Aligarh, Dec 27 (IANS): President Pranab Mukherjee Friday said human beings are products of evolutionary and historical process. The desire to be master of nature has guided most human activities. This needs to be replaced by philosophy of cooperation with nature and urge to evolve new paradigms of ecologically sustainable development.

He was addressing the inaugural function of a five-day long 37th India Social Science Congress at Kennedy Auditorium, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), on "Building on Ecologically Sustainable Society".

Mukherjee said despite water on its surface, Earth has only one percent drinking water, a large quantity of which is polluted. Moreover, rivers are drying and ground water is being over-exploited. Where there is water, there is life. He said: "So, we need to conserve and replenish our water resources."

He pointed out India is one of the mega-biodiverse countries of the world. With four global biodiversity hotspots, India ranks amongst the top 10 species-rich nations.

He cautioned climate change is a threat but also a unique opportunity to work together. As a developing country on the frontlines of climate vulnerability, India has a vital stake in the evolution of a successful, rule-based, equitable and multilateral response to climate change.

Mukherjee also congratulated the AMU for developing a "Social Science Cyber Library". He inaugurated the Social Science Cyber Library. Uttar Pradesh Governor B.L. Joshi released the souvenir and presented the first copy to the President.