Energy Security

Energy Security 
In addition to the above mentioned resource and environmental concerns, high energy needs pose serious challenges. In order to attain its developmental goals, India meeds to grow at a fast pace for which energy remains an integral input. Rapid urbanization, industriazation, rising incomes and the growing use of energy intensive products are driving India’s demand for energy. Lack of access to modern energy services and its implications for human well-being mean that energy supplies need to grow to reach the unserved population. In India, 35.5% of the population still lives without access to electricity.
Addressing growth and energy poverty could have significant implications for energy supplies. Though there are significant coal reserves they are mostly located in environmentally sensitive areas and are inferior in quality.

E-waste

E-waste is a collective terminology for the entire stream of electronic equipment, such as TVs, refrigerators, telephones, air conditioners, computers and mobile phone that has reached its end of life (EOL) for its current user, such devices are generally considered toxic when disassembled or incinerated and are typically targeted for hazardous disposal or are slated for recovery and reuse. As a result, the e-waste industry is emerging with markets that need to be assessed for growth potential.
Resource security Water, land and food security 
Demand for water for multiple uses has been increasing. This is especially so in agriculture for irrigation, industry and for domestic consumption. India is witnessing a decline in per capita availability of water over the past few decades. Population increase, rising incomes and industrial growth has also resulted in decrease of water availability per capita. Water availability on a per capita cubic meter basis is estimated to decline from 1730 to 1240 in case of India.

Water Quality / Increase in solid waste and e-waste

Water Quality
Urbanization and development activities, land degradation, and inadequate infrastructure for wastewater disposal are major reasons that lead to rapid deterioration in water quality in the majority of rivers, streams, and lakes in India. According to CPCB during 2005-06, of 115 sewage treatment plants in major Indian States 35% continued to discharge polluted water beyond the stipulated norms. Inter-sectoral impacts may also arise when industrial effluents flow directly to agricultural land, affecting soil and groundwater while possible contaminating drinking water wells.
Apart from the above seawater intrusion into freshwater aquifers in coastal regions impact freshwater availability and usage. Surface water sources like rivers and lakes face a greater danger of biological contamination due to high pollution loads.
Increase in solid waste and e-waste
One key challenge is the rapidly increasing amount of municipal solid waste (MSW) in Indian cities. The annual estimates from various studies suggest that MSW generation in India ranges between 40 MT and 55 MT. Along with the increase in waste generation there is also change in the composition of waste generation. Plastic waste is a growing environmental concern.

Making growth inclusive / Infrastructure shortages

Making growth inclusive
A major concern of policy –makers is that despite the significant acceleration in growth in the period since the Earth Summit, the benefits of economic growth have eluded large disadvantaged sections of the population. Much of the growth has occurred in the industrial and service sector, with the agricultural sector being stagnant. Some of the poorer states, with large sections of their population in the agricultural sector have shown low growth rates resulting in increasing regional disparities. Inter-personal, inter-regional as well as inter-community inequalities have been on the rise. The states with developed markets and good physical and social infrastructure have grown at a much faster rate than the others. In twelfth Five-Year Plan (2012-2017), the Planning Commission’s focus has been on instilling ‘inclusive growth.’
Infrastructure shortages
India has infrastructure shortages, a consequence of its economic growth outstripping infrastructure availability. This has impeded investment flow and constrained economic growth in the country. For ensuring sustainability of the growth process, it is imperative that infrastructure constraints are removed particularly in energy, roads, ports, airports and urban rural infrastructure. While in some areas, such as roads and airports, it has been possible to have the private sector participate in infrastructure investment; in many other areas the progress has been slow. Many new projects, and improved cargo handing at ports have been initiated, but there continues to be a massive gap. Public private partnerships (PPP) to execute infrastructure projects will be essential in the years to come. Projected investment required for infrastructure development during the twelfth Plan period (2012-2017) is INR 40.99 trillion; half of this is expected to come from the private sector.
Environmental quality concerns

Production and consumption patterns

Production and consumption patterns
In global debates pertaining to climate change, unsustainable production and consumption patterns in the developed world have been highlighted. Even in the domestic context, environmental degradation is linked closely to unsustainable production and consumption patterns. According to a study carries out by TERI on Environmental Kuznets Curve, India’s total SO2 and NOx emission had increased from almost 7.12 million metric tons to 9.82 million metric tons between 1995 and 2005 with a CAGR of 3.63% .

Greendex, an indicator developed by the National Geographic Society and Globescan ranks India and Brazil as first in terms of environmentally sustainable consumption and lifestyle. With rising middle class developing countries are taking initiatives to promote sustainable consumption. However, the continuation of unsustainable patterns of consumption and lifestyles still need to be addressed adequately by developed countries.

Unsustainable patterns of consumption and lifestyles still need to be addressed adequately by
developed countries.

Several traditional practices that are sustainable and environment friendly continue to be a regular part of the lives of people in developing countries. With increasing purchasing power, consumption linked to market driven consumerism is stressing the resource base of developing countries further. Moreover, subsidies often lead to wasteful and unsustainable consumption by distorting the value of a resource.

Urbanization and migration

Urbanization and migration
India has witnessed rapid urbanization in the last few years. The urban population has been growing and is projected and is projected to grow at a much faster rate than the rural population. The increase in urban population has been attributed both to natural growth and push migration form villages. In some states, urban poverty seems to be greater than those in rural areas. Among urban areas, poverty rates in small towns are markedly higher than those in large metropolitan areas. Since a disproportionate share of India’s urban population resides in small and medium size cities, the urban poor are also found to be greater in these smaller places.

The growth generates pressure on public infrastructure, including basic health and sanitation services creating a disorganized urban landscape, and constitutes a social crisis that can result in major health risks and pose threats to sustainable development. This growth in urban population leads to the creation of urban slums. Which are at high risk from outbreaks of contagious diseases, such as tuberculosis, malaria, dengue, cholera, typhoid and plague resulting from poor environmental conditions?

Urban sprawl also creates a mobility challenge – access to transportation that is required to meet economic and social needs. The growing transport demand in India accompanied by massive urbanization, increasing vehicular density and growing consumption of energy (mostly fossil fuels) Government and undertaken various initiatives to promote sustainability in the transport sector. These initiatives include the National Urban Transport Policy, National Highway Development Project, and implementation of strict emission norms and development of vehicle efficiency standards. Much more needs be done to address sustainability concerns at the urban level through working with local bodies and other stakeholders.

Green Economy / Impact of the outcome of Rio+20 the development agenda of India

Green Economy

There is no one agreed definition of Green Economy. India has viewed the concept to Green Economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication; which was one of the themes of Rio+20 Green Economy is one of the means to achieve sustainable development. The concept should not lead to any form of green protectionism, imposition of conditionality or any intrusion in the domestic policy space. The document affirms that there are different approached, visions, models and tools available to each country, in accordance with its national circumstances and priorities to achieve sustainable development in its three dimensions which is the overarching goal. Green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication is one of the important tools available for achieving sustainable development and that it could provide options for policy making but should not be a right set of rules. The outcome of summit firmly rejects the unilateral measures and trade barriers as well as unwarranted conditionalities on ODA and finance under the guise of Green Economy.

Impact of the outcome of Rio+20 the development agenda of India

One of the key priorities of India in the negotiations was to protect the domestic policy space for our development. The outcome document has done so by reaffirming the Rio principles including CBDR and equity and avoiding a prescriptive outcome with unilateral norms and targets. Thus, we could follow our own policies on sustainable development and poverty eradication. We would keenly follow up on the four process/ mechanisms proposed in the outcome document on finalizing strategy , technology transfer, SDGs and high level political forum with a view to protecting our interests.

Sustainable Development Goals and Millennium Development Goals

Sustainable Development Goals and Millennium Development Goals

The conference was remarkable for kick-starting the process on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

The conference recognized the importance and utility of having a set of sustainable development goals, based on Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. 

The SDGs would address and incorporate in a balanced way all three dimensions of sustainable development and their inter linkages. 

Since SDGs are expected to become a part of the post- 2015 global development agenda, SDGs would guide the international community towards inclusive sustainable development.

As compared to SDGs, the Millennium development Goals (MDGs) were not developed through an inter- governmental process. 

All the MDGs are applicable only to the developing countries except for MDG 8 which relates to aid and finance.

Rio+20 Summit

Rio+20 Summit

The objective of the Rio+20 Conference was to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development , review progress and remaining implementation gaps and assess new and emerging challenges, since the UN Conference on Environment  & Development held in Rio de Janerio in 1992 and the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002. Towards this end, the Conference has two themes viz. (a) Green Economy in the context of Sustainable Development & Poverty Eradication (GESDPE); and (b) Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development (IFSD).

Achievements of Rio +20

The centrality of the Principle of common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR) has been reaffirmed. SO has been the importance of the principles of Equity and CBDR in the context of climate change negotiations. Poverty eradication, which is the central concern to developing countries, has been placed at the center of the global development agenda. The outcome document is notable for having launched two important mechanisms, one on finance and the other on technology transfer. India played a key role in conceptualizing and negotiating the formulation in the document on these two mechanisms, which are of crucial importance for developing countries. The launch of the processes to develop SDGs and to define the format and organizational aspects of the proposed high level political forum to follow up on the implementation of sustainable development are the important contributions of this conference.

Vienna Convention / Rotterdam Convention / Stockholm Convention / Basel Convention

Vienna Convention

India became a Party to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of Ozone Layer on 19 June 1991 and the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer on 17 September 1992. Consequently, it ratified the Copenhagen, Montreal and Beijing Amendments in 2003. A detailed Country Programme for phasing out ozone depleting substances (ODSs) was prepared in 1993, supported by regulatory and fiscal measures as specified in the Montreal Protocol with financial and technical support received from the Multilateral Fund (MLF). The Ministry of Environment and Forests established an Ozone Cell and a steering committee on the Montreal Protocol to facilitate implementation of the India Country Programme for phasing out ODS (ozone depleting substances ) production by 2010.

Rotterdam Convention

One of the key conventions developed to protect countries from use of hazardous materials is the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in international Trade. This convention was signed in 1998 and became effective from 2004. It is a multilateral treaty to promote shared responsibilities in relation to import of hazardous chemicals. The Convention promotes open exchange of information and calls on exporters of Hazardous chemicals to use proper labeling. Include directions on safe handing, and inform purchasers of any known restrictions or bans. India ratified the Convention on Prior informed Consent Procedure for certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International trade in 2006.

Basel Convention

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of hazardous Wastes and their Disposal is the most comprehensive global environmental agreement

Convention on international Trade In Endangered species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES)

Convention on international Trade In Endangered species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES)

India became a party to the CITES Convention in 1976. It hosted the 3^rd Conference of Parties at New Delhi in 1981. 

Trade in wild flora in wild flora and fauna, including the species listed in CITES are regulated in India through the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1971, the import and Export Policy and the Customs Act (1962). 

The wildlife (Protection) Act was designed with the objective of effective control of poaching and illegal trade in wildlife and its products. 

The Act has been amended in 1982, 1986, 1991, and 2002 and in 2006 to make the provisions more stringent. Hunting of all species was banned in 1991. 

Hunting of wild animals is prohibited except in exceptional circumstances, such as when rogue animals kill humans and destroy homes. 

India has signed a Protocol with Republic of China for taking up joint measures to crack down on poaching of tigers. 

Smuggling and selling to tiger body parts and their derivatives. A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with Nepal to establish a Joint Task Force to check Trafficking across borders as well.

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

India became a signatory to the Convention on biological Diversity (CBD) in December 1993 and ratified the convention in February 1994. 

CBD addresses biodiversity conservation, habitat preservation, intellectual property rights, bio-safety, and indigenous peoples’ rights. Since India signed the agreement, it has been submitting regularly its reports to the CBD Secretariat on the progress of implementation of the decisions taken by successive Conference of Parties (COP) meetings. 

In the recent meetings held in Nagoya in 2010, the parties (COP) meetings. In the recent meetings held in Nagoya in 2010, the parties (including India) successfully concluded the Nagoya Protocol on Access to genetic Resources and the fair and Equitable sharing of Benefits (ABS). 

Under the Protocol, Parties will be legally obliged to follow rules designed to prevent bio-piracy and provide benefits, including financial benefits, to other Parties when their genetic resources are accessed. 

United Nations convention to combat Desertification (UNCCD)

United Nations convention to combat Desertification (UNCCD)

The convention came into effect in 1997 and all member countries affected by the problem of desertification have an obligation to prepare an action plan to address all issues concerning desertification and drought. 

Eradication of poverty is key concern in dry lands; hence, it is important to protect the land form deforestation, fragmentation, degradation and drought that could exacerbate the vulnerabilities of the population in these areas. 

India has been designated as the host country by the UNCCD for the Asian Regional Action Programme on Agro forestry and soil Conservation, under the 

Thematic Network Programme (TPN). This network facilitates cooperation between countries with respect to combating desertification and associated efforts towards joint forestry management. Including forestry in the arid and semi-arid regions. 

Two national level institutes, namely Arid Forest Research institute (AFRI ) and Central Arid Zone Research institute (CAZRI) located in Jodhpur, are engaged in development and dissemination of appropriate technologies for the arid and semi- arid areas of the country.

Ramsar Convention

Ramsar Convention
India became a contracting party to the Ramsar Convention in 1981 and has been implementing conservation programmes for wetlands mangroves and coral reefs.

Until 2007, 25 wetland sites in India were designated as Ramsar sites of International Importance. There is close coordination between implementing units of Ramsar with that of CBD at the national level. 

India took a lead role in the formulation of Ramsar guidelines on integration of wetlands into river basin management. As a follow up to this, CBD- Ramsar River Basin initiative was undertaken and a joint programme was developed for integrated management of wetlands, biological diversity, and river basins.

Several wide-ranging policies, strategies, and plans have been formulated policy statements on Environment and Development (1992) and national Water Policy (2002) highlight conservation and sustainable development of wetlands. 

There are effective linkages across various ministries and government agencies, including Ministry of Environment and Forests, planning Commission, Ministry of Agriculture, and Indian Board for Wildlife Forest Research Institute, Institute of Wetland Management and Ecological Design among others.

Key policies and programmes relevant to sustainable development Economic

Key policies and programmes relevant to sustainable development Economic:

New industrial Policy, 1991

Pharmaceuticals Policy, 2002

Marketing Assistance Scheme for SME

Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme

National Mineral Policy, 2008

New Exploration and Licensing Policy

National Telecom policy, 2011

National Electricity Policy, 2005

Social:

Key policies and programmes National Housing and Habitat Policy, 1998

Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojna, 2000

National Policy for Empowerment of Women, 2001

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan, 2003

National Policy for Urban street Vendors, 2004

National Rural Health Mission, 2005

National Food security mission, 2007

National Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy, 2007

Debt Waiver and debt Relief Scheme, 2008

National Mission on Education, 2009

Environment:

United Nations Framework Convention on climate Change (UNFCCC)

United Nations Framework Convention on climate Change (UNFCCC)

India signed the UNFCCC on 10 June 1992 and ratified it on 1 November 1993 .it acceded to the Kyoto Protocol in August 2002. 

Under the UNFCCC, developing countries such as India do not have binding Green House gas (GHG) mitigation commitments through application of the Principle of Common, but Differentiated Responsibility and Respective Capability (CBDR).

As agreed in Copenhagen, India communicated to the UNFCCC secretariat, its voluntary mitigation actions to reduce the emissions intensity of GDP by 20-25 percent by 2020 in comparison to the 2005 level, excluding the agriculture sector. 

The Government’s stand on climate change is in accordance with the principles of equity, and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities as enshrined in the UNFCCC. 

The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), released on 30 June 2008, outlines India’s strategy to meet the challenge of climate change. 

The National Action Plan provides for eight missions that will enable the country to adapt to climate change and enhance the ecological sustainability of India’s development path.

Environment / Nature conservation / Hazardous material / Marine Environment

     Environment

India has been very active in all the international forums relating to environmental protection and has signed all the multilateral agreements relating to the environment with a few exceptions. In 2002, India reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable development in the World Summit on Sustainable Development at Johannesburg. India is a part of 94 major mutilated environmental agreements (MEAs) listed in Environment Treaties and Resource indicators.

Multilateral Environmental Agreements by India

Nature conservation

1.       Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

2.       Convention on international Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES).

3.       The wildlife Trade Monitoring Network (TRAFFIC)

4.       Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS)

5.       Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT)

6.       Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

7.       International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTC)

8.       United Nations Forum on forests (UNFF)

9.       International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN)

10.   Global Tiger Forum (GTF)

Hazardous material

International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions

International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions

India is one of the founder members of the international Labour Organization (ILO). The influence of ILO Conventions as a standard of reference for labour legislation and practices in India has been significant. Under the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulations) Act, 1986 and through the National Policy on Child labour, ILO has financially supported preparation of certain industry specific projects in India. The implementation of the international Programme of Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) in India has created a positive impact towards understanding the problem of child labour and highlighting the need for elimination of child labour.

Human Rights conventions

India is also party to a number of major international treaties on human rights. These include international Convention on the  Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1968) International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1979) ,Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1993) and Convention on the rights of the Child (1992) with regard to international criminal law, India is party to Slavery Convention of 1926, genocide Convention of 1948 and the Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity of 1968. 

 Social

India is a charter member of the United Nations and participates in all of its specialized agencies. India’s representation has provided an opportunity for leadership in words affairs. India was at the forefront of the UN’s struggle against colonialism and apartheid, its effort towards global disarmament, and towards the creation of a more equitable international order.

International Agreements and India

Principles by Themes

The following themes occur in a number of sets of principles:

·         Alternative energy sources

·         Assumption of greater responsibility by industrial nations for sustainability solutions.

·         Clarifying and acting on values

·         Diversity of life

·         Elimination of over-consumption

·         Eradication of poverty

·         Gender equity

·         Greater democratic participation in decision- making

·         Increased access to reliable information

·         International cooperation/global partnership

·         Limits to nature’s resources

·         Needs of future generations

·         Peace and security

·         Precautionary principle

 International Agreements and India

Since the United Nations Stockholm Conference of the Human Environment in 1972, the international environmental legal regime has experienced manifold progress. At a broader level, the agreements regime has expanded in scope since environmental issues are no longer considered in isolation to social and economic concerns. With economic growth and development, issues related to ecological sustainability and social equity have also been receiving growing importance. India has remained at the forefront of global sustainable development policy formulation and has supported the development of global agreements and policies that are fair and equitable.

Key Agreements

1.       Economic:

Global trade agreements

Some definitions of SD(sustainable development)

Sustainable development has been defined in many ways, but the most frequently quoted definition is form Our Common Future, also known as the Brundtland Report:

“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It contains which it two key concepts:

·         The concept of needs, in particular the essential needs of the world’s poor, to which overriding priority should be given; and

·         The idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the environment’s ability to meet present and future needs.”

Organization on the environment’s ability to meet present and future needs.’

All definitions of sustainable development require that we see the world as a system- a system that connects space; and a system that connects time.

When you think of the world as a system over space, you grow to understand that air pollution from North America affects air quality in Asia, and that pesticides sprayed in Argentina could harm fish stocks off the coast of Australia.

And when you think of the world as a system over time, you start to realize that the decisions our grandparents made about how to farm the land continue to affect agricultural practice today; and the economic policies we endorse today will have an impact on urban poverty when our children are adults.