Green revolution: Air is what's bothering Indians

GREEN WITH AWARENESS: CNN-IBN panelists discuss the findings of the State of the Environment survey.

                  

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Most Indians ranked environment pollution as their second worst problem in a list of six and believe that air, water and noise pollution will get worse, says a first-of-its-kind survey conducted by CNN-IBN and Outlook magazine.

The survey, in partnership with the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), found that most Indians regard air pollution to be the worst environment problem. Planting more trees is the environment challenge people want the Government to tackle first.

But are Indians willing to change their lifestyle for the environment’s sake? What do the survey’s findings tell about Indians’ knowledge of environment problems? CNN-IBN’s Bahar Dutt and Anubha Bhonsle asked this to a panel comprising a politician, economist, environmentalist, writer and musician with a PhD in environment science.

The panel comprised Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal, Dr Subir Gokarn, chief economist for Standard and Poor in the Asia Pacific region, CSE director Sunita Narain, Rahul Ram, lead vocalist of music band Indian Ocean, and Ramachandra Guha, historian and writer.

The survey’s findings reflect the “maturing of the environment” in India. “Urban Indians are realizing the problem that is staring at all of us,” said Narain.

Environmentalists were considered as “party-poopers” when India became a liberalized economy in the 1990s but now after decades of reckless industrialization the environment is back on the nation’s agenda, said Guha.

Indians may regard air pollution as the country’s worst environment problem but they think industries are the top culprits for this and vehicles next. Is it a case of ‘my car doesn’t pollute’?

“Everybody wants to think he or she is good, nobody wants to admit that they might have something to do with environmental problems. The mindset is if it’s green—haryali—it can’t be polluting. Nobody thinks that better public transport can take the burden off the environment too,” said Ram.

People’s good intentions won’t end pollution; environment-friendly policies will need hard work and long-term commitment, said Gokarn. Polluting industries will have to be taxed and environment-friendly ones given incentives—tasks that require effort and coordination, he said.

People have to pay some price for a better environment, said Guha. “Cities will have to stop shifting the burden to the countryside. Delhi is situated on the Yamuna but the river is dead; Varanasi is on the Ganga but the river is dead. Urban Indians need to think about the footprint of their activities on the hinterland.”

“People are not being asked to give up their cars, but give them affordable, convenient and the best option to travel,” said Narain.