ENGAGING YOUTH IN CLIMATE CHANGE IN INDIAN CONTEXT

Recent upsurge and activism among youth across the globe responding to prevailing environmental degradation including climate change has brought their active role into the forefront. The youth with enormous power and potential to transform our societies  towards a sustainable, low carbon and climate-resilient future are now shouldering this responsibility and challenges with multifarious approaches and strategies.

Whether it is one of the poorest global rankings in Environmental Protection Index (177 out of 180 as per EPI 2018 ) or being fourth highest the global emitter of carbon dioxide and sixth largest GHG emitter or witnessing 12.5 per cent of all deaths due to air pollution, India is grappling with  environmental challenges coupled with growing problems of poverty and population. With half of its population under the age of 25 , the youth in India has enormous roles and responsibilities with high expectation of people to counter the challenges of climate change

A cursory glance of recently emerged waves of activism among the youth indicates the preponderance of reactive approach to deal with the ongoing climate change issues are it global warming or increased CO2 emission or loss of biodiversity, there has been  uproar and protest to control and promulgate drastic policy changes to take concrete, visible and drastic action by policymakers aiming to meet these challenges. We should also, keep this fact in mind that the success of any such reactive approach depends largely upon the positive response among  policymakers who are not much responsive to these  mainly due to subordinacy of environment to economic growth and also due to the fact that the environmental conversation efforts by and large warrant compromising with individual’s comfort and convenience and any such drastic action not only hamper the much required economic growth but also invite the wrath of people. Further the environmental programmes in developing countries including India  are targeted mainly towards mitigation measures like planting trees, adopting energy-efficient technologies for optimum utilisation, combating pollution, conservation and protection of natural resources which include forest and wildlife etc. The adaptation as a strategy to counter climate change-related problems, by and large, does not suit politically, economically and socially since a sizeable population in developing countries live below the poverty line for whom the survival is more important than the concern and care  for environment and this sole reason desist the policymakers from taking drastic policy decisions and regulations.

With this kind of prevailing state of affairs in the background, the more desirable and long-lasting approach is to adopt proactive strategies which are more effective and workable in the long run for a country like  India where the youth  can play an active and contributory role in awareness building, campaigning, encouraging sustainable lifestyles, developing and conserving biodiversity, supporting eco-friendly practices in usage of water, energy etc and facilitating mitigative interventions  aimed at controlling and tackling challenges of climate change.

It the youth of today who is going to bear the brunt the consequences of climate change predominantly hence their uproar, apprehension and concern is genuine and warrants  immediate cognizance and action.

There are various ways and means which the youth can adopt for becoming  an active partner in ongoing programmes of the governments aiming at climate change. Participation of people including youth has already been identified as one of  the proven and tested strategies of governance and implementation of various programmes for the last few decades.

The list of activities through which youth can engage themselves in various ongoing programmes of climate change are enormous and many of these depend upon local conditions requiring  suitable changes for making the strategy workable. However few of the common activities which can always act as integral components of any such engagements seeking direct or indirect involvement of youth are summarised as under.

1.    Involving people (children, college students, villagers and other stakeholders ) for making them aware through various forums.

2.    Motivation of various stakeholders for adopting  sustainable/eco-friendly approaches.

3.    Talking about climate change.

4.    Joining ongoing movements aiming at climate change.

5.    Campaigns involving various social media platforms.

6.    Practising the mitigation and adaptation interventions at a personal level.

7. Lobbying through mass movement/various stakeholders like children, local citizen, villagers  or through any NGOs for  specified purposes.

8.    Awareness building, rallies, peaceful demonstration etc on local issues.

9.  Taking part in action-based activities like tree planting, waste collection and segregation, energy saving interventions  with multiple stakeholders.

10. Assisting and facilitating local governments and other governmental and non-governmental institutions in their climate mitigation programmes like tree planting, soil and water conservation, energy conservation, usage of resources etc. to make the programme effective and successful.

11.  Assisting  the governmental and non-governmental institutions in monitoring and evaluation of programmes.

12. Involving and assisting Local Panchayat Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies. In this regards the recent initiative of the government of Telangana to accord much-awaited and due priority to the environment in recently amended the P.R.Act and Municipal Acts is worth mentioning wherein the Sarpanch and Secretary of  Panchayats and Chairperson and ward members  of Municipalities along with concerned government officials have been entrusted roles and responsibilities with regards to planting of trees and their protection, green action plan, the responsibility of 85% survival of plants and also a provision for green fund. This historic policy changes/legal support coupled with institutional and financial support  are indicative of a strong political will, care and concern for the environment  by making both public representative/heads and officials of  local institutions and ULBs accountable and concerned.

13.Palle Pragti (Village Development) and Pattana Pragati (Town Development) are recently launched programmes of Telangana governments aiming at comprehensive development of Villages and Towns (Urban Local Bodies/Municipalities) with more emphasis on cleaning and greening, public health, sanitation etc with the active participation of people. The youth can become partners and torch bearers for various  governmental schemes under these programmes  by engaging themselves to meet the  objectives of climate change strategies suiting local conditions.

The selection of activities be it an action-based personal initiative or involving and motivating various stakeholders for both mitigation and adaptation initiatives, the effectiveness of any programme involving engagement with youth depend primarily on the suitability and acceptability of such initiative and also on the response from the related agency or government organisations hence require much of ice breaking and persuasion in initial stages to start with any such programme of climate change but with the high degree of commitment, innovative ideas, being interconnected and with persuasive skills, the youth can easily overcome these initial impediments.

                                                             mcpargaien@gmail.com       Twitter : @pargaien

(The views expressed are personal.)

Also appeared in https://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2020/02/engaging-youth-in-climate-change-in-indian-context/?success=1

SYNC PLANET AND PROFIT

The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, in association with the World Bank, recently released the latest round of the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) rankings in which Telangana was again amongst the top. This achievement was a result of tireless efforts from the highest level, including very proactive policy reforms and procedural overhauling of existing delivery mechanisms relating to establishment of businesses.

The improved position of Indian States in the last few years is a clear indication of adoption of transparent administrative mechanisms and enabling environment for establishment of new business without major hiccups, procedural delays and other factors, which were once an essential part of the Licence Raj. These changes provided an enabling environment for budding entrepreneurs and businessmen to flourish by deriving maximum benefits and powered the much required growth in the States.

Environment-friendly GDP

It is a well-known fact that the development is the sole agenda of today’s world and the recent improvement in rankings of States is bound to facilitate economic growth thereby steering them towards better GDP apart from providing employment and finally better living standards.

However, at the same time, there is a need to give more thrust on other equally burning and challenging issues of development like education, access to safe drinking water, agriculture, health and hygiene and last but not the least conservation and protection of the environment, which are usually taking a back seat in the present day economies.

It is not surprising to note that these challenging issues, which influence and affect majority of the population of the developing countries, are an all-time favourite plank for pre-poll promises but hardly get the required attention, thrust and priority afterwards.

The policy-level recognition and thrust with concrete time-bound plans for some of these burning issues like safe drinking water for all, infra support and financial assistance to the agricultural sector and environmental conservation to name a few taken by the Telangana government in the last few years reflect clear departure from hitherto convention of ignoring these sectors, which are vital for the well-being of our society.

Right Balance

The mission mode approach, policy interventions and financial support to address some of these under Mission Bhagiratha (supply of drinking water), Mission Kakatiya (tanks restoration), Rythu Bandhu (investment support to farmers) and Haritha Haram (increase of green cover) are a welcome change towards bringing the right balance between development and environment for sustainable development.

The role of corporations/business houses also assumes importance in this debate of development vs environment. It is imperative from the scope and concept of sustainable development that corporate houses must not operate under competitive pressures to achieve just short-term goals (profits), which endanger long-term objectives of environmental protection and intergenerational development.

In the present day scenario of continued environmental degradation, it is highly expected that in addition to getting profits, the policy and actions of the corporate groups should also be proactive to provide enough space for long-term environmental protection goals and intergenerational considerations.

This is where the concept of environmental corporate social responsibility or green initiatives of CSR comes to the fore. According to recent findings, companies in Telangana spent around Rs 440 crore towards various CSR activities in 2016-17, excluding CSR spent on pan-India projects and on projects where they have officially not given State-wise CSR data. If that is also taken into account, it may easily cross Rs 600 crore.

Increased Allocation

Of the above spending, allocation towards the environment sector was only around 9% (approximately Rs 40 crore) in comparison to education (38%), healthcare (15%), miscellaneous (13%) and skill development (9%). In majority of the cases, the spending by companies towards the environment sector barring a few seems to be dispersed and scattered in approach thereby not showing any solid or considerable impact.

Across India, the priority to the environment sector in the CSR spending of previous years had also taken a back seat. This needs to be reworked and reoriented to nurture and foster the sustainable development goals, including environmental protection and conservation. The meagre budgetary allocation for various initiatives of this neglected sector also needs retrospection.

Against this backdrop, the initiatives of the Telangana government towards environmental conservation like Haritha Haram can further be strengthened and accelerated much before the expected time if corporate houses become an active partner and contribute to the State government’s mission of making green and sustainable Telangana and give back something very concrete to society and future generations.

Businesses should convey the message that while they do business for profit they also care for society, particularly the environment. This historic shift from EoDB to ZoMG (Zeal of Making Green) needs to be the new mantra of progressing Telangana. All sections of society should become partners in action and contribute their mite.

(The author is Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Karimnagar. Views are personal. mcpargaien@gmail.com)

Also appeared in TELANGANA TODAY (www.telanganatoday.com/sync-planet-and-profit)

Afforestation in Telangana: Green Initiative of NTPC

To create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 million tons of CO₂ equivalent through additional forest and tree cover is one of the significant components of Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) of India that was submitted to the UNFCC in October 2015. The other two major components are to reduce emissions intensity of its GDP by 33-35% by 2030 from the 2005 level and to achieve 40% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030.

The expectations of government to increase forests/tree cover  in 5 million Ha and to improve quality of forest on  another 5 million Ha., of forest / non forest areas once completed will  increase carbon sequestration by about 100 million tons CO₂ equivalent every year. In a planned way the government has been taking up various afforestation activities both in government and private sectors including PSUs. Tree planting activity has become one of the best strategies to meet the challenge of climate change.

Joining the above movement to make the Country green and combat the challenges of climate change, the NTPC, one of the Maharatna companies which has already planted 20 million trees till date in and around its various projects has also planned to plant 10 million tress by 2026 in tune with INDC plan and strategy of government.

In order to fulfill the target of planting 5 lakhs tress in the State of Telangana over 10 years (2016-2026) the company has resolved to provide Rs.141 lakhs for this afforestation proposal. On 2^ndSeptember 2016, a MOU was also signed between Sri P.K.Jha Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Telangana (on behalf of State Forest department) and Mr. V.B. Fadnavis Regional Executive Director NTPC South (on behalf of NTPC) to take up afforestation in 35 hac of degraded forests in Kodangal range of Mehboobnagar Forest Division. The first installment of Rs. 28.38 lakhs has been recently released by the NTPC to DFO Mehboobnagar.

The initiative of NTPC to augment the efforts of Government in the matters of creation of additional carbon sink and combat other environmental challenges in sustainable manner is bound to ameliorate the existing degraded environment apart from acting as guiding model for other Corporations having inclination towards betterment of environment. Hope other Corporations also follow this new model of partnership with State Forest departments in the country.

Disclaimer: Author’s views are personal. 

Also appeared in   http://indiacsr.in/afforestation-in-telangana-green-initiative-of-ntpc/

Green initiatives of Corporations and Environmental CSR

The   KPMG in its latest report India’s CSR reporting survey 2015 has explored CSR initiatives and compliance of top 100 listed companies in India as mandated in Companies Act 2013 and Rules. It is heartening to observe that the mandatory provisions like making CSR policy available on web domain, CSR disclosure in annual report etc. are now by and large being complied by all the companies (except a few) after the enactment of Company Law, 2013.

Charity, donations and other philanthropic activities, which are now termed as CSR in modern term, had been an integral part of business activities in the past across the globe including India. In our country after independence (post 1990 era) liberalization, globalization  and privatization have facilitated phenomenal rise in economic growth of companies and simultaneously their quest and efforts to achieve sustainable development further necessitated adoption of various CSR initiatives more conspicuously as their contribution to society.

As per Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), during 2014-15  a total of 6338 crore rupees were spent on CSR activities by 51 Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and 409 Private companies. As per report of Ernst & Young, the mandate of spending 2% of average profits of the past three years on CSR activities may cover around 8000 companies under its ambit and bring approximately Rs. 14000 to 15000 crores per annum for various CSR activities. The expectations from this policy change are likely to offer new windows of opportunities both for the Corporate and government not only to assist and supplement the ongoing programmes of government for its various social, economic and environmental interventions but also to provide opportunities for new innovations to Corporate while addressing various challenges to achieve equitable and sustainable economic development thereby ensuring maximum possible contribution from business(s).

Environmental Performance Index

Yale and Columbia University in its recently published Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2016 has ranked India at 144^th place among 180 countries with over all score of 53.58.

One bright side of 2016 ranking of India is 20% improvement in various parameters in last 10 years specially in sanitation and waste water treatment but the deteriorated air quality due to emission from power plants, industries, fossil fuel burning etc which has placed India at almost bottom (178 th place) is quite deploring and call for urgent and concentrated efforts to improve it. The Corporates need to expand their ongoing endeavors in these directions.

Development agenda in priority

It is well know fact that the developmental agenda always finds top priority for any country and more specifically for developing nations in order to meet its multifarious demands. To fulfill this the States are bound to promote and encourage (some time out of turn) support to Corporate groups and companies which is the need of hour to fulfill various obligations /expectations and economic prosperity. The recent initiatives like Ease of doing business (EODB) of Central government and TS iPass of Telangana state  apart from similar initiatives of other state governments are almost akin to post 1990 reforms that  have helped to facilitate timely establishment of business activities as part of developmental process.

Doing business in Telangana

Apart form this the State governments provide various incentives like allotment of land at concessional prices, rebates on various utilities, tax reliefs etc to them. However keeping the goals of sustainable development in view, it is also desirable that the third pillar of sustainable development i.e., Environment apart form economic and social development also gets equal consideration from all quarters. It is imperative from the scope and concept of Sustainable Development that corporate/ business organizations/ individuals must not operate under competitive pressures to achieve short-term goals (profits), which endanger long-term objectives of environmental protection and inter generational development.

Environmental degradation

Same time in present days conditions of environmental degradation it is highly expected that in addition to getting profits, the policy and actions of the corporate groups including governments should be really proactive to provide enough space for long term goals of environmental protection and inter generational considerations. This is where the concept of environmental CSR or Green Initiatives of CSR comes into fore. Here it is also pertinent to mention that many of the Corporations have put into practice various interventions in the past aiming to reduce the environmental degradation like change of process, use of alternative/ green technology, optimum use of raw material, recycling, sustainable harvesting of raw materials etc. which are also part and parcel of the environmental concerns but in many of the cases the cost involved in the process is getting factored while doing the business.

In such a case it is debatable whether such initiatives of the Corporate though contributing to ameliorate the environment really qualify under the gamut of genuine CSR?

In aforesaid context and circumstances and considering the need of a healthy environment and equitable development for posterity, the environmental concerns of any locality need more attention, which is also applicable for Corporates while identifying the activities under CSR. The latest reports of various companies reflect the environmental issues as one of the priority activities’ under CSR initiatives.

The CSR reporting survey 2015 of KPMG further apprises that by and large CSR activities of companies are concentrated towards health and  sanitation (26%) education (24%) and environment (11%) apart from rural development (9%), Women empowerment (4%) and others. However it is also a fact that in comparison to other equally challenging issues of education, poverty, health, sanitation etc. which the companies have been attempting to address in the past under CSR, the environment and related issues warrant more attention because ever increasing pace of development, burgeoning population pressure and use of  inefficient productive technologies/over exploiting tendencies to gain maximum benefits etc. have resulted into degradation of environment including pollution.

This effect is more visible and prominent in the third world countries including India and it is an established fact that the degraded environmental conditions adversely affect the delicate balance between people and resources apart from affecting the health of people.

Environment and CSR

In fact all morally driven initiatives under CSR including environment are considered as true CSR or ethically driven CSR initiatives, which really qualify under the CSR as, defined by Friedman. This is contrary to Strategic CSR which as observed by Eric Orts involves actions that appear to be motivated by higher social purposes and are, in fact, motivated by profits  and also be termed as mere corporate social performance. David Baron further cited such efforts of extreme cases as simple deception or green washing.

However many of the corporate groups are now accommodating their efforts and initiatives related to conservation, protection and amelioration of environment from over exploitation of resources in their CSR action plan and all such activities can be clubbed under morally driven initiatives/Green Initiatives or ‘Environmental CSR’

Though the architecture of CSR is exclusively prerogative of any Corporations however in the present scenario and pro-developmental approach of State governments it is high time and desirable for Corporations to join hands with the State governments apart from NGOs and in-house trust or foundations to accord priority to environmental issues in their CSR plans to achieve the long term goals of sustainable development. This kind of joint approach will have following advantages.

First the priority areas and issues of environmental degradation shall get more attention.Second the activities/initiatives can be continued for long time wherever required to achieve saturation thereby getting maximum advantage to stakeholders and recognition to Corporation.Third the pooling of funds (State and Corporation) will allow scaling up of efforts and fourth the approach will allow participation, which in turn bring more transparency for all the participating stakeholders. Other reason for advocating this partnership is the fact that in spite of vast number of (around 20 Lakhs) NGOs operating in the country, the availability of eligible NGOs to become partner for CSR activities is really very low mainly due to ‘trust deficit’ factor and also to some extent due to lack of professionalism as witnessed by many corporations.

Keeping the expected flow of fund in the years to come under CSR spending’s after Company 2013 act, there is need to involve more and more stakeholders right form in-house trusts/foundations, NGOs and government departments through a well designed and participatory model to address various environmental challenges which will sure to provide a win-win situation for the shareholders and governments and fulfill the ultimate objective of equitable and sustainable development.

Disclaimer: Views in the article are personal 

Also appeared in http://indiacsr.in/green-initiatives-of-corporations-and-environmental-csr/

US initiative for climate change - Better late then never

US President Barrack Obama's recent announcement unveiling ambitious plan to combat climate change  
(Obama Takes a Crucial Step on Climate Change ) under which he has proposed  to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 32 percent compared to 2005 levels over the next 15 years has drawn the attention of both the supporters of climate change and critics .Apart from world wide praises and compliments  the move has also been termed as  "catastrophic," and  "irresponsible and over-reaching"  by fellow Americans and politicians . Being one of the richest countries and having access to all kinds of resources at their fingertips,the Americans need to put equal efforts by changing  their attitude towards consumerism and life style which has made them one of the top CO2 emitters after China.