India’s New Green Deal

The Economic Times     28th January 2021     Save    

Context: India, with major manufacturing hub and being a large consumer state, can build a sustainable future economy from opportunities posed by the pandemic.

Key challenges to Sustainable Economy:

  • Conflicting goals of private sector: of maximizing profits versus green initiatives.
  • Lack of awareness: The price sensitivity of Indian consumers, a lack of awareness of ecological hazards and an inability to identify non-sustainable products are challenges.
  • Plastic pollution: About eight million tons of plastic enter our oceans each year.
    • This affects our health (over 80% of the world’s drinking water contains plastic fibre).
  • Vehicular emissions: Vehicular emissions create over 30% of the air pollution in Indian cities.
  • Unsustainable agricultural practices: Key challenges include stubble burning, groundwater pollution, overuse of harmful chemicals and inefficient water usage.

Key Opportunities for Creating Sustainable Indian Economy:

  • Remote working model: Institutionalising work from anywhere or work from home’ through digital connectivity, smartphones, and low-cost data bandwidth can offer the following benefits:
    • Reduce transport emissions, consumption of petrol and natural resources, noise pollution.
    • Ensure energy conservation and valuable time saved.
    • Decongested cities and employment opportunities in second and third-tier towns.
  • Private sector-led green initiatives: Many private sector companies in India adopt measures to reduce environmental damage and even reverse it. Certain interventions include -
    • Smart buildings, rainwater harvesting, smart cooling and lighting and green walls.
    • Installing solar power systems, treating industrial waste discharges and biodiversity preservation are growing. (IT companies have mandated tree covers around their offices).
    • Like carbon credit accounting and trading, innovative ideas can put a monetary value to responsible behaviour, aiding its implementation.
  • Changing consumer behaviour: through Public interest advertisements, specific data printed on product packages and awareness programmes.
  • Green packaging: Pandemic accelerated online shopping has created packaging-led waste at an exponential speed; hence it requires innovative solutions like -
    • Using biodegradable packaging and reusable materials.
    • Strong consumer and corporate ethics and government focus.
    • Recycling depots for disposing of packaging and shipping boxes.
  • Electric Vehicles (EVs): over 90% of individuals willing to move to EVs to reduce vehicular emissions;
    • Efficient batteries, accessible charging stations, software systems, affordable cars and drones can reduce vehicular emission.
  • Smart Agriculture: New advances in digital technology can improve productivity and preserve habitats of even small and marginal farmers.
    • E.g. A Silicon Valley-based companies water usage technology has resulted in a drop in water usage by 40% while water use efficiency has risen by 30%.
Quote: ‘We can’t just continue living as if there was no tomorrow, because there is a tomorrow.’ - Greta Thunberg.