In Message for Business for the Environment Global Summit, Secretary-General Says

 

Now Reaping ‘Bitter Harvest’ of Economic Growth’s Neglect of Environment

Following is the text of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message for United Nations Business for the Environment Global Summit, in Seoul, Republic of Korea, today, 22 April:

Your Excellency, President Lee Myung-bak,

Excellencies,

Distinguished delegates,

I am pleased to open this year’s Business for Environment Global Summit.  I also take pleasure in congratulating this year's winners of the Champions of the Earth Award, President Nasheed of the Maldives and President of Jagdeo of Guyana.  Both played a critical part in the important climate change negotiations in Copenhagen.

The theme of this Summit –- Powering Green Growth –- is timely.  We need green growth for our economic and environmental well-being.  We also need it to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

For more than a century, the push for economic growth has largely ignored environmental consequences.  Now we are reaping the bitter harvest. 

Climate change, desertification and declining biodiversity are themselves a threat to the Millennium Goals.

Thankfully, awareness is growing.  But we need action.  Innovation.  Resolve.

Building a green economy presents tremendous opportunities.  The only risk we face is in not going down this path.

In September, I will convene a summit to review progress towards the Millennium Goals.  My goal is nothing less than an agenda for action from now until the agreed deadline of 2015.  A practical, results-oriented plan, with concrete steps and timelines.

I will look to business to play a major role.  Many of you already support the platforms the United Nations has established to rewrite the bottom line, to promote corporate responsibility, ethical markets and sustainable growth.

Our challenge is to go further still -- to create a global movement.  I urge you to think big.  The world is full of new ideas, inspiring examples of what works.  Let us multiply them on a grand scale for the common good.  Let us power green growth.

I wish you a successful and productive meeting.

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For information media • not an official record