Can we Shed Our Responsibility?

June 5 was celebrated as the World Environment Day and appropriate events must have taken place to show the solidarity towards curbing global warming. Admittedly, in corporate style, we received an e-mail at office urging to take care of the environment – car pooling and switching off computers and such. I responded to that e-mail with a longer list of what can we do. Simple things, in my opinion – set AC temperature 2 degrees higher (sometimes it gets a freezing 18 degrees Celsius where I sit), allow natural light to come in avoiding usage of electric bulbs, turn on only alternate bulbs in the corridor or staircase etc.

But how enough is enough? Would this save the earth? I don’t know…but it is like doing your bit and hoping for the best. A 2002 report shows different levels of pollution: Indian citizen emits 0.25 tons of carbon per year while a US citizen emits 5.5 tons. India uses that as a tool in saying we should not be asked to cut the Green House Gases (GHG) and that this will severely restrict our development goals. Pollution and environmental damage is attributed to the developed nations so it is something that they should take care, not us, goes the standard line.

I think this argument is loaded with ridiculous logic. Now I do agree that impact of cutting carbon emissions in a developed nation like US say even by 20% will be much more than the impact of cutting carbon emissions in India by same percentage points. But that does not mean India should continue on the rampant path of the so called development and ignore the impact. After all, it is not like because US causes most pollution, when sea-levels rise, selectively Boston and New York will be submerged under water but not Mumbai and Calcutta….

In fact, with all the infrastructure building that India is undergoing, this can be taken as an opportunity. There are merely three traffic lights in the whole of Pune which work on solar energy. What stops us from investing in this renewable energy resource to convert, say all traffic lights and street lights to run on solar energy? Why not invest in mass transit rather than new cars? Why not build more wind-energy and solar energy plants? Where are the research-grants that promote research into non-conventional energy resources?

A welcome step is that the new constructions do ask for installation of solar water heaters and many encourage rain-water harvesting. Some environmentally friendly parks and townships have also sprung up and while the general awareness is increasing, it is still abysmal. This may not be enough. After all, if we want to enjoy the fruits of our development, we want a sustainable environment too, right?