Comments on: The environment we are in http://imaginingindia.com/2009/02/19/the-environment-we-are-in/ Across the world, Nandan is recognized as one of India's most successful software entrepreneurs and as the co-founder of Infosys, among India's premier companies in the IT sector. Now meet Nandan, the author. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:22:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Indian http://imaginingindia.com/2009/02/19/the-environment-we-are-in/#comment-962 Indian Tue, 26 May 2009 13:53:05 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=813#comment-962 The dilemma with countries like India and China is: " Whether to save a dying man, or a dying tree " Great economic developement for uplifing millions from poverty will certainly have heavy environmental price. The dilemma with countries like India and China is:

” Whether to save a dying man, or a dying tree ”

Great economic developement for uplifing millions from poverty will certainly have heavy environmental price.

]]> By: Rakesh http://imaginingindia.com/2009/02/19/the-environment-we-are-in/#comment-578 Rakesh Tue, 17 Mar 2009 10:01:30 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=813#comment-578 In China, because things are centralized and (apparently) very well executed the State seems to have a good history of project management, planning and coordination. So one tends to give attempts such as the one in this link (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/17/business/worldbusiness/17compete.html) a decent probability of success. What is the possible equivalent of coordination in India -- Suppose one wants to do this in bits independent of the Govt. Suppose one wants to train people -- say youths who constitute the 'lumpen' elements used by politicians -- I was wondering how we can go about discussing learning and identifying meaningful areas in which we want to train people (so it becomes useful in some job that has scope locally or globally) Training will incur costs so shd ideally be done only when there is a reasonable chance of employing the trainees... Isnt there a coordination issue to be addressed or would the invisible hand of the market work the magic -- seems unlikely. In China, because things are centralized and (apparently) very well executed the State seems to have a good history of project management, planning and coordination. So one tends to give attempts such as the one in this link (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/17/business/worldbusiness/17compete.html) a decent probability of success.

What is the possible equivalent of coordination in India — Suppose one wants to do this in bits independent of the Govt. Suppose one wants to train people — say youths who constitute the ‘lumpen’ elements used by politicians — I was wondering how we can go about discussing learning and identifying meaningful areas in which we want to train people (so it becomes useful in some job that has scope locally or globally) Training will incur costs so shd ideally be done only when there is a reasonable chance of employing the trainees…

Isnt there a coordination issue to be addressed or would the invisible hand of the market work the magic — seems unlikely.

]]> By: Special Ecological Zones - Isnt time for Gov to bring one? « B-Factor http://imaginingindia.com/2009/02/19/the-environment-we-are-in/#comment-482 Special Ecological Zones - Isnt time for Gov to bring one? « B-Factor Sat, 28 Feb 2009 13:58:18 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=813#comment-482 [...] Special Ecological Zones arose in my mind when I was reading Nandan Nilekani’s post on ‘the environment we are in‘. The world is badly suffering from economic recession, experts say it mite last for another [...] [...] Special Ecological Zones arose in my mind when I was reading Nandan Nilekani’s post on ‘the environment we are in‘. The world is badly suffering from economic recession, experts say it mite last for another [...]

]]> By: Bala http://imaginingindia.com/2009/02/19/the-environment-we-are-in/#comment-481 Bala Sat, 28 Feb 2009 12:19:44 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=813#comment-481 Indians need more awareness on going green. Government should take necessary action in creating this awareness, even though we see a lot of NGO campaigns around, only very few create an impact, the reason behind this is, people who are running those campaigns are behind sponsors and their branding over shadows the entire goal. Government should lessen the permission rules and other legal formalities for such campaigns and should tighten the rules for industry establishment and maintenance. Like Special Economic Zones(SEZ), Gov should introduce a concept of Special Ecology Zones, corporates/industries who opt for that should be given more economic privileges than what is given in SEZs, but from ecological perspective the industries should follow certain regulations like no-plastics inside the zone, recycle, reuse, re-invent methodologies etc. By introducing such tools we can really bring down the carbon level. Indians need more awareness on going green. Government should take necessary action in creating this awareness, even though we see a lot of NGO campaigns around, only very few create an impact, the reason behind this is, people who are running those campaigns are behind sponsors and their branding over shadows the entire goal. Government should lessen the permission rules and other legal formalities for such campaigns and should tighten the rules for industry establishment and maintenance. Like Special Economic Zones(SEZ), Gov should introduce a concept of Special Ecology Zones, corporates/industries who opt for that should be given more economic privileges than what is given in SEZs, but from ecological perspective the industries should follow certain regulations like no-plastics inside the zone, recycle, reuse, re-invent methodologies etc. By introducing such tools we can really bring down the carbon level.

]]> By: idontspam http://imaginingindia.com/2009/02/19/the-environment-we-are-in/#comment-452 idontspam Thu, 19 Feb 2009 16:32:58 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=813#comment-452 Including carbon credits into our lifestyle and commerce today will encourage us to follow a more sustainable path. The choices we will make in our daily life will be so much more cleaner knowing there is a cost associated with an environmentally harmful choice. It would be ideal if individuals were allocated carbon currency by city governments they can spend and earn. Including carbon credits into our lifestyle and commerce today will encourage us to follow a more sustainable path. The choices we will make in our daily life will be so much more cleaner knowing there is a cost associated with an environmentally harmful choice. It would be ideal if individuals were allocated carbon currency by city governments they can spend and earn.

]]> By: msathia http://imaginingindia.com/2009/02/19/the-environment-we-are-in/#comment-450 msathia Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:27:23 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=813#comment-450 Even though I consider the whole Environmental debate is valid I doubt whether it is possible for us, in a short term, can alter the course where it is heading to. In the past 4 or 5 centuries what has been done, I am doubtful whether we can modify the course in couple of decades. Also I have a big question mark on whether we can or we are destined to maintain the so called "overall balance". Because the moment we start thinking we should maintain we should know the complete data on that. What I think alternatively we should do is stop doing further damage and stay away from nature as much as posible. Coming to the point of discussion of this blog post I agree that India should take a leaf out of China's book and have an "inclusive approach" but that doesnt leave that we haven't done any damage. We too have our share. Even though I consider the whole Environmental debate is valid I doubt whether it is possible for us, in a short term, can alter the course where it is heading to. In the past 4 or 5 centuries what has been done, I am doubtful whether we can modify the course in couple of decades. Also I have a big question mark on whether we can or we are destined to maintain the so called “overall balance”. Because the moment we start thinking we should maintain we should know the complete data on that. What I think alternatively we should do is stop doing further damage and stay away from nature as much as posible.

Coming to the point of discussion of this blog post I agree that India should take a leaf out of China’s book and have an “inclusive approach” but that doesnt leave that we haven’t done any damage. We too have our share.

]]> By: Amit Murthy http://imaginingindia.com/2009/02/19/the-environment-we-are-in/#comment-449 Amit Murthy Thu, 19 Feb 2009 02:55:22 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=813#comment-449 The planet can be viewed as a closed system. And everything that we consume has to come from nature. If I increase my daily intake of tea, some forest is being cleared somewhere. Other than just pricing environmental costs, there should be a conscious effort to move to a more steady-state economy, rather than one just focused on growth (read increasing consumerism). An ecosystem should be dynamic but overall in balance. The planet can be viewed as a closed system. And everything that we consume has to come from nature. If I increase my daily intake of tea, some forest is being cleared somewhere. Other than just pricing environmental costs, there should be a conscious effort to move to a more steady-state economy, rather than one just focused on growth (read increasing consumerism). An ecosystem should be dynamic but overall in balance.

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