President Halonen: We Must Stop Exploiting the Earth

10.12.2012

President Halonen introduced the final report of the High-level Panel on Global Sustainability in the University of Turku.

In the lecture, president Halonen presented the Panel’s work and introduced its results. She also spoke about the final report’s reception in the Rio+20 conference in June.

President Halonen and the president of South Africa Jacob Zuma co-chaired the Panel which was nominated by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.

The panel’s final report "Resilient People, Resilient Planet: A future worth choosing" was delivered in January 2012.

The report states that the development of the world economy cannot continue in its present course. Additionally, the exploitation of nature must be stopped.

- If we continue like this we’ll need three more earths, Halonen said.

Regulation Creates a More Sustainable Future

The report states that in addition to ecological sustainability we also have to acknowledge social and economic sustainability as well as social justice. According to the report, these reforms are essential.
 
- In sustainable development, the state, businesses and civic organizations all have a significant role. Sustainable development is a dynamic process and it is important to acknowledge this mutual connection, Halonen stated.
 
The report’s vision includes removing poverty, reducing inequality, to develop economic growth and to make production and consumption more sustainable. These targets are achievable with the help of regulations, which are enabled by legal process.
 
Social justice and the significance of the individual’s part were also highlighted.
 
- Social justice should be taken into consideration in policy making. For example, work is very important to people. It is especially important to create jobs for young people and women. Individuals can make a difference by sustainable consumption, Halonen prompted.
 
The lecture was part of Matkalla kestävään kehitykseen ("on the road to sustainable development") seminar and it was held on 20th September.  The seminar was organized by the University of Turku’s Faculty of Law together with Sustainable development and responsible business in the University of Turku project and How to Rule the Economy and INTERSECT research projects. Tarja Halonen is an honorary doctorate in the Faculty of Law.
 
 
Susanna Eronen
Created 10.12.2012 | Updated 07.06.2018