Why should we worry about the environment? This question may seem absurd, since almost everyone who is literate would have something to say on this. Perhaps a more appropriate question would be,‘Do we in India really care?’ This question may provoke the experts and the activists — but that seems to be one of our problems. Discussions on environmental subjects here, sadly, have been limited mostly to the experts and the activists.Why then does our daily life not reflect any qualitative improvement, except on those rare occasions when the courts step in? This is because, as in most areas of life, the majority simply does not have a say and the folks who are supposed to ‘represent’ it obviously have more pressing concerns.The CoP8 (Eighth Conference of Parties) taking place in New Delhi is only the latest in a series of international fora that is trying to find ways to reconcile the needs of development and economics with those of protecting the environment. Anyone who has followed these negotiations knows how contentious they are. While countries like ours would come under increasing pressure to adopt limits on the so-called greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, this sort of pressure doesn’t seem to work on the biggest ‘emitter’, the US.It is a perfectly good strategy to point out the share of the developed countries in global emissions and to bargain hard while accepting any limits on emissions — which, obviously, have a very direct impact on our economy. However, as a country, are we missing out on one of the best opportunities to improve the quality of life by not taking enough pro-active actions, even while we negotiate to postpone acceptance of stricter limits on emissions? As pointed in the editorial of this newspaper (IE, October 30), ‘Inefficient energy use, after all, translates into not just a polluted environment but a poorly-run economy’.However, the biggest problem in switching to more efficient forms of energy use is usually the ‘up-front’ investment that is required for more efficient technologies. And this is where legislation can play a role, along with innovative financing mechanisms. The problem is more often one of management and political will than of finances. But all this requires the active involvement of the state because we do not operate in a static economic situation, and technologies evolve all the time. Indian problems require Indian solutions — while we may import technologies and management practices, the vision must be ours. In the long run, achieving manufacturing leadership in certain technologies should also be a national goal. Under the right policy framework, there is an adequate market in India for Indian companies to spend money on R&D to come up with their own technologies and products.Environment cannot be an afterthought when it comes to governance. Because, invariably, environmental issues are so closely related to those of economy and equity. Why equity? It’s simple — moving towards equitable development is the only real security for any nation in the long run. With foresight, the challenge of higher investments required to adopt superior technologies can be converted to a golden opportunity.There is enough knowledge about the effects of various technologies that we can avoid so many of the costly mistakes committed by other countries. To take just one example, public transportation is immensely more practical in India from the points of view of macro-economic management (reduced fuel bills), environment health, and, of course, equitable use of public land.However, in order to accord primacy to public transportation, clearly, coordination among a host of government agencies is required, including and especially, those at the state level. Here we can learn a great deal from the West, with its emphasis on affordable public transportation, petrol pricing and parking regulations. Petrol in Germany, for example, is much costlier than in India.Then there is the enormous potential of information technology in improving the environment as well as the quality of life of the public, while actually spending less, is yet to be realised. From reduced commuting for everyday chores, fewer trips to government offices, to active use of geographical and geological information, the possibilities are endless.Here is an opportunity to develop India as per Indian needs while tapping the best available resources. What is needed is to move away quickly from a compartmentalised way of thinking to a more integrated approach. We must find a method to the madness. We need development by design, not by default.The writer is visiting scientist, Korea Institute of Science & Technology
