When working in the area of sustainability, and managing programs in general, making sure to take the time to point out successes and best cases is important.
It motivates people who have worked hard to achieve a goal, and catalyzes others to take further steps.
It is an important action, and one that should really only be done for a real achievement.
All too often though, and it is possible to see this often in CSR and sustainability, awards and recognition are given out to those who have yet to achieve, or who have developed a perception of achievement. Counterproductive in nature, by recognizing those who have yet to achieve over those that have, the action can be detrimental over the long haul, something I honestly fear when I hear that the UNDP sees China’s potential going forward as a role model for water management
I will agree that china has some cases in Wuhan and Chengdu where progress in urban water treatment have been made, and that there has recently been a more active discussion on the environmental impact of economic development, but with 70% of its water being unfit for industrial use and poor water management issues all over China, I think the UNDP has sent the wrong message.
That they have looked to curry favor in the short term, and are patting china on the back too early… it was on the same day that this was announced that China announced that it had punished 13 for river pollution.
Perhaps that is the leadership that UNDP is looking for?