DSDS 2006 focussed on innovative partnerships and governance to achieve MDGs
Tuesday, February 7, 2006
The recently culminated Delhi Sustainable Development Summit 2006 (DSDS 2006) organised by The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri) focussed on ?Linking across MDGs: towards innovative partnerships and governance.?
The three-day summit interlinked economy and environment on topics like poverty and hunger, agriculture, water, sanitation, health, environmental threats and climate change and energy. The summit was attended by eminent thinkers on the subjects, besides heads of state, ministers, Nobel laureates, leaders from bilateral and multilateral agencies, academics, CEOs, NGOs and policymakers. The event aimed to create awareness and exchange knowledge and experiences by which the benefits of sustainable development can be spread and implemented worldwide.
Said Dr R K Pachauri, director-general, Teri, ?Through DSDS, our core objective is to bring the blessed social segment face to face with immediate issues, and reach at solutions with a collective approach.? While holding a photovoltaic torch based on the principle of renewable energy, he added, ?A few solutions like this torch and a range of technological solutions the country has got need to be taken to the bottom of the pyramid, which needs them the most.?
Such initiatives by the corporates world are also underway. Vikram Singh Mehta, chairman, Shell Group of companies, talked about the solar projects undertaken by the group in Maharashtra and Bundelkhand. ?We not only supply villagers devices based on renewable solar energy, but also bridge the gap between them and the finance providers like banks to help them get easy loans on the products entirely new for them. It is compulsory to give them solutions, and position these solutions as a viable way out. It?s equally important to enable them secure these devices and create business models for the local population so that it benefits them manifold,? he said.
