BEYOND GDP SYMPOSIUM - Transitioning into Sustainability

    1. Background. This Symposium, held on May 19, 2014 which I participated, was jointly organised by the Office of the Science Advisor, the International Human Dimension Programme on Global Environment Change of the United Nations University (UNU-IHDP) and the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT).  It is the brainchild of the Science Advisor, Tan Sri Prof Emeritus Dato' Seri Dr. Zakri Abdul Hamid, who, in his Foreword to the Event, highlighted that the 'the international community should measure development beyond GDP and develop a new sustainable indicators or set of indicators' which include among others, inclusiveness, social well-being and environmental sustainability.  According to him, many questions remain as to how we measure true progress and the Symposium, therefore offers as a forum for stakeholders from various sectors and generations to bring the issue into the mainstream of economic development, in the context of the kind of future we want.
  Prof Dr Anantha Duraiappah, the Executive Director of IHDP-UNU in his message, pointed out the increase in global population, which is currently at 7 billion to a projected 9 billion within the next 30 years will have consequences as to the depletion of resources, natural spaces, biodiversity loss, ecosystem destruction and climate change.  In addition, growing inequality between and within nations is contributing to social tensions.  He went on to say that it is time for change in shifting from the individual to societal consideration, from amassing wealth to the a more sustainable development.  It is imperative that each country, with its own unique circumstances find its own indicators, taking cognition of our global  interconnectedness.
  The Symposium was participated by senior government officials, leaders of the private sector, representatives of local universities, NGOs and Gen Y, which in my estimate, totalled 130 delegates.

Guests of honour and cross-section of the participants

 Another cross-section of participants

2. The Programme.  The three-hour programme which started  at 2.00 pm  and ended at around 5.00 pm was scheduled with too many activities, which among others, include the opening addresses, an interactive panel on the symposium topic, a youth debate on the topic 'Should we seek other economic indicators' and the closing addresses.  The panellists of the interactive discussion were made up of:

       (a) Prof Datuk Noor Azlan Ghazali, Vice-Chancellor of UKM
       (b) Dr. Bakary Kante, Founder & Chairman of Africa Sustainability Center (ASCENT).
       (c) Prof. Ligia Maura Costa, Professor at the School of Business Administration of
             Sao Paulo.
       (d) Prof. Sir Partha Dasgupta, Professor Emeritus at the University of Cambridge.
  The key indicators that were identified that need to be integrated in sustainable development, to meet the many challenges that the world is facing now, include:
        . social sustainability that provides the fundamental needs of the people - education,
          health and happiness
        . equity in bridging the gaps between the rich and poor
        . education is the key in creating awareness of the challenges and the roles
          the citizens need to play
        . sustainable development where wealth creation is balanced with social
          consideration and environmental protection
        . global citizenship recognising the interconnectedness and responsibility to
          the global society.

 Panelists



 The youth debate

  3. Closing Remarks.  In his closing address, YB Senator Dato' Seri Abdul Wahid Omar, the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Malaysia,  pointed out that Malaysia's five-year development plans are people-centred with quality of life as the objective.  The new economic model that is being promoted now aims at high income with the accompanying inclusiveness and sustainable development.  He noted that the country is in the process of preparing the next 5-year plan and the views and recommendations discussed at the Symposium will certainly be taken note of.



  Closing Address by YB Senator Dato' Seri Abd Wahid Omar

4. General Observations.  I am glad that Tan Sri Prof. Emeritus Dato' Seri Dr. Zakri, the Science Advisor is taking the initiative in creating awareness to the stakeholders in the country, on the need to have a more balanced development - sustainable development- recognising the challenges staring at us on population increase, depletion of resources, biodiversity loss, eco-system destruction, food security, climate change and social tensions.

Posted on June 7, 2014
Email: hashim.abdulwahab@gmail.com