Context:
Despite international pledges such as the Paris Agreement (2015) and COP26/27/28, India grapples with worsening carbon emissions, ecological destruction, and environmental instability.
Key Environmental Challenges
The UNEP identifies a Triple Planetary Crisis—three interlinked emergencies:
- Climate Change – Fueled by rising greenhouse gas emissions, leading to global warming, extreme weather, sea-level rise, and threats to food and water security.
- Biodiversity Loss – Driven by habitat destruction, overexploitation, pollution, and invasive species, weakening ecosystems that regulate climate and prevent diseases.
- Pollution – Harms human health, marine and terrestrial life, and accelerates long-term ecological damage.
Current State of Environmental Crises in India & the World
- Rising CO₂ Emissions:
- Global emissions increased from 34.1 billion tonnes (2015) to 37.4 billion tonnes (2024) (~10% rise).
- India is now the 3rd largest emitter (after China & USA), with emissions surging from 2.33 billion tonnes (2015) to 3.12 billion tonnes (2025) (~34% jump).
- Biodiversity Decline:
- India State of Forest Report 2023 reveals a 1.5% loss in natural forests, despite marginal overall forest cover growth.
- Severe Air Pollution:
- WHO data shows 14 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities (PM2.5) are in India.
- Water Pollution Crisis:
- CPCB reports only 30% of urban sewage is treated; the rest flows untreated into rivers and lakes.
Root Causes of Environmental Degradation
- Reliance on Fossil Fuels:
- Coal dominates (~70% of electricity generation, CEA 2024).
- Deforestation & Land Misuse:
- Western Ghats & Northeast India face heavy deforestation; 3,500+ forest clearances (2014–23) lacked proper Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA).
- Unsustainable Agriculture:
- Monoculture farming (paddy, wheat, sugarcane)—boosted by MSP policies—depletes soil and increases chemical fertilizer use.
- Urban Waste Mismanagement:
- India produces 62 million tonnes of waste/year, but only 20% is processed scientifically.
- Global North’s Overconsumption:
- Developed nations outsource pollution and resource extraction to the Global South.
India’s Climate Injustice Paradox
- Low Per Capita, High Total Emissions:
- India’s per capita CO₂ emissions (~1.9 tonnes) are below the global average (~4.5 tonnes), yet it ranks 3rd in total emissions.
- Disproportionate Impact on the Poor:
- Marginalized communities, despite minimal ecological footprints, suffer the most—Delhi’s slum dwellers endure lethal air pollution.
- Vulnerability to Climate Shocks:
- Ranked 7th on the Global Climate Risk Index, India faces erratic monsoons, extreme heat (>50°C in Rajasthan, 2024), floods, and droughts.
Path to Sustainable Solutions
- Global North Must Take Responsibility:
- Deliver on $100 billion/year climate finance and deeper emission cuts to meet the 1.5°C target.
- Enforce carbon taxes and EU-style carbon border policies on polluting industries.
- Reform Environmental Governance:
- Strengthen EIA transparency, empower the National Green Tribunal (NGT), and strictly enforce the Polluter Pays Principle.
- Shift to Green Economy Models:
- Adopt Green GDP metrics (as in Uttarakhand).
- Promote organic farming (Sikkim’s model) and green MGNREGA for afforestation & water conservation.
- Community-Led Conservation:
- Implement PESA & Forest Rights Act (FRA) effectively.
- Revive indigenous practices like Nagaland’s Zabo system and Mendha Lekha’s forest governance.
- Close Policy Loopholes:
- Prevent Global North industries from relocating polluting units to India (e.g., European textile waste dumping).
- Resist becoming a pollution haven through stricter regulations.