US biggest contributor of unsustainability: Jairam Ramesh

[nrj]

NEW DELHI: Describing the US as the biggest contributor of unsustainability, rural development minister Jairam Ramesh today regretted that India and China were "hell-bent" on following the American model of development.

Ramesh, the former environment minister who is currently on UN secretary general's panel of global sustainability, voiced his "frustration" with the committee as he apprehended that its report to be submitted in January next could be ignored by the US.

"The real drivers of unsustainability are in advanced countries and the big elephant moving in that room is the US. It does not want to even engage in the debate over sustainability," he said here while releasing UN Development Programme's Human Deveopment Index report 2011.

Referring to the Global Sustainability Committee, Ramesh said member countries to it are going to support their final report to the UN Secretary General on January 12, 2012.

"So we come out with a beautiful report on the 12th of January, which can be completely ignored by the US. It is really a pity because the US does more to contribute to unsustainability than any other single country in the world," he said.

He went on the add, "if the US had been the only country in the world doing this, it was manageable. But the US has such a powerful impact across the world that countries like China and India are hell-bent on following the American model. That is what is driving now increasingly unsustainability."

The minister said it was "not just inequality between nations but also inequalities within nations that are very important."

United States biggest contributor of unsustainability: Jairam Ramesh - The Times of India

 

[natarajan]

great to see few people like Jairam Ramesh who have some guts

 

[nrj]

When this guy speaks his guts, people call him commie.

Its true that current growth model in India/china/US is more of a burden & just postpones emergencies which should be tackled with priority.

 

[asianobserve]

Oh well Mr. Ramesh should do well to focus on the rural areas than stick his head out to international affairs. I think he is not in a position to critisice the US, especially with the historically dismal performance of India, especially in lifting its people from poverty. It is only now that INdia has seriously flirted with market driven economy that Indians are seeing a real prospect of growth and achievement of their childhood fantasies of greatness (again, according to some quarters).

India would be well served by leaders who keep their opinions close to their chests, unless solicited.

 

[W.G.Ewald]

There is nothing wrong with the concept of trying to achieve sustainability.

However, I fear the UN would have us all living in thatch roof huts some day.

Here is something related to what the US EPA say.

Sustainability Basic Information

 

[Ray]

Jairam is a great chap at times and at other times is a weirdo!

I like the way he uses his hair to cover his bald pate!

 

[Tshering22]

I think he should focus on his work, get some light and life into the lives of rural people rather than sticking his nose where its not needed. Indeed one more appointment from the reigning party that shows how unwanted people get good luck in places that they're not meant to know or manage.

 

[sob]

Seems our minister is addicted to the attention and the flash bulbs. Had he spelt out the steps taken by his ministry on this topic it would have been better. After making a mess of the Environment ministry he is now out to bring down the Rural Development ministry.