“The global community faces enormous challenges. The economic crisis, food Security, climate change, energy insecurity, conflict, rising population – these are the challenges of unprecedented magnitude which affects us all, and in particular the world’s poorest and most vulnerable. The nature of this interdependence means that it has never been so important to invest in our common future.”

Douglas Alexander, UK Secretary of State for International Development, introducing a consultation process on the future of the UK international aid programme. He goes on to say:

Over the last decade, there have been massive gains in reducing global poverty yet there are some big threats as we leave a strong era of global economic growth.

The global financial crisis is bringing the most significant economic downturn for decades which could devastate the developing world as 90 million more people are forced into poverty at the end of the year. The effects of climate change are increasingly apparent and conflict as well as weak government is preventing progress for millions of people. The global economic crisis has also revealed a number of flaws in the international system.

On 2 April, leaders from the world’s leading economies will come to London to attend the G20 summit where they will draw up plans with other countries and the World Bank to protect developing countries from falling levels of investment and aid.

The emphasis in the presentations has been on the interdependence of the global world. The economic crisis is impacting all countries, and the resolution of the situation requires that the rich countries do not just work to protect themselves. Dealing with this crisis will require that we deal with the issues of global poverty at the same time.

View here a video clip "Our interdependent world: building our common future" from the conference:

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This link takes you to a selection of other video presentations from the conference.