On the outskirts of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh sits a famous temple dedicated to the âgoddess of starsâ, Tara Devi. It is surrounded by a dense forest. Adjoining the Tara Devi Temple and the forest is a vast private land, which was equally lush with Oak, Deodar and other native trees. In November 2014, the private property was sold to a builder, who saw a golden âopportunityâ to construct a hotel. As many as 477 trees that were perhaps over a 100 years old were wiped out immediately, and illegally.
But as the stars would have it, The National Green Tribunalâa statutory body established in 2010 to handle and expedite cases relating to the environmentâsoon caught air of the matter. Justice Swatanter Kumar, then chairperson of the NGT, was swift to take action. The agreement was cancelled, hefty fine imposed, and the Forest Department directed to plan reforestation of the area. In a strong move, the NGT also barred any future construction on the property. It is now reserved solely for afforestation. The order also demanded the offenders to plant 4770 treesâ10 times the number felled.
Justice Kumar recounted the Tara Devi case at the International Conference on âEnvironment and Sustainability: Critical Issues and Solutionsâ held at India Habitat Centre on 12th March, 2020. The conference, which coincided with the foundation of Jindal School of Environment & Sustainability (JSES), was jointly organised by 91ÊÓÆ” (JGU) and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). A series of discussions ensued that were focussed not only on the challenges of the environment, but how to create effective solutions through law, policy, regulation, conservation, green building, science and technology, among other means. In the audience were students from JGU, Ambedkar University, Delhi University and other higher education institutions.
At a time when even global leaders are denying the realities of climate change, the story of justice in the small Himalayan hilltop is a silver lining. Yes, in ways big or small, some groups are acting for the environment.
Yet at the end of the day, it is simply not enough. The future of the planet and its people is undoubtedly at stake.There is no need to look at the stats and figures. Even if you do, the many environmental reports indicate, for the most past, major failings. The ambitious Paris Agreement of 2015, which set out to hold rising temperatures âwell belowâ 2 degrees, is going to miss the mark.
It is clear as dayâthough ironically, clear days are numberedâthat climate change is real. In spite of the relentless retelling of climate change effects and the pressing need for changeâchange is coming slowly, and unfortunately in many cases, if at all.
A lot more needs to be done. The many bigwigs present at the conferenceâa multidisciplinary panel of lawyers, judges, ministers, civil servants, policy makers, environmentalists, economists and academiciansâurged the youth, governments, and communities, to come together, step up, and rally for the environment. Leaders in their domains, the speakers illustrated examples of both failings of governments and societies to curb climate change, and also small victories and prudent steps towards a better future.
Two sides of the environment problem
On the one hand, we need to deal with the circumstances humanity has already created for the environment. This means developing and effectively implementing laws and policies to protect and restore the environment, shift to green practices, achieve environmental sustainability in economy, development and infrastructure.
On the other, we need to deal with humanityâs continuing exploitation of the planet. This calls for something more. Take the Amazon rainforest, for instance. Environmentalists are worried about deforestation happening at a colossal scale. Scientists say that climate change already set in motion along with further fires and deforestation could cause the planetâs biggest rainforest to dry up. If the âlungs of the planetâ cease to be, we are heading towards a climate catastrophe.
This brings us to a pertinent question.
Is humanity missing a culture of care?
Dr. Tatjana Kochetkova, Assistant Professor, Jindal 91ÊÓÆ” Law School, in an illuminating lecture at the conference, asksâwhat are the roots of the environmental crisis?
Historically, there was a time when human civilisation was only a small part of the biosphereââlike an embryo in a motherâs wombâ, describes Dr. Kochetkova. Now humanity has grown up. It has grown in size and in power. It has come into conflict with the biosphere, its âmotherâ.
Could this be seen as a crisis of consciousness? A crisis of culture? âUltimately, it can be described as an existential crisisâa crisis of meaning. Over-consumption of the biosphereâs resources is a symptom of spiritual emptiness. I think philosophy and spirituality are primary in finding and designing solutions because what we need is a transformation towards an ecocentric culture and values and finding deeper meaning of life,â argues Dr. Kochetkova.
Addressing the environmental crisis with law and policy is important. But is it enough? We need a re-evaluation of our values and deeper cultural transformation. We need to rethink the foundations of our civilisation. A case study of Japan, as one of the greenest countries in the world, was brought forth to showcase how its transformation could be an inspiration for other countries. Japan, half a century ago, was very polluted. Yet Japanese citizens were driven by ecocentric values and the very ‘aesthetic Japanese culture in which beauty has priorityâ as Dr. Kochetkova puts it. So it managed to clean up and develop the economy in a green way without sacrificing its growth. The Japanese people turned greening their country into an economically viable activity. This raises another critical issueâof âeconomy vs. ecologyâ.
Bridging the gap between development and ecology
Thereâs no argument that development is necessary. Going forward, developmental needs will only increase. India, as a developing nation, has seen a huge growth in linear infrastructure. Anywhere you go, roads are being laid down. India is also a large mammal country, noted Dr. Dipankar Ghose, Director, Species and Landscapes Programme, WWF India, at the second session of the conference on âDeveloping Sustainable & Resilient Infrastructureâ. Large mammals represent Indiaâs rich biodiversity. They need connected landscapes to thrive. But unfortunately, âEvery day, you open newspapers to find mortality of at least one animal and one human on roads,â says Dr. Ghose.
If you look at the road map of the country, youâll find an intricate web cutting across green areas. Unless the development of roads brings in sensitivity to wildlife, Indiaâs biodiversity is at greater threat. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has laid out guidelines to avoid protected areas, but itâs easier said than done.
Dr. Ghose recalled the construction of the NH54E in Assam, which passed through a major elephant reserve. As a workaround, a plan was formulated to construct an âunderpassâ for the elephants. The suggestion seemed almost comical. Nonetheless, the elephants were subsequently âtrainedâ to take the underpass. The planâs success was a big question. As it were, the entire operation quite literally âbridgedâ the gap between development and environment, captured in surveillance camera footage that showed elephants and even other animals coming through the underpass!
This shows that development does not have to be against nature. It is not the norm, but these are the stories that inspire. In the Tara Devi case too, the builder could have constructed small cottages in the clearings between trees without touching the green cover. Perhaps it would have gone on to become an environmentally sustainable and lucrative venture. Economy and ecology can go hand-in-hand. It offers some solace and a whole lot of motivation to know that some people are doing their part. Itâs time all of us stepped up and joined in.
A need for collective involvement and responsibility
âWeâve lost community involvement, individual involvement,â says Dr. Bibek Debroy, leading Indian economist and Chairman, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, Government of India, in his lecture as Chief Guest at the launch of JSES. âThereâs no way the government alone can solve a problem,â he adds. While some individuals and societies have stood up to address environmental issues, the larger populations perhaps remain largely desensitised. âThereâs an assumption that protecting the environment is the governmentâs job,â believes Dr. Debroy. He may be right.
If not the government, then does the onus rest upon the judiciary? Indeed, there are bodies like NGT, and there are people like M.C. Mehta, widely admired as the lawyer who single-handedly won innumerable cases for the environment. Mr. Mehta delivered a keynote address at the event. âThe judiciary can work to protect the environment, but it cannot do everything. It is the role of people. As citizens of this world, we must take whatever steps we can to protect the world. What history are we thinking of writing for the future? You have to create a breed of young people who work on these issues,â he appeals.
We need to halt, reverse and restore natureâput nature back on the path of recovery. All things considered, there is a strong need to create a new framework, where all nations pledge to protect nature. We need to raise commitments of governments, bring in non-state actors, increase the level of ambition and targets, and set clear, measurable targets. To make this possible, to stand a winning chance, we need to challenge ourselves as a global community.
How can young people rise to the challenge?
Whether you want to become a lawyer, activist, economist, civil servant, researcher, analyst, policy maker or business person, getting the right kind of education is the key. Or even if you donât know just yet how you can contribute, but your gut tells you that you need to do something to save the planetâyou need to come forward. You need a conducive environment to discover your interests, aptitude, strengths and your passions. You can find it through the necessary exposure and guidance at top global universities like JGU. Education is the future of any nation. Education is the future of the world. It is through education, that you can receive the knowledge, skills, experiences, and most importantly, guidance, to pave your way forward.
Launching Jindal School of Environment & Sustainability
The conference culminated with the official announcement of JGUâs new schoolâJindal School of Environment and Sustainability (JSES). Prof. (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, Vice Chancellor, JGU, in his address at the launch said that though the universityâs eight other schools have many linkages to issues of the environment, there was a need to create a focussed, full-fledged school to study the environment in a multidisciplinary way.
The newly launched school, and its first programme, B.A. (Hons.) Environmental & Sustainability Studies, which will be offered in 2020, presents students with a rare opportunity. Students will learn to draw connections between the environment and society, to consider environmental problems from a global perspective and take local approaches to solving them. Experiential learning through student-led projects will put theory into practice. Understanding that the world is truly entwined in more ways than one, students will learn to look at economic, cultural and political factors behind environment and sustainability issues.
It is a course with the kind of academic rigour and exposure befitting the peers of young Greta Thunbergâthe 17-year-old environmental activist who has caught the worldâs attention by demanding global action towards reducing climate change effects. It is for those young high school students who want to stand up and make a difference in the world they live in, because it is sorely needed.
