Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has left Pretoria(Brazil) on his way back to New Delhi after participating in the G-20 Summit at Los Cabos, Mexico and Rio+20 Summit at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The Rio+ 20 UN Earth Summit came to a close with leaders approving a 53-page declaration that outlines measures to tackle the world’s environmental and developmental problems. With poverty eradication as one of central themes, the declaration committed to freeing humanity from poverty and hunger as a matter of urgency. Affirmed by 193 member countries, the outcome document said that poverty eradication, changing unsustainable and promoting sustainable patterns of consumption and production and protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development are the overarching objectives and essential requirements for sustainable development.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched a ‘Zero Hunger Challenge’ inviting all countries to work for a future where every individual has adequate nutrition and where all food systems are resilient. Launching the initiative at the summit, Mr Ban said, Zero hunger would boost economic growth, reduce poverty and safeguard the environment and will foster peace and stability.
In the declaration, global leaders renewed their commitment to sustainable development and taking a pledge to ensuring the promotion of an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable future for the planet and for the present and future generations. The declaration made a pledge to make every effort to accelerate the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
On green economy, the declaration affirmed that green economy policies in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication should be consistent with international law and respect each country’s national sovereignty over their natural resources besides taking into account the needs of developing countries, particularly those in special situations.