5.9 Billion! Yes, 5.9 billion tones in the total amount of carbon dioxide that the so called most developed nation in the world " America" emits on an average annually. Compare this figure with the annual emissions of India. India's annual carbon dioxide emission is roughly about 100 million tones. This is about one fifth of that of America. India does not even find a place in the top 20 polluting countries of the world. In spite of these self explanatory figures, American president George W Bush in the recently concluded G 8 summit pointed at India and China and said that; if the problem of climate change has to be combated, then India and china have a major role to play. President however, did not make any commitment from his side.
It is well acknowledged that china being the second largest emitter of green house gases after America does have a big role to play in combating the menace of global warming. However, India's emissions are a minuscule in comparison to that of American or global emissions.
In the recently concluded G 8 summit, America instead of atoning for the dangers it has created for humanity, pointed fingers at the developing nations to act on the problem. There was absolutely no commitment from America to act on the affirmative to reduce their emissions. There was no mention of any transfer of technology to the developing world or easing the patent rights. Instead the G 8 leaders called for lowering trade barriers in the Asian countries and early conclusion of the Doha round negotiations. These are the perils of a uni-polar world.
Furthermore, America has not even agreed to cut back their emissions by a meager 5% by 2012, which is one of the requirements of the Kyoto protocol from which she withdrew in 2001. A reduction of 5% emissions by the USA would be almost equivalent to practically zero emissions from India which houses 17% of the world's population.
In this backdrop, what can we expect from America? Practically nothing. Regional groupings like the G 8 are a mere talk show to majority of the world's population. There are absolutely no commitments by any of the world's leaders to atone for the kind of tensions that they have created in the world. However even though countries like Germany, Japan and others agreed to an unbinding resolution to cut their emissions by 50% by 2050, America did not even agree to such unbinding resolutions. An absolute attribute of a uni-polar world.
It was clearly pointed out by the inter government panel on climate change, an agency of the UN that the brunt of the climate change would be experienced by the eastern countries in general and India and other far east countries in particular. Norway, it was pointed out would be completely submerged in another 40 years. So who is paying price for whose mistakes? The IPCC further called for a coordinated effort by all nations to combat the menace of climate change. The so called developed nations have not been sensitive enough to these alarms. The recently concluded G 8 summit and the conference held in Bangkok last month could not come out of any specific norms or guidelines or schemes to combat climate change. Remember, IPCC has pointed out that the world has only 8 years to correct the situation or else, the situation may go out of hand and may lead to irreversible changes.
Now, where do India and other developing nations go? As pointed out by Russian president Vladimir putin, Russia, China and India together produce more than America. So regional groupings like between Russia, China and India or BRIC or BRIC plus South Africa and Mexico would do more good to humanity than the G8. Countries of these groupings have potential to emerge as superpowers in future. This is the ideal time for these countries/groupings to act together and prove their strengths. A consensus among them on larger issues like climate change can prove to be a great benefit for the world at large. These can be more effective than mere talk shows by countries like America. Brazilian president Lula's proposal for an annual G-5(Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa) summit is commendable and is in the right direction to combat the perils of a uni-polar world. Even though in a longer run if these countries go on to pay the prices for the sin committed by the developed ones, it would be worth the sacrifice for the cause of humanity.
In particular, what are India's options? Sky is the limit for Indians. India has been blessed with rich natural resources, exemplary human resources and excellent technological power which are one of the best in the world. Ancient civilization, wisdom and science, entrepreneurial skills of the present generation and loads of diversity speak volumes for the nation we are. A rightful mix of policies and action can do a world of good.
We must tread on higher growth trajectory. It is an excellent achievement for India to have reached the 9.4% growth in the 2006-07 fiscal. We must aim higher. But this high growth must come in an environment friendly way. Not only GDP but green GDP must reach 10%.Below are a few measures that we can adopt to make our livelihood greener;
1. Green tax as envisioned by Dr.R.K.Pachauri, chairman of IPCC is a novel way of taxing polluters.
2. Higher property tax on buildings built by aluminum and glass.
3. Introduce environment cess on steel, concrete and aluminum.
4. Property tax relaxation on buildings built by environment friendly materials like flyash bricks, soil cement blocks, filler slabs, earthen masonry etc.
5. Making rain water harvesting mandatory to all buildings including residential houses.
6. Incentives to farmers growing sugarcane, oil seeds and Corn.(Though few people have expressed apprehension about it, at the moment it looks like a good option to grow raw material for bio fuel)
7. Greater impetus on research on renewable energy. We must also encourage scientists working on third stage nuclear reactor and fusion reactors. High pay, abolition of reservation in appointment and promotion of scientists working in this area can do a lot of good.
8. Encouragement to research on finding ways to burn coal more efficiently.(Though this technology is available in the west, they are not ready to part with it owning to strict IPR regime).
9. Strict policing on vehicles violating pollution norms.
10. Introduction of Environment science subjects to create awareness among the youth and children from primary school up to graduation.
11. Encouragement to recycling plants with tax sobs.
12. Check leakages in public water distribution system.(It has been estimated that 30% of water in Mumbai and Bangalore is lost through leakages).
13. Setup a ministry for recycling. Or at least a vertical in the department of renewable energy to look into the issues concerning the feasibility and implementation of recycling.
14. Impose very high tax on conspicuous consumption like resort stays, Business class travel etc.
15. Impose a kind of tax on television advertisements which flaunts conspicuous consumption.
16. Introduce padma awards for excellent farm and building practices.
17. Introduce padma awards for spreading environmental awareness.
18. Like NCC and NSS, voluntary groups in schools and colleges can be set up to spread environmental consciousness.
19. Make the municipal authorities in cities completely autonomous, free from political control so that they can come down heavily upon people violating building codes.
20. Official vehicles for bureaucrats and other government officers can be switched from high energy consuming vehicles like Honda and Hyundai to other energy efficient vehicles like Maruthi etc.
In addition to these, our government must stop looking at the west for all our problems. The recently held G8 summit is the testimony for their efficiency. The nuclear deal with USA in on the verge of a collapse thanks to some impossible clauses by Washington. Reprocessing rights are integral to the three stage nuclear program envisioned by Baba.Reprocessing spent fuel which helps in using thorium as nuclear fuel will go a long away in reducing India's dependence on fossil fuel for her energy needs. This means reducing pollution by leaps and bounds. But America, the so called most progressive state in the world is against this. But still wants India to cut down emissions.
It is better we follow our look east policy not only for trade but also for other kinds of socio-economic-politico cooperation.
It is high time that the world at large becomes more sensitive to the issue of climate change. Regional groupings should move from mere talk shows to evolving macro guidelines to combat problems engulfing humanity. Otherwise inconvenient truth will obviously become inevitable.
