|
Introduction
Water, Energy, Health, Agriculture and Biodiversity---these are
the
areas in which progress is possible with the resources, and
technologies
at our disposal, said Mr. Kofi Annan , at Johannesburg, proposing
special attention on these five key thematic areas forming the WEHAB
framework. Ten days of intensive deliberations at the WSSD
resulted in a
significant outcome: partnerships for sustainable development
involving
Governments, Corporate, Funding Agencies, Scientific and
Technology
concerns, and Civil Society groups, meant at implementing agendas
built
around the WEHAB themes. While an encouraging number of
partnerships
have come up and a considerable amount of funding has already been
committed, more initiatives are needed to meet the Millennium
Development Goals of poverty reduction i.e. economic growth
vis-a-vis
protecting the earthˇ¦s environment for sustainable future.
This
requires unprecedented efforts on the part of all stakeholders:
the role
of science and technology becomes paramount. Besides, governments
have
to agree on many propositions, corporates have to show greater
resolve,
and civil society groups have to be more proactive. With the
inescapable
perils posed by erratic changes in the earth's climate, the
imbalances
in its biodiversity, and the alarming depletion of its natural
resources, we have no other option but to operationalize the
sustainability of our development. It is imperative that
our-efforts-both at local and global levels-are informed by a
clear
mission and imbued with collective vision and resolve.
Sustainable development in simplest term according to the
Brundtland
Report, a 1987 report from the United Nations, means that
"Sustainable
development is development that meets the needs of the present
without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs."
Currently sustainable development describe it in terms of
balancing the
social, environmental and economic needs of everyone to ensure a
better
quality of life, which consists of :-
Social progress which recognises the needs of
everyone; Effective protection of the environment; Prudent use of natural resources; &
Maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth and
employment.
Some deal this issue as
considered to be closely attached to economic
growth which is a sustainable increase in living standards that
implies
increased per capita income, better education and health as well
as
environmental protection and the need to find ways to inflate the
economy in the long term without using up natural capital for
current
growth at the cost of long term growth, talking about only GDP
will be a
narrow measure of economic welfare that does not take account of
important non-economic aspects such as more leisure time, access
to
health & education, the environment, freedom, or social justice.
Few
deal this as , the concept of growth in itself is problematic, as
the
resources of the Earth are finite. Conserving the biodiversity and
reducing poverty are also vital to sustainable development. The
concept
of Sustainable Development arose from concern over the situation
we live
in today. Our resources are being dwindling at an alarming rate,
the
quality of our natural environment is decreasing, and the
pressures on
disadvantaged and deprived communities continue to grow.
These
trends of
unstable and inefficient growth are happening on a local, national
and
global scale. Sustainability is a term used to describe an
efficient way
of living to try and reverse some of the damage done and preserve
our
resources for future generations. Experience of the recent past
has
brought to us the realization of the deadly effects of development
on
ecosystem. The entire world is facing a serious problem of
environmental
degradation due to indiscriminate development. Industrialization,
burning of fossil fuels and massive deforestation are leading to
degradation of environment. Today the atmospheric level of carbon
dioxide, the principal source of global warming, is 26% higher
than
pre-industrial concentration. While economic development should
not be
allowed to take place at the cost of ecology or by causing
widespread
environment destruction and violation; at the same time the
necessity to
preserve ecology and environment should not hamper economic and
other
developments. Both development and environment must go hand in
hand, in
other words, there should not be development at the cost of
environment
and vice versa, but there should be development while taking, due
care
and ensuring the protection of environment.
The doctrine of sustainable development although is not an empty
slogan,
it is required to be implemented taking a pragmatic view. Making
the
concept of sustainable development operational for public policies
raises important challenges that involve complex synergies and
trade
offs. The development of the doctrine of sustainable development
indeed
is a welcome feature but while emphasizing the need of ecological
impact, a delicate balance between it and the necessity for
development
must be struck, whereas it is not possible to ignore
inter-generational
interest, it is also not possible to ignore the dire need which
the
society urgently requires. It has been obsereved by Professor
Michael
von Hauff that, "it is remarkable that India was the first country
in
the world to enshrine environmental protection as a state goal in
its
Constitution".
The sustainable development
requires the States to ensure that they
develop and use their natural resources in a manner which is
sustainable. The goal of the government should be to come out with
some
laws and ideas with a commitment to preserve natural resources for
the
benefit of today & tommorrow. The government should also bring out
some
appropriate principles for the utilization of natural resources
based
upon harvests or use which is "prudent," or "rational,", yet other
agreements require an "equitable" use of natural resources,
suggesting
that the use by any State must take account of the needs of other
States
and people and lastly it is also required that, environmental
considerations should be integrated into economic and other
development
plans, programmes, and projects, and that the development needs
are
taken into account in applying environmental objectives. Then we
will be
able to achieve sustainable development.
Due to the unequitable use of the natural resources which are
non-renewable in nature harmful gases are released in the
atmosphere
which is bringing climate change in the whole asiatic region and
in
whole world. Recently drought in Assam (extreme eastern part of
India which has places like Cherapunji which recieves highest
rainfall in
world) and flood in Rajasthan particularly in the city of
Jaiselmer and
Barmer (which recieves lowest rainfall in India, to the extent
that
people of those places have never seen rainfall in there life and
rain
is considered as holyday). We have to combat these climate change
and
achieve sustainable development at the same time. Both issues are
two
sides of the same coin. There is no way to achieve sustainability
in a
devastated world. Therefore, both developed and developing
countries
share common but differentiated responsibilities. The developed
countries have to rapidly re-direct their societies and economies
towards clean energy, energy efficiency and more sustainable
consumption
patterns. The countries in the developing world must get their
chance to
take a direct road towards a sustainable future, avoiding the
deviation
of relying on unsustainable energy forms such as fossil fuels and
nuclear. There is no reason why developing countries should go
through
the same mistakes that developed countries have committed.
Developing
countries like ours can do better and we definitely should, as it
is our
responsibilty and moreover neccesity.
At the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg,
the
world community agreed that poverty eradication and access to
clean
energy have to go hand in hand. At the summit, the European Union
took
the initiative to form a group of like-minded countries which are
willing to agree on timetables and targets for increasing the use
of
renewable energies. India was also invited by some European
countries to
join this initiative. I, believe that focussing on renewable
energies is
the key to the future.
Forest Management
It is the present zenith in a progression of basic forest
management
concepts. Forest management is the term currently used to describe
approaches to forest management that set very broad social and
environmental goals. A range of forestry institutions now practice
various forms of sustainable forest management and a broad range
of
methods and tools are available that have been tested over time.
Forests
in India have continued to deteriorate under pressure from the
growing
population, both human and livestock. A growing number of
foresters,
economists, social scientists, public administrators, and
policy-makers
now acknowledge that unless local communities are effectively
involved
in establishing sustainable forest management systems,
deforestation
will continue at a rapid rate. Therefore, the challenge for forest
regeneration and protection is to develop a management practice
that
combines the economic interests of forest users and their active
involvement in forest regeneration and conservation.
The area under the Shivaliks, which was once covered by dense
forests
with a variety of flora and fauna, reached its worst form of
degradation
in the early 1970s. Reckless felling of trees, frequent forest
fires,
and increasing biotic pressure destroyed the vegetation in the
area.
Large tract of lands was cleared for agriculture. The problem of
grazing
was so serious that in heavily grazed areas, 4-6 cm of topsoil
used to
disappear after just one heavy shower. On the other hand, because
of the
poor economic conditions of the people, forest laws and
traditional
methods of forest regeneration proved ineffective. Against this
background, an intervention has been designed with three criteria,
namely ecological viability, economic feasibility, and social
desirability (social and political acceptability).
Forest management is the stewardship and use of forests and forest
lands
in a way, and at a rate, that maintains their biodiversity,
productivity, regeneration capacity, vitality and their potential
to
fulfill, now and in the future, relevant ecological, economic and
social
funcions, at local, national, and global levels, and that does not
cause
damage to other ecosystems. Seven common thematic areas of
sustainable
forest management have emerged based on the criteria of the nine
ongoing
regional and international initiatives. The seven thematic areas
are:-
1. Extent of forest resources;
2. Biological diversity;
3. Forest health and vitality;
4. Productive functions and forest resources;
5. Protective functions of forest resources;
6. Socio-economic functions; and
7. Legal, policy and institutional framework.
We need to create an ecosystem approach as a strategy for the
integrated
management of land, water and living resources that promotes
conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way. Application
of the
ecosystem approach will help to reach a balance of the three
objectives
of the Convention. An ecosystem approach is based on the
application of
appropriate scientific methodologies focused on levels of
biological
organization, which encompasses the essential structures,
processes,
functions and interactions among organisms and their environment.
It
recognizes that humans, with their cultural diversity, are an
integral
component of many ecosystems.
Sometimes the government in itself starts winding up of forests
for the
profit but it must keep in mind the ˇ§Public Trust Doctrineˇ¨
evolved by
the supreme court of India while standing for the cause of
environment
and said that is, to protect the forest as it is a public property
of
which government is the caretaker not the owner as it can be used
by it
wims and fancies. We need an integrated approach to rural
development
which has to be adopted, to elicit people's participation in
regeneration and conservation of forests. The stress is on
fulfilling
the social, economic, and human development needs of communities
in the
belief that a self-reliant community is essential to sustaining
forests
and should be the basic philosophy for community forestry
programmes.
Actions like Joint Forest Management have shown positive results
in the
sub-continent and has increased employment in the field of forest
management ultimately serving to the purpose of all round
development.
Desertification
Desertification is like a skin disease on the earth's surface,
erupting in patches that grow and merge over time if not
treated. ¨For some, desertification is merely thought of as desert
encroachment.
However, desertification is a larger dynamic. It refers to the
ultimate
degradation of drylands, the point at which that land no longer
can be
returned to a productive state. It results from complex
interactions
between unpredictable climate variations and unsustainable land
use
practices. Desertification is the dilapidation of land in areas,
lacking
enough water for things to grow, semi arid and dry sub-humid areas
resulting from various factors including climatic variations and
human
activities. Desertification often arises from the demands of
increased populations that settle on the land in order to grow
crops and graze
animals. It is a common misapprehension that droughts cause
desertification. Droughts are common in arid and semiarid lands.
Well-managed lands can recuperate from drought whenever it rains.
Persistent land exploitation during droughts, however, increases
land
degradation. Increased population and livestock pressure on
marginal
lands has accelerated desertification. The presence of a nearby
desert
has no direct relationship to desertification.
Desertification has been considered at an international level as a
great
threat to biodiversity. Therefore, numerous countries have
developed
Biodiversity Action Plans to counter its effects, particularly in
relation to the protection of endangered flora and fauna.
The best way of avoiding desertification is afforestation. Oases
and
farmlands in windy regions can be protected by planting tree
fences or
grass belts. Sand that manages to pass through the grass belts can
be
caught in strips of trees planted as wind breaks 50 to 100 meters
apart
adjacent to the belts. Small plots of trees may also be scattered
inside
oases to stabilize the area. As done in China, they have planted a
natural barrier of thousands of tree to protect there land from
being desertified. We in Rajasthan have also started following
them and has
constructed a ˇ§Green Wallˇ¨ covering an area of about 100 Km long
by
the joint task force consisting government, NGOs & local villagers
by
providing them employment, the process is still being continued.
To fight with the problem we need the help of developed nation in
order
to:-
# Allocate adequate resources.
# Establish strategies and priorities which address the
underlying
causes.
# Arrange means for the promotion of awareness and facilitating
the
participation of local populations.
Some other solutions to it is, including improving crop
production,
irrigation practices, livestock husbandry and rangelands, reducing
stock
numbers and afforestation, which receives great emphasis in many
Asian
countries. Other practices involve desert reclamation, social
forestry
(where villagers take responsibility for forests that surround
their
village which eventually has increased the quality of land and its
produces) , the use of plantations and agro-forestry or forest
farming
shows that economic development and environmental conservation can
go
hand in hand.
Energy
This is a vast area which needs great contemplation in order to
circle
over the issues. As without energy now a days we cannot do
anything. For
each and every job we need energy developed nations are those
nations
who has learnt to use this energy in a respectable manner. All the
nations worldwide has the capacity to develop but the rate of
development will be decided by the mindfull use of the available
resources. By energy we mean a source of power, such as fuel, used
for
driving machines, providing heat, etc. This is very short
definition of
the energy is used in many more things without which we are
helpless to
live our life.
There are two kinds of sorces from which we get energy. They are:-
# Renewable Sources:- Tidal energy, flowing river, wind, solar
panels,
green fuel etc.
# Non-Renewable Sources :- Coal, Oil, Nuclear energy etc.
For sustainable development we have to use renewable sources,
which is
less harmful for the environment. As stated by the Supreme Court
of
India in no case the developmental projects should be stopped.
Dams are
the life lines of any nation, which provides employment, energy,
irrigation. It helps in complete development of any country. But
it
should be constructed only after making full environmental
assesment.
We should also follow the climate policy of developed nations like
Germany which has incorporated wind power plants, solar power
generators
and biomass as there most reliable sources of energy and has
created
many jobs and helped in overcoming the wrath of two World Wars to
become
a world leader. Use of nuclear fussion & fission energy also
contemplate
the idea of development with environment.
Water
Resources Management
"Saving the lakes, ponds and rivers from overexploitation and
pollution is a patriotic duty of every individual"
It is recognised that water problems cannot be solved by quick
technical
solutions. Solutions to water problems require the consideration
of
cultural, educational, communication and scientific aspects. Given
the
increasing political recognition of the importance of water, it is
in
the area of sustainable freshwater management that a major
contribution
to solve water-related problems, including future conflicts, can
be
found . The statistics show an alarming trend for Indian
sub-continent:
rapid population growth, urbanization and industrialization which
in
turn, will lead to a greater demand for an increasingly smaller
supply
of water resources in the area. So we need avert the ominous
crisis.
Our needs are unique, nowhere else in the world does population
growth
and poverty play such a large role in affecting water resource
issues.
Poverty in South Asia will be eradicated and living conditions of
all
people will be uplifted to sustainable levels of comfort, health
and
well-being through co-ordinated and integrated development and
management of water resources in the region . The two most
important
issues are how to balance the Indiaˇ¦s rapid economic growth with
the
need to ensure equitable distribution to all sectors, in
particular the
urban and rural drinking water supply.
There are certain
limitations
which are preventing India in the completition of the balace
between
economy & ecology. They are:-
# Policy failures and Institutional Weaknesses,
# Competition for Water,
# Health and Environmental Needs and Effects,
We need to overcome these limitations so manage our fresh water
resouces
which in turn will fetch us the our aim of developed economic
condition.
Initiative like watershed technologies which has helped in
improving
agricultural productivity, farmers' income and ability to cope
with
drought. The success of the interventions has resulted in the
model
being replicated in hundreds of villages in India, China, Thailand
and
Vietnam. Institution like International Water Management Institute
(IWMI) is combining satellite technology with on-the-ground
assessments,
for drought monitoring and impact management in India, Pakistan,
Afghanistan and in Central Asia. We should also work at policies
to
improve groundwater governance and the use of water harvesting as
a
strategic tool for drought mitigation. This will surly fetch us
the
fruit of our choice.
Our aim should always be to foster the well-being of all human
beings by
encouraging sustainable economic development and facilitating
access to
world-class higher education, especially in the developing nations
of
South-East Asia and of Central / West Africa. Our aim should
always be
to encourage a high level of reflection on the integration of
ecological
principles and traditional values in the economic planning and
legal
framework of developing economies. We need to open up the process
leading to further commitments and timetables to combat the
adverse
effects of climate change, leading us into the future of climate
change
negotiation and action. A future with less greenhouse gas
emissions,
less risks of floods and droughts and more benefits for both
developed
and developing countries. And by these method we can say that
economic
growth and environmental conservation can go hand in hand by the
application of modern techinque, series of open minded thoughts,
dialoges between the nations of the world and pro-sustainable
living
values. All these things will bring a good life for an individual,
a
society, a state & a nation. Hence, a more sustainable future.
|
Economic
Growth vis-a-vis Environmental Conservation: A study of
Sustainability in Asia-Pacific
More
Articles:
The
author can be reached at: anindhya_03@legalserviceindia.com /
