The document discusses whether environmental sustainability and economic growth can go together. It argues that they are interrelated and countries need to strike a balance between the two. While developing countries focus on growth through industries, this often leaves the environment neglected. However, with collective global efforts like conferences and protocols to reduce emissions, countries are working to resolve this issue. India is presented as an example of a developing country that is seriously addressing environmental sustainability while still experiencing economic growth.

1. Can Environmental sustainability and
Economic growthgo together ?
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far,
go together”.What is the intention behind this quote? If
we analyze, it’s simple we should work together. For
example if we go alone to solve a problem we can solve it,
however if we go collectively we can find multiple ways of
solving it. The reason why I have used this quote is to try,
and find out can environmental sustainability and
economic growths go together.
Some would argue what is the relation between
environmental sustainability and economic growth. Basically both are interrelated we need to keep
a balance between them. Question is how can we do this? The answer to this question lies in the
second part that reads “if you want to go far, go together.”
When we look around we see people are badly affected because of climate change. As a result of
that there is extreme hot weather andwater scarcity. There must be some reason behind all this,
and that is environment is not behaving the way it should be. Questions arise why and are we
responsible for it? Answer is yes, to some extent; all of us know that we are largely dependent on
natural resources. And we are using it to full but we are not doing something to restore it. Water
level is deteriorating day by day, we experience scorching heat in summer and summers are longer
than normal. There has to be some solutions for preserving the environment.We need to look at
bigger picture and we will find the factors affecting environmental instability.
When you look at global map yow will find developed and developing countries. The numbers of
developing countries are far more than developed. So developing countries are trying very hard to
match their counterparts. In process of doing that they are focusing on issues which have to do with
economic growth. And it includes industries, infrastructure and so on. What is left out is
environment and that’s where the problem begins. I am not saying that growth should not be the
priority but environment should also be taken into consideration. If every developing country
decides to be super power ignoring environmental issues then the consequences can be
catastrophic. It’s sound scary just from thought of it; now imagine if we really have to face the
worse. I don’t want to be cynical but continuous research on this topic, has led many people to think
seriously about it. We need to ask ourselves is there a way where we can strike a balance between
economic growth and sustainability.
The answer is a resounding yes; the first step in resolving a problem is to identify it then comes the
ways of doing it. Now we have identified the problem what remains is the conscious effort to do
something about it. We often hear about conferences happening around the world, in order to come
to a consensus on how to reduce carbon emissions. It is a collective effort and a gradual process
where in every country has to play a significant role. This is to abide by certain protocol for
example the Kyoto Protocol which is an international agreement linked to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change.

2. Under the Protocol, 37 countries ("Annex I countries") commit themselves to a reduction of four
greenhouse gases (GHG) (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulphur hexafluoride) and two
groups of gases (hydro fluorocarbons and per fluorocarbons) produced by them, and all member
countries give general commitments. At negotiations, Annex I countries (including the US)
collectively agreed to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2% on average for the period
2008-2012. This reduction is relative to their annual emissions in a base year, usually 1990. Since
the US has not ratified the treaty, the collective emissions reduction of Annex I Kyoto countries falls
from 5.2% to 4.2% below base year.
Sometimes I think why there is so much of hype about these protocols? However when I look at the
intentions behind all these efforts, I agree that it’s time we together have to find a way to resolve
this problem. Environment is not confined to develop or developing countries.It’s for all, so it
becomes a collective responsibility to be sensitive towards it. Remember if we have to go far then
we have to go together. Countries like, India, China and many others have to set an example that
growth can also be achieved with a care for the environment. Talking about India the economy of
India is the eleventh largest in the world by nominal GDP and the third largest by purchasing power
parity (PPP). The country is one of the G-20 major economies and a member of BRICS. In 2011, the
country's per capita income stood at $3,694 IMF, 129th in the world, thus making a lower-middle
income economy.
The current rate of consumption of resources and the resulting burden on the environment are not
sustainable: in spite of technical improvements, growth in resource consumption has often
outstripped progress on the environment or productivity increases. There is likely to be an even
greater tendency in this direction as certain countries such as China or India become more
industrially advanced. The risk of resources running out and the pollution caused by their use thus
pose an ever-greater threat to our environment.
India is still in its developing stage hence the development work is in peak, which results in high
carbon emission on the contrary the per capita emission is only 1.7 tonnes per annum. It is
something which is commendable. India is also inspiration to many when it comes to economic
growth and cultural heritage. India is very serious about environmental sustainability and doing its
bit, for instance IPCC - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a scientific intergovernmental body first
established in 1988 by two United Nations organizations, the World Meteorological Organization
(WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and later endorsed by the United
Nations General Assembly through Resolution 43/53. Its mission is to provide comprehensive
scientific assessments of current scientific, technical and socio-economic information worldwide
about the risk of climate change caused by human activity, its potential environmental and socio-
economic consequences, and possible options for adapting to these consequences or mitigating the
effects.

3. Why these rating agencies came in to existence and what exactly they are trying to
accomplish?
The sole purpose of these bodies is to create awareness about environmental issues. They are
committed to make all efforts to restore the environmental sustainability. Most of the developed
countries are working on how to reduce carbon emissions. They are concerned for environment
hence they are walking a tight rope. One term that comes into my mind is Green buildings
why there is so much of talk about green, is it the right step forward? Yes is the answer because
green building is not the luxury it’s more of a necessity. Energy efficiency and less operating costs
are some of the salient features of a green building. Now we have green rating system to rate the
performance of the building on several parameters. For example USGBC, IGBC and GBCA are the
green building rating organizations.
Why people go for green ratings in their home and offices?
Consumers building or renovating commercial and private residences are increasingly “going
green.” Owners of green buildings benefit from lower energy costs, customer goodwill and may also
receive federal, state, or local tax incentives. These potential benefits have prompted increased
requests from building owners for verification that their building is “green.” In response, green
building organizations developed certification systems that reward green building practices. The
rating systems provide sellers, buyers, lenders and even governments an objective standard to
measure the environmental impacts of new and existing buildings. Although green building
certification is largely voluntary, some states and municipalities have passed legislation that
requires public, and sometimes private, entities to incorporate LEED or other green building
standards into their new or existing buildings.
I can keep on writing about green buildings and its benefits. It can create awarenessbutalone that’s
not going to serve the purpose. The need of the hour is to do something concrete. As I already
discussed earlier that it’s a gradual process and we have to do it collectively. I have tried to
highlight couple of practices which can help in our cause they are as follows:
Effective protection of the environment:We must limit global environmental threats, such as
climate change; to protect human health and safety from hazards such as poor air quality and toxic
chemicals; and to protect things which people need or value, such as wildlife, landscapes and
historic buildings.
Prudent use of natural resources:We need to make sure that non-renewable resources are used
efficiently and that alternatives are developed to replace them in due course. Renewable resources,
such as water, should be used in ways that do not endanger the resource or cause serious damage
or pollution.
As they say it’s never a wrong time for right thing. Every small effort put in for environment
sustainability will show its result in days to come. Sustainability is not the luxury but a necessity
and those who realized it are working for it. So we can still achieve growth without compromising
our environment. We need to be sensitive towards environment then only we deserve to live on
this planet.We may be not there to ripe the benefits of it but our future generations will thank us for
doing our bit.