sustainable development 20 years on from the ... - José Eli da Veiga

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initiatives, are intended to nourish these visions. Yet the challenge of <strong>sustainable</strong> <strong>development</strong> lies
ultimately at the doors of the main actors —States, the private sector and civil society— who must choose
the values on which to base their action. States, through Governments and the public apparatus, must
guarantee citizens equal and equitable possibilities and potential. The private sector must look beyond
short-term gain as the sole motivation for their activities and provide leadership in the championing of
sustainability as one of their principles: economic activity must refocus on meeting human needs, in a
context of respect for the environment and for people. Civil society must have the freedom to develop
creatively and responsibly in the areas of health, education, culture and spirituality.
The degree of globalization and undeniable interdependence that now exists between countries,
sectors and ecosystems calls for coordinated action between the countries of the region and the developed
economies within the framework of principle 7 of the Rio Declaration regarding common but differentiated
responsibilities. Here, progress must be made in making the conditions arising from global mechanisms and
forums more consistent with the real needs of countries. As a matter of urgency, a common effort must be
forged between the developing and developed countries within an effective global partnership for
<strong>development</strong>, with a view to achieving substantive progress towards <strong>development</strong> sustainability.
The establishment of regional or global agreements or shared commitments based on previously
agreed <strong>sustainable</strong> <strong>development</strong> indicators could help to drive a faster transition towards full
internalization of environmental costs, as well as the creation of compensation mechanisms for the sectors
most disadvantaged in the short or medium terms by the relative price shifts arising from the recognition
of environmental costs.