India has made sustainable development a national priority through various policies and initiatives. It established the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in 1985 to coordinate this effort. Key pillars of India's approach include promoting social development, environmental protection, and economic growth. India also actively participates in global climate change discussions and signed the Paris Agreement in 2015 with targets of reducing emissions intensity, increasing non-fossil fuel use, and creating a carbon sink.

1. Authored by: Gurinder Aujla
Prepared on: July-2016
Email: gugs.aujla@gmail.com
Phone: 1-416-903-9696
All rights reserved by Gurinder Aujla.
Sustainable Development:
India’s Approach

2. Sustainable Development
• Calls for cooperation amongst developing and developed nations.
• Need for equity as emissions/capita much higher in developed world.
• 3 pillars of Sustainable Development:
• Social Development (People)
• Environmental Protection (Planet)
• Economic Growth (Profit)
• India on the frontlines of climate vulnerability.
• India following the UN Framework on Climate Change as a guideline.
Images: Google Search
Reference: http://newsroom.unfccc.int/

3. Government of India Initiative
• Established Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change – 1985
Images: Google Search
Reference: http://www.moef.nic.in/
Clean Air
Clean Water
Clean
Energy
Clean
Environment
More Green
Mission
• Sustainable Development
• Growth and Environmental Protection
• Development without Destruction
• Poverty Eradication and Green
Growth
Vision

4. India’s Sustainable Growth Initiative
• Journey started in 1980’s-90’s with the economic reform policies.
• Industrialization, FDI’s in various sectors.
• Earth Summit in Rio – 1992.
• Laid the groundwork for climate change action initiatives.
• 2009 – State of the Environment Report by Ministry of Environment and
Forests – Government of India:
• 5 major challenges faced by India:
Climate Change Food Security Water Scarcity Energy Security Urbanization
• 58% of population depends on Himalayan glaciers for livelihood directly.
• 60% of total population dependent on agriculture as a livelihood.
Images: Google Search
References: https://factly.in/58-percent-rural-indian-households-are-agricultural-households-nsso-report-on-
agricultural-households-part-1/

5. India’s Sustainable Growth Act
• 1st few nation to sign the Biological Diversity Act in 2002:
• Regulations of preceding global act of 1992 to be protected.
• Advise the Government on conservation of biodiversity.
• Advise the Government on selection of biological heritage sites.
• Take appropriate action to oppose grant of IP rights in foreign countries, arising from the use of
biological resources or associated traditional knowledge.
• Benefit Sharing:
Joint ownership of IP rights Transfer of Technology Location of production, R&D units
Payment of Monetary and non-monetary compensation Setting up VC fund for claimers
• Penalties:
• 5 year jail term; fine of Rs.10 Lakh; any offence is non-bailable and cognizable.
• Reality - Jail terms are rare: rules are flouted regularly.
Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_Diversity_Act,_2002
Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_on_Biological_Diversity

6. India’s Sustainable Growth – Flora & Fauna
• 20% increase in Tiger population from year 2006 to 2011:
• Estimated 1700 wild Tigers out of a global population of 3000.
• Forest cover has increased by nearly 5% over years 1997 to 2007:
• Although some negative impact since 2007 due to rapid industrialization.
• Forests estimated to absorb 50-60MT of CO2 emissions annually.
• Various independent but government authorized authorities established:
• National Green Tribunal > expeditious trial of environmental cases.
• National Ganga River Basin Authority > innovation to protect the historic river.
Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_Diversity_Act,_2002
Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_on_Biological_Diversity
Reference: http://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/dense-forests-lost-increase-in-net-green-cover-forest-
survey-of-india-2015-52028

7. 4 New Initiatives and Efforts – 2014-2016
Images: Google Search
References: http://www.moef.gov.in/sites/default/files/ebook/booklet_New_Initiatives_Efforts_2014-
16/Booklet_New_Initiative_Efforts_2014_16.html#page/9
Forest Pollution
Responsible
Business
Coastal

8. Forest Initiative
• Afforestation to provide Rs.42,000 Crore to states.
• Urban Forestry and School Nurseries programs.
• Public-Private-Partnership in degraded forests.
• Policy for incentivizing tree cover outside forests.
• Partnering in greening highways, railways, banks of rivers.
• Finalized Eco-Sensitive Zones.
• Special efforts to avoid Animal-Human conflict.
• Voluntary relocation done for 25 villages and 3000 families.
• 655 Flora and 115 Fauna discoveries.
• Use of technology like Drones, E-surveillance, Satellites, GPS tagging for Forest
and Wildlife Management.

9. Pollution Initiative
• Emission standards upgraded for many industries.
• 24x7 real-time emission and effluent monitoring installed in 2400
pollution units. 650 closure notices issued.
• Industrial pollution in river Ganges reduced by 35%.
• Efforts for pollution control in capital city Delhi.
• New Waste Management rules and old rules revamped:
Solid Waste Plastic Waste Bio-Medical Waste E-Waste Hazardous Waste
Construction and Demolition Waste
• Geo-mapping of 30000 hazardous waste generating industries.
• CEPI (Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index) updated.
• Re-categorization of industries based on pollution load.
• National Air Quality Index launched.
• 256 Sewage Treatment Plants launched:
• Initiative to add another 640 STP’s.
• Emphasis on Wetland protection.

10. Business Initiative
• Prior to May-2014, Environmental clearances biggest challenge to
businesses.
• Real estate environmental guidelines standardized.
• Environmental clearance standardized with validity increased from 5 to 7
years.
• Online application processes.
• Decentralization:
• Forest approval below 40 hectares through regional offices.
• Linear projects like roads/rails/drinking water/canal/irrigation/transmission etc.
Policy
Changes
Ease of doing
business

11. Coastal Initiative
• Mangroves cover increased by more than 100sqkm:
• Ministry allocated Rs.11.37 crores to various states for Mangrove and Coral reef
protection.
• Mangrove forests are ecologically sensitive zones with high-density of flora and
fauna including the famed Bengal Tiger.
• India coastline = 7500KM.
• Detailed high-resolution coastal mapping.
• Aerial photography and high-resolution satellite imaging used to
demarcate High Tide Line (HTL):
• Helps states in disaster prevention during tidal season, monsoons etc.
• Low-lying areas to be identified and measures taken.

12. COP = Conference of Parties
• COP20 > Peru > Dec-2014.
• Rough guidelines setup.
• India and other nations
submitted INDC’s.
• Intended Nationally
Determined Contributions.
• COP21 > Paris > Dec-2015.
COP20
INDC’s
COP21

13. COP21@PARIS >>> Targets
Reduce
emission
intensity by
35%
Increase non-
fossil share of
energy mix by
40%
Create
Carbon sink
of 2.5BN
tones
• Effective representation of other developing countries.
• Proactive and leadership role assumed by India.
• Post Paris:
• National Action follow-up started with all stakeholders.
• National Clean Energy Fund activated providing funds to various ministries and initiatives.
• Monitoring of ministries, departments and agencies on objectives, deadlines, and initiatives.

14. Other Initiatives
• Sustainable sand mining and mineral policy notified.
• River improvement program undertaken in 12 rivers in 27 cities.
• Himalayan ecology study undertaken.
• Preparation of building of new National Museum of Natural History.
Public Participation Initiatives
• More than 1 lakh Eco-clubs in schools and colleges are being made active.
• Bio-diversity Climate Change train started to visit various cities.
• Plastic waste collection by students as a voluntary initiative.

15. Argument with Developed Countries
 Kyoto Protocol:
 USA still not a signatory.
 Canada criticized India’s contribution.
 Canada itself backed out of Kyoto.
 Global emission contributions:
 China 17%
 US 16%
 EU 11%
 India 5%
 Per capita emissions in Tones:
 US 24.1
 Canada 23.2
 China 5.8
 India 2.1
 UN proposes replacing Millennium
Development Goals with
Sustainable Development Goals.
 SDG’s target reducing emission per
unit of GDP, to meet the following
by 2030.
 Preserve bio-diversity.
 Provide quality education.
 Ensure food & clean drinking
water.
 Gender equality.
 India’s position:
 Socio-economic conditions differ.
Challenges and Concerns
Replacing MDGS with SDG’s