The call was issued during his speech at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, or the Rio+20 , in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Friday.
"Now it`s time to break the myth that contrasts between development and environment. We can break the myth that development will inevitably lead to deforestation, increase emissions, create economic gaps, and the myth that we can only choose between development and democracy," the president said.
President Yudhoyono is among the 33 heads of state or government who expressed their views at the conference.
The President acknowledged that one of the major challenges today is to eradicate poverty and, according to conventional wisdom, to overcome poverty and economic growth will require expansion of the economic pie.
However, Yudhoyono added that growth alone is not sufficient, since in some cases growth can marginalize and oppress certain groups.
"That is why we need growth with equity," he said.
Yudhoyono noted that Indonesia has implemented equitable economic growth policies for the welfare of the people. However, equitable economic growth alone is not enough for the changing world`s demands.
"This is the kind of economic growth that will provide welfare benefits for all people, and in an environmentally friendly manner," he said.
Yudhoyono also explained his government`s policy of "pro-jobs, pro-poor, pro-growth and pro-environment".
"We are now putting environmental issues at the heart of all our development plans," he said.
President Yudhoyono`s visited Rio de Janeiro for two days to attend the Rio+20 Conference. From Brazil, the President proceeded to Ecuador for a two-day state visit. (*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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