Global Policy Forum

By Gerhard Schrí¶der

The devastating floods in Europe and China are not just terrible forces of nature. They are also glaring warning signals. We only have one planet and our survival will depend on how we treat its resources.

At the Rio summit 10 years ago, the participating states agreed ambitious goals: the vision of a world beyond conflict, poverty and environmental destruction seemed to have moved closer following the end of the cold war. The Johannesburg summit is about more than taking stock of how far we have advanced along the path we agreed then. New challenges have arisen and known risks have grown into acute dangers.

What we have achieved on the one hand - for example the Europe-wide decontamination of the River Elbe - was washed away within a few days by the recent floods. Impressive progress in environmental protection in industrialised countries has been offset by sobering setbacks: global climate changes have become a reality for many people; poverty has continued to increase worldwide - more than 2 billion people live off less than €2 a day - while 1.5 billion men, women and children never drink a glass of clean water.

The shock of September 11 made governments move closer together to stand up to the threat of terrorism. However, it has become clear that security cannot be maintained by military and police action alone. There can be no global security without an agenda for global equity. We need a new concept of security which encompasses economic, ecological and social aspects.

Globalisation has become the defining feature of the world economy. However, it is not a phenomenon of nature over which we have no influence, but a network of economic, trading and communications ties we must shape politically. We need rules which will help us to ensure that the greatest possible number of people share in the advantages of globalisation. The markets cannot achieve this on their own.

We know that people's prosperity has not sunk but risen in those countries which are completely open to world trade. Those who summarily dismiss the opening up of world markets are not helping developing countries; they are blocking their way out of poverty. "Trade is aid" has proved to be a good maxim of development policy - as long as it is fair trade.

The countries of the developed world bear a special responsibility. They must open up their markets to products from developing countries - even when, at first sight, it would be detrimental to them. Agricultural subsidies in the US and Europe must go. Protective tariffs and trade barriers have no place in the modern world. In the long term, we will all benefit from open markets.

National strategies, for example on reducing greenhouses gases, are of limited use. Global warming does not stop at national borders. Germany is a pioneer in climate protection, and we urge the other member states of the UN to join us in ratifying the Kyoto protocol. In particular, I call upon the US to live up to its responsibility for climate protection and to make a contribution to reducing greenhouse gases commensurate with its size.

Germany is top of the league among industrialised countries in energy efficiency. Improvements in power stations, a reduction in waste, clean-exhaust vehicles on our roads, and appliances which use less energy are investments in our children's future. We are developing new, renewable sources of energy which not only reduce costs but also encourage industrial innovation. New energy technology could create an abundance of jobs, and energy efficiency will become a trademark of successful market economies.

Developing countries cannot carry out ambitious energy programmes on their own. Together with other European states we are therefore providing them with funding - an additional $2.7bn to help them to develop a sustainable energy supply. In Johannesburg, I will be putting forward three proposals to advance the use of renewable energies worldwide. First, Germany will host an international conference to develop an international strategy. Second, I will propose that a UN organisation be mandated to help developing countries to develop energy supplies which protect the climate and conserve resources. Third, we will form partnerships with developing countries to identify areas where energy can be saved.

During the 10 years since Rio, the EU has played an exemplary role in reconciling the interests of the industrialised states and those of developing countries. I welcome the fact that the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have recognised the new imperatives and linked their assistance less to dogma relating to market liberalisation and more to the goals of sustainable development.

Many people wonder whether we are wasting our time in Johannesburg. The answer is yes - if we miss this opportunity to learn from each other and fail to achieve tangible progress. Humanity has the knowledge, wealth, technological know-how and joint sense of responsibility to solve our planet's problems. We must now assume that responsibility. Our children will thank us for it.