7th World Congress on
Environment Management
Palampur Declaration - 2005
10 - 12 June 2005

1. Governance Structure
The Congress participants concluded that poor record of 'action on sustainability' was the outcome of misgovernance and lack of transparency. We therefore need to create more transparency, accountability, integrity and equity in our environment governance structures. Harmonious interaction amongst policy and implementation organizations and creation of suitable supporting indications must get high priority. Legislation and enforcement measures are required to combat corruption and wrong subsidies that cause great havoc. The industries that help in saving the environment should be encouraged through incentives. "Polluter pay Principle" should be enforced.

2. Proactivate
Action needs to be taken to activate and PROACTIVATE, where PROACTIVATE refers to: Pricing all capital i.e national, social human along with financial, radically increasing resource productivity instead of simply focusing on human productivity; using technology and innovation to bring 100 times greater output from the same unit of source input; organizing public private partnerships to create a buying of all sectors and actors; abolishing all cash subsidies and using them for eco-friendly infrastructure; driving the growth agenda through conservationism and not consumerism; bringing transparency and openness into the stock markets; Poor Oriented Innovation for Sustainable and Eco-friendly Development (POISED); vigorous pursuit of diversity agenda to balance growth and bring prosperity to all regions, sections, classes regardless of religion, creed or race; activating women groups to drive the change and training and education to internalize the change.

3. Public-Private Partnership through PIAS
There is a need for building partnership between government, civil society and business to ensure all development is environmentally sustainable. WEF is to establish local on the model of Palampur Environment Forum in all major districts as part of PIAS (Partnership In Action for Sustainability), which will coordinate with local business, government agencies & NGOs for environmental action.

4. Fostering Innovation and Creativity
The Congress came to the conclusion that the only way environment can be saved is by nurturing creativity and fostering innovation. This means people need to be given ownership of jobs they are doing and encouraged to make mistakes. The companies should not only recognize success but also develop reward system that recognizes "good tries".

5. From Cradle to Grave
All production processes need to be re-organized to pattern themselves on biological model, which has no waste. We need to change our paradigm from minimizing waste, recycling to eliminating waste, by closed loop systems.

6. Practice TEEM (Total Eco-Effective Management)
Everyone in the organization needs to practice total Eco-Effective Management, which calls for 9-fold action:
I. Reduce Material Intensity
II. Reduce energy
III. Eliminate toxicity
IV. Recycle
V. Reuse
VI. Revalorize
VII. Minimize use of scarce natural resources
VIII. Use renewable
IX. Provide extension of service wherever possible

7. Shift economy from acquisition to flow mode
We must change to life styles that promote flow of goods and services instead of owning them. Car hire, Laundromats and leasing of services are some of the examples. The producer is to be responsible for the entire life cycle of the product.

8. Poor Inclusive Market Framework
Poverty is the single largest barrier to sustainability. We need to develop and implement market frameworks that subsidize business to seek untapped markets in poor areas and develop viable income generating activities for the poor.

9. Private Sector
Private sector has to play its role as responsible operating arm of national development through transparency, accountability and exchange of good practices; launching action through public-private partnership; adopting voluntary initiatives; and implementing coherent and sound microeconomic policies; and developing institutional capacities at all levels.

10. Environmental Management System
Greater encouragement and incentives could be provided to involve all of the major polluting industries for their speedy adoption of EMS and certification to ISO 14001 as a further environmental commitment.

11. Regional Cooperation
Regional cooperation especially in neighboring countries of SAARC region is extremely vital and needs to be strengthened through periodic interactive sharing of experiences and utilizing institutional mechanisms. Planning at the global level and action at the local level are two important facts of strategy for sustainable development. Since, poverty and the environment degradation, have inseparable links. Solutions must focus on improving governance through regional cooperation.

12. WTO
WTO regime must create an open, equitable, rule-based, non-discriminatory, multi-lateral trading and finance system that benefits all countries in the pursuit of sustainable development. Environmental considerations should not become non-tariff barriers.

13. FDI
Foreign direct investments should be supportive of sustainable development and be channeled through international and regional institutions.

14. Millennium Development Goals
International trade instruments and development assistance manpower and technology for the objectives of Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations.

15. Create Competitiveness to improve environment
The congress applauded the role played by Golden Peacock Awards in spreading competitive culture, awareness and mutual exchange of environmental initiatives through their environmental management system and 'eco-innovation' awards. The award system could be further refined to focus on governance.

Letter from Prof (Dr) Hafiz Abdul Qayyum on behalf of leader of Pakistan Delegation to 7th World Congress on Environment Management, Palampur

Date : 16 June 2005
To
Dr. Madhav Mehra
President
World Council For Corporate Governance

Dear Dr. Mehra

Good Day,

I, on behalf of members of the Pakistani delegation and on my own behalf would like to express my deepest sense of gratitude and appreciation to you for arranging the 7th world congress on environment management from June 10-12, 2005 at Palampur and thus providing an opportunity to the Pakistani delegation for participation in the congress. The delegation got a good chance to meet delegates from all over the world and exchange views on the burning topics of environment and present papers, clearly indicating the position of Pakistan on this important topic.

All members of the delegation praise you for making donation of a very nice building at PALAMPUR for holding annual conference and also for meeting the recurring expenses of such conferences.
Your hospitality extended to Pakistani delegation and presentation of gifts with inscription. "I was at PALAMPUR" would be remembered for all times to come. The participation of our delegation has opened new avenues for further detailed discussions and also for holding such conferences in Pakistan.
Your devotion, delegation and above all personal interest to face the present challenges on environment and chalk out some policy for implementation by the Governments of various countries would go a long way in bringing revolutionary changes for keeping the environment free from all types of pollution.
You deserve full credit for holding such conferences and for making personal sacrifices of money, time and your GOD given Wisdom and knowledge.

I, once again thank you on behalf of Pakistani delegation for your so nice treatment during the period of our participation in the conference.

With kind regards,
Your,

Dr. Hafiz Abdul Qayyum