Göran Persson talade på rådsmötet om hållbar utveckling:

CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY!
(Det talade ordet gäller!)

Ladies and Gentlemen,

/.../

First, however, I would like to say how appropriate I find it that we are meeting in Portugal to mark 50 years of the Socialist International.

Today Portugal is a modern, European democracy featured by dynamic development in many fields. Our sister party - still young - provides its leader, my good friend Antonio Guterres, to head both the government and the worldwide social democratic family.

Not long ago brave resistance against the dictatorship in the Portugese colonies and Portugal itself inspired much solidarity from the socialist community. Mario Soares and his comrades were thereby assisted in forming a party that could lead the transition to democracy and freedom. The Socialist Party held back threats from both left and right. A new, better chapter of history was opened.

No more fascist dictatorship in Europe. No more colonial illusions in Africa and Asia.

The Socialist International can take pride in this success story.

* * *

Comrades and friends!

Social democracy has always viewed politics as a force for change. We believe in change because change is the agent of progress, the means to a better world.

If we are to meet the challenges of the future - and bring about a better future for all - not just the privileged few - we cannot hold back change. Our aim must be to shape it.

Starting with our common ideals. Pointing the compass needle towards solidarity, justice and equality.

* * *

Today we stand before what might be the most challanging change of our societies ever - ecological sustainable development.

Social Democracy must adopt a new dimension of solidarity and of justice.

First justice: because the environmental dimension includes a conflict between the rich and the poor parts of the world.

Today 20 per cent of humanity consumes 80 per cent of the world's non-renewable resources. The same 20 per cent accounts for nearly 60 per cent of carbon dioxide emissions.

Increased justice and welfare for those who needs it the most must never be hindered by the excesses of the rich.

We share the responsibility to fight poverty and create acceptable living-conditions for our citizens.

At the same time - we cannot disregard the threatening scenarios of the future.

The conclusion is obvious - the industrialised countries need to take the lead to turn development around towards a sustainable development.

Second solidarity: no longer only between us living today - but also with the generations of the future.

Sustainable development is about satisfying today's needs without making it impossible for future generations to satisfy theirs.

Comrades and friends,

What good will it do if we give our children the best schools in the world, if they are exposed to chemicals affecting their ability to learn?

What good will it do if we accomplish full employment, if environmental pollution is destroying the water we need to drink and the air we must all breathe?

What good will it do if we manage to minimise the gaps between rich and poor in our countries, if at the same time we are faced with climate changes that kill thousands in storms, drought and flooding?

This is what we must keep in mind when we work with environmental issues. We must not close our eyes to the problems. We must never let them become overwhelming.

Resignation is dangerous. So is blind optimism; that is the great lesson from the 20th century. But between these two contrasts there is still room for the existing possibilities and the wise hope. We need to be realistic.

* * *

Favourable development doesn't just happen. It takes determination and insight. It needs an holistic approach. It needs economically, socially and ecologically coherent policy.

And more than anything - it needs politics. Visions turned into action.

We must never believe that the answer to this challenge is to be found in going backwards into the future.

We must never confuse ecological sustainability with nostalgic dreams of the past.

We must rely on new technology and its ability to help us get more out of less. Science is rapidly developing new insights and methods. The need for technical solutions decreasing the use of energy and natural resources can only grow.

The nations that dare go in the forefront of this development are not simply doing the right thing. They will also gain. This is a field with an enormous potential of growth and development. Those willing to take the risks, to make the long-term investments needed - those will be the first to take advantage of the unique opportunities on new market. Markets that can only grow.

* * *

In year 2002 ten years will have passed since the Rio conference on environment and development. It is time to meet again to evaluate and reinvigorate the political commitment and support for sustainable development.

We should adopt an action plan guaranteeing everybody a share in the possibilities of globalisation.

Ratification of the Kyoto agreement is essential. The USA's rejection is a cause for deep concern. The industrialised nations have a special responsability to take the lead in reducing greenhouse gases.

This view is shared by the EU who still is united in its efforts to defend the Kyoto Protocol. In Göteborg two weeks ago the European Union also adopted a strategy for sustainable development. It is the first step towards a development in which ecological, economic and social considerations complement and reinforce one another.

It is a first step - it is not enough. The Party of European Social democrats shall strengthen this work by carrying out two action plans.

First, build the new, modern welfare society.

We want to develop the Lisbon process to include all three dimensions of sustainable development. We need to develop time-targeted goals also for sectors as energy, transportation and agriculture. And we have to develop descriptions of necessary measures - subsidies, investment support, economical steering mechanisms and price-fixing.

Second, development will never be sustainable as long as extreme poverty exists and forces poorer countries to overuse scarce resources.

We need to deal with development assistance - the rich must live up to the goal of 0.7 per cent.

We need to deal with agricultural and energy subsidies - put an end to subsidies that are in conflict with a sustainable development.

We need to deal with trade and customs regulations - international agreements on trade- and environment must support each other.

This shall be the message from the European Social Democrats to the Rio 1992 follow-up meeting in South Africa.

We need to work on all levels and in all foras. We have good chances to succed.

The Socialist International is the worlds largest political organisation and has a unique possibility to make a difference in a globalised world. The working group on the Kyoto agreement, chaired by Siri Bjerke, plays an important part to re-emphasise the connection between the environment and development.

Social democracy must take the lead. The conservatives won´t do it. The market won´t do it.

* * *

Comrades and friends,

Let us make use of the existing possibilities and the wise hope. Let us be realistic.

It is the Social Democrats that can answer to the challenges of the future.

Out of peoples demands for better standards of living we have built modern welfare states. Societies built on equality and development.

Out of our children and grandchildrens demands of a future where nature is no threat we shall create a society of sustainable development.

We have the political will.
We have the ability.

Above all, we know: a better future does not shape itself. It is people in co-operation that shape it.

Thank you.