The afternoon session on Day 2 of the Asia Society’s ACC began with a keynote address from Jairam Ramesh, India’s Minister of State, Environment and Forests. India faces environmental issues on two conceptual levels: issues which must be resolved in the international arena, such as climate change, and more traditional environmental issues that must be addressed locally, such as air pollution, water pollution, land degradation and others. Mr. Ramesh discussed some of India’s strategies for tackling these challenges.
Mr. Ramesh underscored that environmental issues must be brought to center stage. “We’ve had a goody-goody approach to the environment so far,” he said candidly. “But managing the environment means making tough calls and tough choices. It’s very difficult in our system to make such tough calls.” The sustainability of India’s high economic growth, he stressed, is predicated on obeying the fundamental laws of ecological sustainability. India cannot afford to grow first and clean up later. Moreover, for India to have “inclusive” growth, it must also have sustainable growth.
Within India, Mr. Ramesh stressed that the government is not ignoring “bread and butter” environmental issues: air pollution, water pollution, land degradation. The latest environmental issues in India include a debate over whether genetically modified crops should be used, as well as mining issues which may disturb biodiversity.
Internationally, the most significant and unexpected trend that has emerged has been remarkable cooperation between India and China on climate change. Although in the past few years, India and China have sparred over various issues, and they are seen in the international arena as rivals. They overcame this animosity to sign a partnership agreement on climate change, making India the first country to sign such a treaty with China. India and China were at the center of the Copenhagen Accord, forged alongside Brazil, South Africa and the United States. These partnerships show that China and India can work out windows of engagement in the field of environment to the benefit of both.
However, Mr. Ramesh cautioned that in order to create political momentum within India for resolving international climate change issues, there must be a paradigm shift within the Indian populace. People should understand that India cannot afford to grow first and clean up later. Moreover, the assumption must be eliminated that since India is not historically responsible for causing greenhouse gas emissions, it has no responsibility to solve the problem. Regardless of historical responsibility, the solution to climate change must be global, and therefore must include India.
Although the problems associated with climate change loom large, India seems well-positioned due to its focus on inclusive, sustainable growth, its openness to international cooperation, and its effective implementation of measures against conventional sources of pollution.