About a decade ago, the World Commission on Environment and Development, known as the Brundtland Commission, published a report titled ”Our Common Future” which pointed to the risk of economic growth policy to people and our planet if it does not take into consideration the potentials for regeneration of the planet Earth. This Commission, chaired by a Canadian, Jim McNeill, defined sustainable development as development which meets the needs of the present, without compromising the opportunities of the future generations to meet their own needs.

Preserve the planet Earth and hand it over to future generations – a call for responsibility.

Global cooperation is essential to combat climate change. The costs of inaction are very unevenly distributed, with poor, vulnerable countries bearing the greatest burden while having contributed little to the problem. The long-lasting effects of greenhouse gas emissions compound the problem, as current generations may bear the costs of urgent climate change mitigation actions, but future generations are the main beneficiaries.

1. How can we strengthen the knowledge base of decision making relating to conserving the natural resource base?
2. What policies and institutions can help societies value more accurately ecosystems and their services?
3. What measures, actions and/or commitments should countries be expected to make to combat climate change (e.g., on lifestyle changes, technology development and transfer, financing, capacity building) and how should these commitments be implemented and enforced?
4. What measures, actions and/or commitments should be expected from the private sector to combat climate change (e.g. corporate social responsibility)?