleaner and sustainable
development. In essence, we need a 180 degree shift to organise
our production processes on biological life cycle models.
Shri
N Vittal, Central Vigilance Commissioner chaired the Jury of
Golden Peacock Environment Management Award (GPEMA) 2002. The
jury included amongst others Mr Dilip Biswas, Chairman, CPCB,
Mr A K Khosla, Chairman, GEC (India,) Dr Madhav Mehra, President,
World Council For Corporate Governance, Dr P L Sanjeev Reddy,
IAS, Vice Chairman, Centre For Corporate Governance & Director,
Indian Institute of Public Administration, Mr S S Sharma, Secretary,
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Mr V Suresh, CMD, HUDCO,
Lt. Gen J S Ahluwalia, Director General, World Environment
Foundation and Dr S P Narang, Secretary General, Institute
of Company Secretaries of India.
In
all over 200 applications were received for Golden Peacock
Awards under three categories such as Large, Medium and Small
Enterprises from manufacturing and Service sectors. "Golden
Peacock Awards have set standards of excellence in Environment
Management, worthy of emulation by the entire business community",
stated Dr. Madhav Mehra. Golden Peacock Awards were presented
by His Holiness The Dalai Lama on 08 June.
The
4th world congress on environment management was preceded by
international mountain convention on 7th June 2002 at SM Convention
Centre, Palampur (H. P) with the theme ‘"Sustainable solutions
for mountain eco systems’. It was addressed by selected representatives
of civil society from mountain countries Nepal, Himachal Pradesh,
Punjab, representative of Indian Mountaineering Foundation,
FAO etc. The convention was inaugurated by Prof. P K Dhumal,
Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh and Presided over by Shri
Shanta Kumar, Minister of Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution.
Among others, it was addressed by Padmabhushan H P S Ahluwalia,
FRGS, a famous mountaineer who has climbed Mountain Everest,
Shri Gopi Ghosh of FAO, Ms C P Jayalakshmi of International
Mountain Forum, ICIMOD, Kathmandu, (Nepal) and Dr Tej Pratap,
Vice Chancellor of Palampur Agricultural University.
The
4th World Congress on Environment Management held on 08 to
09 June 2002 was inaugurated by
His Holiness The Dalai Lama, Nobel laureate for peace.
Dr
William Halal of George Washington University, USA stressed
upon the forecast of emerging technologies. And concluded that
current obsession with information and knowledge may soon move
on to a new "Spiritual Age".
Justice
M N Venkatachaliah, Former Chief Justice, and Chairman, Centre
for Corporate Governance asked both governments and businesses
to collaborate to provide incentives for innovation of new
business design and products with least impact on environment.
The
Plenary Session was followed by 7 technical sessions and
a special session involving presentations by Winners of Golden
Peacock Environment Management Awards, highlighting their
environmental strategies and initiatives as case studies
and role models, setting new benchmarks.
The
congress ended with adoption of Palampur Declaration on Sustainable
Development as a plan for action that emerged from the long
congress deliberations. This declaration is being shared with
the Government, NGO’s, Corporates and Public and Media at large
for adoption in our plans and projects. WEF will spread the
message all over the country through its partners for action
in sustainability (PIAS).
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