Royal Message of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn At The International Conference on “Climate Change, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for the Sustainable Development Goals: Policy and Practice” At the Sirindhorn International Environmental Park, Phetchaburi Province, Thailand 27 June 2016 It gives me pleasure to be present at the opening of the International Conference on “Climate Change, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for the Sustainable Development Goals: Policy and Practice”. May I extend my warm welcome to all participants. At present, we are faced with problems which are complex. Importantly, the problems caused by climate change and on the degradation of biodiversity and ecosystem. These compel us to work together in an interdisciplinary fashion in order to achieve the sustainability all of us are wishing for. It is commendable that the academic and scientific communities, together with the development sector join hands in organizing this conference that provides a platform for bridging knowledge and education with development. As we all know, the ever decreasing natural capital, due to excessive consumption of natural resources, particularly biological resources, threatens our planet’s regeneration capacity and its sustainability to support life. It is believed that if we go on with current consumption patterns, we will surely be faced with immeasurable catastrophe. Looking back, it can be seen that we humans play a huge part in all these. Human’s irresponsible behaviours and actions are destroying the gifts from Nature. Sustainable development has been in the international agenda over a long period of time. It is strongly believed to be the right path to the solution of the critical global issue. Thus, there is the need for clear understanding of what it is all about and to accelerate and scale-up actions for the creation of sustainable solutions. Sustainable development is about balancing the economic, environmental and social dimensions. When countries prioritize economic consideration to uplift prosperity, alleviate poverty and reduce inequality, they must recognize the fundamental truth that the economy is only a subset of society and the natural environment. In turn, society is constrained by the natural ecology of our planet, thus requiring integration of ecological thinking into all social and economic planning, policy and practice of all sectors of society. I am pleased that the Sirindhorn International Environmental Park and the Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development, RCE in Cha-am, in collaboration with partner organizations, are taking active roles in organizing this international conference. I wish that you will have productive and meaningful deliberations of issues facing all humanity. Proceedings of the International Conference on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for the v Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Policy and Practice 27-29 June 2016, Cha-am, Phetchaburi, Thailand
Proceedings of International Conference on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for the Sustainable Development Goals : Policy and Practice 27-29 June 2016 at the Sirindhorn International Environmental Park, Cha-am, Phetchaburi, Thailand
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