A high Level Panel of the United Nations Secretary General on Global Sustainability has urged the governments of various countries to scale up their efforts to achieve Millennium Development Goals to eradicate poverty and to reduce inequalities as top priorities for ataining sustainable development. The report which was launched at a function in New Delhi has recommended that government and business should build strategic partnerships between themselves and local communities for the implementation of sustainable development investments.

Other recommendations of the report include scaling up of integrated water resource management schemes like drinking sanitation, agriculture, industry and energy. Speaking on the occassion, Rural Development minister Mr Jairam Ramesh underlined the need for conservation of environment and natural resources.