As the world faces pressing demand for efficient growth and development, world leaders plan to discuss issues related to resource-efficient growth, climate change and protection of natural resources in New Delhi during a three-day conference from January 31 to February 2 organised by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).

The conference titled ‘Delhi Sustainable Development Summit (DSDS)’ will be inaugurated by prime minister Manmohan Singh where a galaxy of leaders from across the world will discuss finer points in an effort to build a global consensus to protect natural resources, explore innovative solutions to boost efficient practises and minimise unsustainable consumption patterns.

“We are living in a world where the demand for several resources is growing faster than the addition to their reserves. Using resources efficiently also makes it possible for the poor to gain access to them, which otherwise they may not be able to afford,” RK Pachauri, director-general of the TERI said about the 13th edition of the summit. Governance Now is the media partner for the event.

To maintain high growth and sustainable development, India—like many other nations—is staring at an impending scarcity, in the wake of increasing and unplanned consumption of non-renewable resources. A TERI study had indicated that the total commercial energy consumption in India would increase by 7.5 times between 2001 and 2031, under a business as usual scenario. In addition, imports of coal, oil and gas are also expected to increase manifold in the next couple of decades. Jayanthi Natarajan, minister of state for environment and forests is likely to deliberate on such issues during the inaugural session.

The president of the Asian Development Bank, Haruhiko Kuroda; president of African Development Bank, Donald Kaberuka; president of the sixty-sixth session of the UN General Assembly, Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser; member of the House of Lords, UK, Lord John Prescott; Nobel Laureate and scientific director of Germany’s Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies, Carlo Rubbia; renowned economist and director of The Earth Institute at USA’s Columbia University, Jeffrey D Sachs; and noted author and foreign affairs columnist of The New York Times, Mr Thomas L Friedman will be leading the sessions.

TERI said that framing strong policies and ensuring their effective implementation will require unprecedented levels of cooperation between international governments. Through the DSDS series, the institute aims to herald this much-needed change by enabling nations, scientists, experts and policymakers to join hands in saving the planet.

The event was first launched in 2001. Over the years, the citizens concerned and policymakers of the world converge annually to discuss globally-relevant issues.