India’s Perspective

OPINION OF EXPERT ON GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE

An interview was conducted to understand the opinions of an expert on various issues like global climate change, governmental control, business development and the related interlinked topics. The following is the interview we had with our expert, Mrs Padma who is an expert in the field of Waste Management. She is a part of an organization named SAAHAS. Saahas is a Bangalore based voluntary organization committed to finding solutions to problems related to solid waste management in the city. Saahas also works with corporates on waste management. Over the last two years, Saahas has worked closely with the Hazardous Waste Management Program, Karnataka (HAWA) to study the various issues related to generation of e-waste as also its flow, recycling and final disposal. Saahas is working in partnership with WeP Peripherals and E-Parisara. They have setup the first ever city wide collection programme for household e-waste like batteries, CDs & floppies. This has been implemented at over 20 institutions already.

1. Do you think that the government should be paying part of the rising fuel price, or the government should be using the same money on new energy alternative research?

EXPERT: I will answer the first part of your question as I think that is best answered by economists and the like. However, whether there should be sufficient spending on research to find alternative energy, I think the answer to that is yes. We do need to spend money on research to find efficiency in harnessing solar energy especially in the light of the fact that India has an abundance of it. We need to ensure that we make effective use of it. The use of renewable energy resources is one of the ways to cut down the Green House Gases and transform economies from high to low carbon ones. Renewable energy sources, such as solar power, wind energy and bio-fuels which currently accounts for a small percentage of India’s energy baskets are likely to meet no more than 2-3 percent of India’s need by 2012. Both nations should increase the share of a cleaner form of energy vis-à-vis fossil fuels steadily for the sake of their long term economic sustainability.

2. Do you think that the solution for global warming is possible in economic measures, or do we need a cultural change in our lifestyles to face the new reality in world energetic platform?

EXPERT: Yes, economic measures can be a solution for global warming. This can be seen in the number of business enterprises entering the field of waste management. It is being seen as a lucrative enterprise. An example of this would be E-Parisaraa which is an e-waste recycling facility. However, this does not preclude the need for a shift in lifestyles. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. These are the 3 R’s that we need to practice. While businesses in waste management may be taking care of Reuse and Recycle, there has to be a shift in lifestyles to include “reduce”. We must reduce the waste generated first before we can think of reuse and recycle.

From this pyramid structure it is very easy to understand the steps involved in waste minimisation and management. This waste could be biodegradable or non-biodegradable waste, emissions, etc. It also highlights the fact that “prevention is better than cure”.

3. How do you think the governmental policies can create a balance between business development and environmental protection in the Indian scenario?

EXPERT: I don’t see why business development and environment protection are seen as either/or situations. Business development should include the protection of the environment in which it works. Businesses should take care of its employees, its shareholders, other stakeholders as well as the society and environment in which it operates. Companies and Organisations have something called a bottom line and top line. Top line includes «turnover» of the company. Bottom line is basically «profit». Earlier companies associated only profit with bottom line. But then they started to think that they as an organisation have some responsibility towards the society and most recently even environment. So now companies have «Triple Bottom Line» This includes concern towards «PROFIT PEOPLE and PLANET».
Another very important aspect is Sustainable development. It has been defined as balancing the fulfilment of human needs with the protection of the natural environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but in the indefinite future. The term was used by the Brundtland Commission which coined what has become the most often-quoted definition of sustainable development as development that «meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.»
The field of sustainable development can be conceptually divided into four general dimensions: social, economic, environmental and institutional. The first three dimensions address key principles of sustainability, while the final dimension addresses key institutional policy and capacity issues.
The following Venn diagram is self explanatory as to how Social, Economic and Environmental Sustainable Development can bring about a wholesome development in our societies.