Mr. Shrestha, who was also the prominent alumni speaker at AIT’s 120th
Graduation stated that tectonic shifts are occurring in the development
agenda, and 193 countries have already agreed on this issue.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will now replace the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs), which are set to expire in 2015. While MDGs
were essentially created for the Least Developed Countries, SDGs are a
universal concept that are applicable to all countries.
“Sustainable development and poverty eradication” are the two key
elements on this strategy, he added. The concepts of planetary
well-being and human well-being are on the agenda and it includes human
rights, inclusive social development, equitable economic development,
and environmental sustainability. Zero poverty and zero hunger are
important indicators as we move towards linking poverty with our
consumption and production patterns, Mr. Shrestha said.
The UNEP Director added that by September next, the first part of the
vision and direction document would be circulated among member
countries; while the second part of the document will focus on an
action plan. Mr. Shrestha identified demographic changes with
increasing population and urbanization as issues that need to be
considered while creating a Sustainable Development model.
Adding that 60 per cent of cities are yet to be built, Mr. Shrestha
remarked that the three billion middle classes would have a huge
ecological footprint. He identified social unrest, terrorism, civil
war, threat of wars, climate change, floods droughts, and depletion of
natural resources as major challenges.
Stressing the need for new models in education, Mr. Shrestha quoted
two examples of Finland and Shanghai that are emerging as educational
innovators. AIT could learn from them and acquire a comparative
advantage over others, he suggested.
Earlier, Mr. Shrestha was welcomed by Prof. Sivanappan Kumar, Vice
President for Academic Affairs who recounted Mr. Shrestha’s association
with AIT.
More details about IETC are available at this link: http://www.unep.org/ietc/
