Report (Part 6): Sustainable Development Convention 2002

Sustainable Development Projects, turning Agenda 21 into Action 

Time: 31 October 2002, 17:00-18:00 Location: Salle A Chair: Peter Sissons Presenters/ Participants: Eric Gerelle, IBEX Investment Group Reporter: Danielle Dalsoren (ICVolunteers) Languages: English Key words: Sustainable development, Agenda 21, IBEX Investment Group

The conclusion of the 2002 Sustainable Development in the Knowledge Era Conference is not the end of the story—it is merely the beginning of a long journey toward forging partnerships for sustainable development. 

Eric Gerelle, of IBEX Investment Group, concluded the two-day conference by summarizing the events of the two days and discussing his hopes for the future.

The UN Conference on the Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro resulted in Agenda 21, a comprehensive plan of action toward sustainable development. Dr. Gerelle stressed that integration is the key to sustainable development: the integration of economic development, social development and environmental protection. He recapitulated the projects presented at the conference:

Economic Development: Fair Trade, IECN, Kyrgyz, home gardens, etc.

Social Development: Anda, YouthTV, Rights and Humanity, People-connector, etc.

Environmental Protection: IPM, Wonders, Solo, Waste to Energy, Biodiesel, etc.

Dr. Gerelle went on to say that the main objective of the conference was to encourage cooperation at a project level between civil society, government and enterprises. The conference also succeeded in creating a "project web", linking projects with similar objectives.

In the future, Dr. Gerelle continued, he hopes for a shared Information Technology infrastructure—a sustainable development knowledge center, beginning with a knowledge base of sustainable development projects, similar to the Stockholm Partnerships model. He also emphasized that public-private partnerships must provide the base for future sustainable development. In order to create these partnerships, IBEX will work on joint promotion of an integrated portfolio of the projects presented, joint bids on public calls for tender (?) and set up project investment fund. Dr. Gerelle affirmed that there will indeed be a Sustainable Development in the Knowledge Era, 2003, and many more in the years to come. 

Conclusions
Peter Sissons followed up by saying that this conference has proven that "no project is too small, no player is too big" for the partnerships that must be forged toward sustainable development.