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“Revolutionary action” is needed to achieve sustainable development, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today told the government and business leaders at World Economic Forum in Davos. The UN chief issued an urgent warning that the past century’s heedless consumption of resources is “a global suicide pact” and time is running out to ensure an economic model for survival.

“Let me highlight the one resource that is scarcest of all: time,” he said, in a session on redefining sustainable development. “We are running out of time. Time to tackle climate change. Time to ensure sustainable, climate-resilient green growth. Time to generate a clean energy revolution.” In Davos, from left: President of Rwanda Paul Kagame; Josette Sheeran of the USA, head of the UN World Food Programme; UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (Photo by Eskinder Debebe courtesy UN)

It is time to secure the balanced development that will lift people out of poverty while protecting the planet and ecosystems that support economic growth, he told heads of state and government, international economists, business and industry leaders and civil society.

“Here at Davos – this meeting of the mighty and the powerful, represented by some key countries – it may sound strange to speak of revolution,” said the usually mild-mannered Ban. “But that is what we need at this time. We need a revolution. Revolutionary thinking. Revolutionary action. A free market revolution for global sustainability.”

Sustainable development is the right growth agenda for the 21st century, said Ban, recounting the mistakes of the past century based on a false belief in the infinite abundance of natural resources.