Sustainable development: a world full of contradictions
Sustainable development: a world full of contradictions
Brazil is a good example of this dilemma: the country has extensive experience in corporate social responsibility, it has an active environmental movement which has made the country aware of the its natural resources and has laws and regulations that provide good frameworks for the sustainable use of resources. Simultaneously in many states the political and legislative power are characterised by corruption, virtually feudal power structures and a high degree of impunity. The country thus illustrates the big challenge of Rio 20: agreements and sufficient local capacity are wonderful, though the political will to fundamentally change economic activity is crucial.
Brazil is to host Rio+20, meanwhile this country displays great contradictions to the eye of the world. Recently, it retired from the Organization of American States (OAS), when the OAS affiliated Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled that they had to stop to the construction of the Belo Monte dam because the interests of the local population were not taken into account sufficiently. Perhaps more importantly, the decision to build the dam was in contradiction to the country's constitution. The political decision to step out of the OAS illustrates that good legislation and a strong institutional structure are of little value when economic and political interests are at stake.
It is not necessary to make new agreement or to discuss technical solutions for water and energy problems. The major question now is how interests of environment and nature, and the people who directly depend on environment and nature, can become key factors in political decision making processes? The conference in Bonn and preparations for Rio+20 should focus more on this dilemma.
Photo: Ssolbergj
Read more about this subject
-
Blog / 11 July 2016
She is just around the corner…
She is just around the corner… -
Blog / 17 October 2014
‘Africa Works’ with decent finance
‘Africa Works’ with decent finance -
Blog / 18 April 2014
We want value for climate money
We want value for climate money -
Blog / 9 December 2013
'The winner takes all'
'The winner takes all' -
Blog / 20 November 2013
“Zombie Treaties” cripple international trade
“Zombie Treaties” cripple international trade -
Blog / 21 October 2013
Minister of Trade and Aid chooses fresh head wind
Minister of Trade and Aid chooses fresh head wind -
Blog / 31 August 2013
Green value for money
Green value for money -
Blog / 8 August 2013
Summer time
Summer time -
Blog / 4 July 2013
Behind the scenes of a ‘growth-economy’
Behind the scenes of a ‘growth-economy’ -
Blog / 17 May 2013
Deafening silence
Deafening silence -
Blog / 10 April 2013
My world deserves better!
My world deserves better! -
Blog / 19 March 2013
Eraser for Minister Ploumen's charcoal sketch
Eraser for Minister Ploumen's charcoal sketch -
Blog / 8 March 2013
Female leadership is changing the world
Female leadership is changing the world -
Blog / 21 February 2013
Trade agenda minister Ploumen decisive for fair and sustainable development
Trade agenda minister Ploumen decisive for fair and sustainable development -
Blog / 12 February 2013
Out of the limelight, but spot on
Out of the limelight, but spot on -
Blog / 30 January 2013
The empty words of the president of the World Bank
The empty words of the president of the World Bank -
Blog / 11 December 2012
Corporate Social Responsibility just a façade?
Corporate Social Responsibility just a façade? -
Blog / 2 November 2012
Growth on Paper
Growth on Paper -
Blog / 10 September 2012
The Dutch and the Big, Bad World
The Dutch and the Big, Bad World -
Blog / 26 June 2012
Loesje and the fight against cynicism
Loesje and the fight against cynicism