OPPORTUNITIES FROM THE WORLD’S BIORESOURCES

"We have only one earth with its limited resources.  Yet, we, the homosapiens, have continued to use these limited resources recklessly as if there were no tomorrow.  Already, we are beginning to pay the price in the form of degraded environment, new health care challenges, water shortage and energy crisis.  To be sure, most of the developing countries, euphemistically called the South, use only a fraction of the resources as compared with the consumption of the West and, particularly, North America. 

However, the challenge of addressing the problem of degraded environment needs to be met by all of us in the South as well as in the West.  It is in this context that I welcome the initiative of the World Congress on Zero Emissions.  I am glad that the Fourth Annual World Congress was held in Windhoek, bringing together the rich experience of distinguished natural science experts, technologists, engineers and policy makers from all over the world.  Such interaction not only focuses on the problems at hand but also provides everyone an opportunity to gain a glimpse into what our actions need to be to protect our planet.

The proceedings of the Fourth Annual World Congress on Zero Emissions provide many new initiatives for us to exploit the world’s bioresources in new and responsible ways.  The papers presented at the congress are diverse but the focus remains on Zero Emissions Research Initiative (ZERO), and how ZERI does not have to be in conflict with the developmental issues we face in the in the developing countries. 

In fact, ZERI shows us the way for enhancing our capacities for addressing our developmental needs and preserving the earth’s limited resources.  Therefore, ZERI needs serious consideration if we are to leave our planet a little less ravaged for the future generations. 

I have no doubt that the policy makers business persons as well as ordinary citizens would find the proceedings a useful source of ideas and inspiration.
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JHage G. Geingob
Prime Minister of Namibia
Windhoek, Namibia