Traditional systems of incentives and penalties by which governments motivate the economic behaviour of individuals and corporations, must be reoriented. Without that, the objectives of sustainable development will not be achieved. For example, the case for energy efficiency is a winwin situation. The developing countries simply will not be able to meet their needs for new investment and energy on the traditional basis. In many countries, the necessary funds are not available to meet projected capital needs for energy alone.
Energy efficiency is one of the primary answers.
The initiative to create a global energy efficiency collaborative is one of the possible responses to the hard case for sustainability. The environment cannot be left to environment ministers, even less can sustainable development. One of the disappointments of Rio is that the Commission for Sustainable Development has become largely a gathering of environment ministers. Environment ministers are necessary. But environmental ministries alone cannot care for the environment.