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"The transition to a globalised world is progressing rapidly, but the transition to a
sustainable one is not. Globalisation and the environment are still 'worlds apart', as a title
of a recent book says (Speth 2003). Therefore, I am grateful for the efforts undertaken to
find answers to the question of how to reach globalisation of environmental management.
I would like to start my presentation with four introductory remarks:
1. First of all, congratulations! The Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) stands for
25 years of imaginative and successful environmental research. That is quite a long
period of time; that means quite some experience. I have seen many institutes and
researchers coming during those years; quite a few of them then disappeared…Thanks,
therefore, for inviting me to this special event; and let's start for another 25 years today!
2. International advertisements of the University of Leiden used to begin with a wonderful
motive: 'The Universiteit Leiden never hesitates to push aside what is outdated or
obsolete, yet values tradition and the attainments from the past. It often has to lead the
way, and always takes a critical stance on fashion and trends'. I very much like that
motive, and intend to make it my own. 3. The first speaker at a symposium or conference should never try to give all - or even the
'final' - answers to the questions asked by the organisers. Better leave that to the other
speakers or the rapporteur. For today's event, and in view of the excellent speakers you
invited, this old wisdom should hold all the more. Instead of giving final answers, I
shall start with some observations and add a few more questions, before coming to
some possible priorities on how to proceed with global environmental management.
4. The Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) obviously is fond of 'triangles' or
'three pillars' models'. The CML is doing work (1) on Environment and Development,
(2) on Environmental Biology, and (3) on Industrial Ecology - one such triangle.
Today’s symposium is also structured like a triangle or three pillars' model. The main
question of the organisers was: Should environmental problems and globalisation of
environmental management be approached in a supra-national, a multi-lateral and/or a private way?
Are these three approaches complementary or competing?" (author's abstract)
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