Hindu Business Line: National: Thursday, December 14, 2017.
Environment
is good politics now, and it’s time for administrative and political action to
give India a green roadmap.
According to
the just-released Global Carbon Budget report, India is expected to record a
two-per cent increase in carbon emission this year. But before that happend, in
the week leading up to Diwali, the Supreme Court banned sales of crackers in
the NCR region. But soon, large parts of northern India was under a blanket of
smog. And there was controversy surrounding the Odd-Even traffic management
scheme in Delhi.
Even as these
events were unfolding, the PM (particulate matter) pollution levels reached
alarming levels, with the children and the elderly facing the risk of permanent
lung defects, forcing schools to be shut down and sales of air masks and
purifiers going through the roof.
So, in a span
of a month, as a country and as a capital, we have tried to deal with the issue
of air pollution in myriad ways from domestic use of mild explosives, farmer
stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana and vehicle emissions.
A fresh
take
As large
parts of the northern and central India struggle to breathe, it is time to
bring a breathe of fresh air to the pollution problem. While civil society and
citizens can and do play a critical role in solving environmental issues, institutional
action is critical from political establishments and the executive alike.
Caring about the environment has now become both good politics and good
governance.
Why? Because,
for one, pollution costs India dearly according to the Lancet Commission, 2.51
million Indians died in 2015 due to pollution-related causes. We rank No. 1 in
pollution-related deaths and 25 per cent of all deaths are caused due to
pollution.
Moreover,
according to a 2013 World Bank report, air pollution alone costs India 8.5 per
cent of its GDP due to welfare costs and lost labour income.
Next,
pollution has also entered the public discourse. Indians (especially urban
Indians) are now increasingly concerned with the issue.
Social media
outrage, memes and other forms of satire on the subject shows a clear trend.
Rigorous surveys tend to corroborate the mood as per a 2015 Pew Research, 73
per cent of Indians were “very concerned” about global climate change.
A similar
tone is repeated in a 2016 Pew Study which finds that 73 per cent of city
dwellers and 65 per cent of rural Indians view air pollution as a “very big
problem” with 47 per cent of the people willing to forgo economic growth for
cleaner air. A separate Nielsen (2011) study shows that 90 per cent of Indians
were “concerned” about air and water pollution and 80 per cent thought climate
change was an “important issue”.
Reaching a
crescendo
While the
problem is not a new one and the debate is not a first, but the issue has
reached a crescendo both in terms of public consciousness and externalities.
Firstly,
there is a need for a Green Manifesto when political parties gear up for
elections at least in urban India. Not only is that a moral imperative, it is
also tactically suave.
The recent
manifestos of most major parties did not give sufficient space to a green
agenda. Come 2019 and beyond, that should, and will, change. There is a need to
have a separate environment vision document especially for urban India.
Given the
recent events political parties should expect environment to become a focal
campaign point, at least in cities. A glimpse of this coming change can be seen
in some of the more recent documents albeit from relatively young political
parties.
While the
West does suffer from double standards in international negotiations there are
still some lessons to be learnt. In the American context, candidates are
compelled to articulate their respective positions on the matter. Former US
Vice-President Al Gore built an entire movement and narrative around the
subject. The UK even has a Green Party, albeit it has seen limited success.
Secondly,
there is a need for an environment roadmap from the administration and the
executive. The Niti Aayog could set green goals akin to the UNDP’s Millennium
Development Goals. While air pollution is one of the main culprits, it is not
the only one and radical solutions need to be sought.
The National
Green Tribunal (NGT) needs to be revamped and armed with more scientists and
environmentalists. As some have suggested India should have a federal green
agency akin to the US EPA. Certain government measures are welcome steps for
example, the vision to sell only Electric Vehicles by 2030.
BATTLE OF
GREEN
We are seeing
early signs of the political boundaries being marked out in the battle of
green. Various proposals are doing the round. These include creating a multi
North Indian CM committee headed by the Prime Minister to floating a “Right to
Clean Air” Private Member’s Bill.
There is also
public debate around the RTI disclosure surrounding the high under utilisation
of the ₹787 crore Green Fund by the Delhi Government.
A developing
country which continues to face dual challenges of unemployment and poverty,
needs to balance environment concerns with needs for rapid large-scale
industrialisation. That economic engine along with accelerated urbanisation
will put immense pressure on India’s Green Report card and that is a juggling
act political leaders and administrators will need to master.
A recent
article talks about the various “time bombs” India is sitting on and its path
of “self destruction”. Climate change and pollution figured high in the list of
reasons for us to be very worried about our future and the future of our
nation.
Every Indian
has a right to life and according to Articles 21 & 48 of the Constitution,
a clean environment is part of that right. Neglecting pollution concerns not
only violates fundamental rights but it also have economic, human and political
costs. The Indian voter is ready with open doors for an environment conscious
politician to walk in. But this time, the concern has to be real, the manifesto
substantial and the promises delivered.
(The writer is
an entrepreneur)