Johannesburg — THE World Summit on Sustainable Development has to succeed because at stake are issues that determine the survival of human beings, says Jon Bech, Norwegian ambassador to SA .

Bech was speaking at one of the Johannesburg World Summit Company's legacy projects, a multipurpose resource centre towards which Norway contributed about R8m. The centre, near the Sandton Convention Centre where the summit will take place, includes a library, a media centre, a website and a call centre.

It will co-ordinate all communication between representatives at the summit including the media, local and international delegates and nongovernmental organisations

"Norway is dedicated to support financing for sustainable development. It has for a long time been engaged in a wide variety of efforts aimed at conservation and responsible management of Africa's precious resources," the ambassador said.

After the summit, the centre, which has been donated to the multibillion rand Alexandra Renewal Project, will be transformed into a sustainable resource centre and moved to Alexandra township.