ID :
10888
Thu, 06/26/2008 - 11:36
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/10888
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WB URGED TO IMPROVE ROLE IN SOCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENT
Jakarta, June 26 (ANTARA) - The World Bank should improve its role in social as well as environmental development which affects the quality of human development, environment analyst Emil Salim said.
"The social and environmental elements in the World Bank should be strengthened so it can intervene to overcome weaknesses in global development. We are developing man, and social and environmental development are the components of human development," Salim said at the re-launching of the Bahasa Indonesia-version of the Extractive Industry Review (EIR) here Wednesday.
He said economic development should be balanced and not be solely politically oriented.
Licenses for mineral exploitation activity in preserved forests were always issued based on consideration of economic advantage while ignoring the forest degradation the activity would cause, he said.
"Commercial mining ventures always yield profits fast but we must not forget that with the demise of forests we will suffer losses by the resulting floods, droughts, and hotter climate," he added.
Therefore, the government and local administrations should have long-term perspectives on economic development in their respective regions.
Salim criticized the World Bank's lack of support for the development of alternative energy source to minimize environmental degradation due to overexploitation of fossil oil reserves.
Since 2003, there were recommendations for the World Bank to support alternative energy sources development such as biofuel and hydro-based energy.
"If only we had a future vision (regarding energy), we would be in a better situation than now," he said.
"The social and environmental elements in the World Bank should be strengthened so it can intervene to overcome weaknesses in global development. We are developing man, and social and environmental development are the components of human development," Salim said at the re-launching of the Bahasa Indonesia-version of the Extractive Industry Review (EIR) here Wednesday.
He said economic development should be balanced and not be solely politically oriented.
Licenses for mineral exploitation activity in preserved forests were always issued based on consideration of economic advantage while ignoring the forest degradation the activity would cause, he said.
"Commercial mining ventures always yield profits fast but we must not forget that with the demise of forests we will suffer losses by the resulting floods, droughts, and hotter climate," he added.
Therefore, the government and local administrations should have long-term perspectives on economic development in their respective regions.
Salim criticized the World Bank's lack of support for the development of alternative energy source to minimize environmental degradation due to overexploitation of fossil oil reserves.
Since 2003, there were recommendations for the World Bank to support alternative energy sources development such as biofuel and hydro-based energy.
"If only we had a future vision (regarding energy), we would be in a better situation than now," he said.
