Topic: Promoting Sustainable Industry in the Developing World
Country: India
Delegate Name: Gregory Ewing
School: Royal Oak High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All India position papers GLIMUN 2008 committees
With the ever expanding global economy, it is India’s economic goal to have an economy be based upon our own unique resource endowments, as well as the underlying premise of using every resource that India can access in an efficient and sustainable manner. The eradication of poverty coupled with rapid economic growth are twin goals that we have established as a nation. Our deep belief and adherence to the legacy of our civilization –which has had a long standing tradition of environmental sensibility and concern that goes to the very roots of our millennia-old culture –has lead India to the belief that sustainable development is a necessary requirement for all developing economies in the world today. As Ambassador Ronen Sen said recently at the inaugural address of the Green India Summit; for India, “sustainable development is an article of faith.”
Never before has the world seen environmental and developmental issues to be so closely intertwined. India is fully in support of international cooperation in the field of the environment so as to deal with global environmental problems. The Republic of India is also committed to global partnerships that simultaneously seek to protect and ensure economic prosperity and development of the world’s people. The Republic of India has taken a major lead in participating in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), as well as the Asian Pacific Partnership on Climate Change and Development, and the Carbon Sequestration Forum.
Another aspect of sustainable development is the research and development (R&D) aspect. The Republic of India is willing to participate in (R&D), but to ask developing countries, as well as extremely populous countries such as the Republic of India to take up a technology in the early stage of development may not be acceptable. Moreover, unless the commercial viability of the technology is fully established and its safety features amply proved, it would just not be appropriate for India to take up such a project even at the demonstration level. India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) clearly outlines that we are heavily involved in promoting Solar, Wind, and basic energy efficiency.
India has the unique position of being one of the developing countries which has gained the distinction of successfully achieving the de-coupling of economic growth from energy use. Our recent past is a great example for other developing countries who wish to do the same. We are making special efforts for the development of renewable and the promotion of energy efficiency.
It is a common belief that the international community will solve these contemporary problems of development and its sustainability through many partnerships, whether they are linked through geographical similarities, technology agreements, or some new compact –with the same overall goal in mind. Only through these coalitions, and involvement at a local level, will these issues be solved.
The theme of this committee should be stressing interdependence; and the common belief of the development, sharing, and implementation of cleaner technologies is a major recommendation if we are to sincerely pursue economic development with environmental protection in mind. India hopes the success of the conference will be made evident by the recommendations coming from it; and that from those we may come closer to creating a consensus on sustainable development.
