Last meeting for ISSD kicks off

The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

Over 100 participants started on Thursday a two-day preparatory meeting for the Indonesian Summit on Sustainable Development (ISSD) to be held early next year.

State Minister for the Environment Nabiel Makarim said that the preparatory meeting was important to formulate strategic measures on sustainable development in Indonesia.

"Based on the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa last year, we should resolve the non- sustainability issue at the local level by involving various stakeholders," he said.

The minister said Indonesia had suffered greatly because of the non-sustainable development approach that had resulted in natural disasters and other environmental degradation.

"In addition, exploitation of natural resources only benefits a few people," he said.

Youth and children, women, farmers, businessmen, academicians, indigenous people, non-government organizations and local government are participating in the preparatory meeting.