Environmental trusteeship essential for sustainability

Ramani Kangaraarachchi

Top business leaders of the world have embraced and main streamed sustainability to corporate strategy and the ones who do so genuinely will survive the future challenges, Global Compact Focal Point Ravi Fernando said.

Speaking at the Global Compact Network Ceylon event held at Intercontinental Hotel Colombo recently, Fernando said the Global Compact Network Ceylon is committed to driving sustainable mind sets at the top management level and therefore the sustainability knowledge hubs are a key forum to do that.

Haycarb Managing Director Rajitha Kariyawasan said that there is a considerable exploitation in natural resources.

The world consumption today is 30 percent more than that it could sustain and if it goes like that by 2030 people will require two planet earth to sustain. But corporates governments and society have the power to respond and address this issue. "So this trend has to be reversed and it is the role of corporate leaders to workout sustainable strategies," he said.

Global Compact Network Board Chairman Dr Rohan Fernando said the GC local network facilitates the progress of companies engaged in the global compact with respect to implementation of ten principles, create opportunities for multi stakeholder engagement, collective action and deepen the learning experience of all participants through their own activities and promote action in support of broader GC goals.

Delivering the keynote address Justice Christopher Weeramantry elaborated on the need for environmental trusteeship as a prerequisite to sustainability.

He said nobody in this world owns an inch of land and they are all only trustees who must leave everything for future generations when they depart this world.