HYDERABAD: In view of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, environment and climate action groups are raising concerns about the less talked-about issues related to environmental challenges, climate crisis, and their adverse effects on the economy and the common people.
Environmentalists, citing the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) of 2022, said that India ranked at the bottom of the list of 180 countries, at the 180th position, in terms of addressing environmental challenges and related policymaking, which are equally pivotal for the country’s growth.
While climate change and environmental issues are part of the manifestos of the leading political parties, the BJP and the Congress, activists said that the manifestos and assurances must be implemented in letter and spirit by the new government to ensure environmental justice, which is directly linked to social and economic justice, especially for the most vulnerable sections of the country.
The Congress has dedicated two pages under the ‘environment’ and ‘water management’ sections in its election manifesto, where it discusses environment, climate change, disaster management, and proposed action plans such as the New Deal Investment Programme, National Clean Air Programme, protecting the coastal zones of the country, water harvesting, among other issues concerning the environment and climate.
On the other hand, the BJP’s manifesto under the section of ‘Modi ki Guarantee for Sustainable Bharat’ talks about reducing air pollution across 131 cities, reducing carbon emissions, launching a green corridor, and expanding the green credit programme, among other points related to environmental issues in the three-page document.
Environmentalists and public policy expert Donthi Narasimha Reddy told TNIE, “There is a wide gap between the issues that plague the common people, in terms of clean air, clean water, clean food, and housing, and policymaking. What is alarmingly disappointing is that none of the governments have been able to effectively address the environmental and ecological issues, more so in the last ten years, as they are not linking public policies with environmental policies. For example, the government is establishing solar parks in Rajasthan and Gujarat by destroying forests and grasslands. Government has not been looking into the environmental impact of development actions. Even the masses are ignorant and disconnected from these issues. Unless the new government redefines development and makes policies that are effective in solving the environmental crisis, all talks about sustainable development and a green economy will be shallow.”
Environmentalists also stressed the inclusion of communities and civil society as central in all local and national development decision-making at various levels in the future.
Meera Sanghamitra, national convenor of the National Alliance of People’s Movement, Telangana Chapter, speaking to TNIE, said, “This is an appeal to Indian voters to reflect on the last ten years of governance, especially in terms of the global context of the climate crisis. The current government has been diluting many important green laws. It is crucial that these laws are not diluted but implemented effectively to prevent their exploitation by large corporations.”