As all of us know the world is at a critical juncture, whether it is to further deteriorate or to reverse the trend slowly by taking countermeasures to dampen the climate-changing trend. So far we were moving with linear economy systems leaving behind the by-products and wastes thrown into the air, water and soil taking for granted that mother EARTH would do the needful. But this tendency of mankind is a story of the past as mother EARTH’s regenerative capacity is far behind what we are throwing out now. As per the calculations of the Global Footprint Network globally we need 1.75 earths to produce what we consume and to sequestrate what we emit.
If everyone on earth lives like an American we need 5 earths while if everyone on earth lives like an Indian we need 0.7 Earth as per the figures published by the Global Footprint Network. Mrs Indira Gandhi our late Prime Minister during World Conference on Environment in 1972 did highlight that it is not the population figures but the consumption trend which matters. Though India’s achievements are lauded with respect to the total average consumption per person, India has to rethink whether our resources are expended equitably. As per the UNDP calculations, India’s inequality figures are very high which is nearer to the underdeveloped countries. Yes, India’s intra-generational sustainability measures are not satisfactory while inter-generational sustainability status is laudable. To achieve a Sustainable Nation both intra- generational and inter-generational sustainability measures are inevitable.
Excellent management solutions are described which are evolved through research which turned out as a University Doctoral Thesis Dissertation and later improvised through NGO activities by the name Centre for Environmental Efficiency the link of our website is www.centreforenvironmentalefficiency.org where EE&CC theories which are later improvised as ‘may and ton’ values contributing intra-generational as well as inter-generational sustainability indicators are explained. Research work is underway to combine both the above indicators to form a single indicator to check whether our sustainability is at peril or sustainability is strong. EE&CC Indicators improvised as ‘may and ton’ values have applications from Global Level to Local Level and vice versa.
World Sustainability begins with individuals in terms of ‘Personal Environmental Efficiency’ in terms of human development achievements in relation to total consumption(ecological footprint) factors of which are health, education, income and their equitable distribution (IHDI of UNDP)with respect to the total consumption in terms of land and energy(Ecological Footprint of Global Footprint Network ). Fine-tuning to the local level we can evaluate How well she/he is(Physical Wellness)? what is her/his level of skill development, whether she/he has a reasonable income for a decent livelihood, whether her/his fellow being’s achievements are reasonably comparable and whether her/his resource consumption in terms of energy and productivity adjusted land are optimized.. ‘Personal Environmental Efficiency’ attainment is not possible unless our national/ state/city policies programs and projects are modified in tune with the Environmental Efficiency Indicator System where Geographical Information System, Block-chain Technology and Artificial Intelligence have a great role to play in evolving corrective policies, programs and projects.
Along with the Environmental Efficiency concept I am alerting on the Carrying Capacity concept also which is the bigger umbrella under which humans should thrive with higher and higher Environmental Efficiency by sharing equitably and caring for our resources with the use of Technologies coming out of innovations. Innovations will bolster in an environmentally- efficient background with prosperity, peace and tranquillity. EE&CC are like two sides of a coin where one is achieved the other one will automatically be achieved as Environmental Efficiency aims at reducing the spare capacity and emission losses so that the load on our ecosystems (forest, aquatic and marine) which support human activities are reduced.
All of us are familiar with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and out of which Goal 11 the sustainable cities. If EE&CC concepts are microscopically examined one can make sure that we don’t have to go by Goal by Goal but concentrate on Goal 11 the Sustainable Cities if managed by EE&CC yardsticks. All other goals are achieved simultaneously.
Are Urban and Regional Planners respectfully chaired? That is a serious question to be discussed. Spatial Planners have a great role to overview the sustainability of developments whether it is environmentally efficient to inculcate carrying capacity-rich ecosystems to support and vice versa. They should be seated above all linear professions. There should be a cadre to oversee the Environmental Efficiency and Carrying Capacity of our City/State/Nation by which the Nation can be led to prosperity and happiness. Having Govt of India identified the role of Urban Planners for national development one can keep our fingers crossed to see that something good will come out.
EE&CC yardsticks can be trickled down to Local Area Planning also by identifying proxy indicators of Environmental Efficiency and Carrying Capacity. Effective indicators can be identified, contributing to human development, reducing the ecological footprint and conserving/proliferating biological capacity. As an NGO our R&D activities and initiatives can be fine-tuned by taking up research dissertations and thesis topics by the academia so that this innovative concept would be heard by the world and we are confidently and optimistically moving ahead like in a labyrinth searching and finding the way forward.
I am very happy that I got these insights to work on as it gives me positive energy which determines my overall well-being. As my family is also involved in this initiative they are also learning a lot which are useful tips for their professional and personal life.
Below are some tips to ponder on.
1. Amassing wealth without ethics and values is like bubble in the air
2. Rather than we ourselves aiming high, for our own sake we should uplift our fellow ones. Embrace the idea of Global Citizenship and seek one world solutions.
3. One has to make sure that our future generations also thrive-one should consume responsibly
4. Restore our ecosystems rather than making weapons and creating wars
Dr May Mathew
Founder Trustee and Chief Planner
Centre for Environmental Efficiency,
Kochi-682017
(Keynote Speech could not be delivered due to some personal exigencies to the intended audience of an International Seminar on March 8, 2023. It is being published now on the hope that it will be read by many)
This article is originally published as per the following link
