An article on environmental management perspective
I remember many years ago receiving a call from a BBC journalist asking which villages in India they should visit to see the impacts of climate change. This was in the early 1990s. I was puzzled and asked, "Is climate change here?" Finally, the television crew decided to shoot urban fires in Delhi and drought in Rajasthan to show their viewers how India was reeling under the impact of changing climate due to increased greenhouse gas emissions.
I wonder what I'd say if I got a similar call today. Would I point to recent cloudbursts and cyclonic events, which have more or less drowned several major metropolitan cities in the country? Would I point to the obvious variations and extreme weather events - from heatwaves to freak snow episodes - to say that our climate has changed? Clearly, the answer isn't simple. It is true that every Indian city that has drowned under the weight of its rain has suffered because of the progressive mismanagement at the hands of its city managers. It is also true that the intensity of floods and drought has increased because we have made the poor even more vulnerable to weather events - either by destroying the wetlands that absorbed the water or by simply ruining the land economies of people, which would sustain them in times of stress.
It is also true that our weather is changing. In other words, we have a double-whammy - already stressed regions and people who will be further hit. It is imperative that we reduce our vulnerabilities by doing 'good' development - investing in the natural resource base of people to mitigate against drought and floods. Simultaneously, it is also imperative that we reduce global emissions so that the threat of climate change is contained.
It is for this reason that the world governments party to the convention on climate change came up with the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The idea was simple: the industrialized North had to reduce its emissions, partly because its emissions were already leading to the threats of climate change and partly to provide economic and ecological space for the South to increase its emissions. Two facts were clear: one, the North could not substantially reduce its emissions as it could not de-link from the fossil fuel economy that drives growth. Two, the South did not have to make the mistakes of the emission-flatulent parts of the world. It could re-engineer its growth trajectory so that it would be more efficient or less dependent on fossil fuels. It was this reasoning that led to CDM - so that the North could pay for the cleaner development in the South and get credits in its carbon balance sheet. It was meant to be a win-win situation.
This was not to be. In our study of the working of CDM (see 'Newest, Biggest Deal', Down To Earth, November 15, 2005), we find that it has become a market mechanism simply - an agreement between private parties looking to make a fast buck. It is, as we show, not just the complicated development mechanism but also the corrupt development mechanism, which is leading to poor quality projects.
It is important to consider why this is so. It would be easy for commentators in the developed world to blame these transgressions - corruption or poor project design - on the governments and industries of the South. But the answer is not so simple.
The fact is that rich governments have worked overtime on the design of CDM so that it is what it is today. For instance, the rules and procedures that have been developed for CDM are extremely convoluted and cumbersome, leading to ineffective projects at the country level. Take the criterion for "additionality" - what can be done without a CDM project - which is leading to creative carbon accounting and poor quality projects. In fact, the current rules create perverse incentives for governments to do little to combat climate change.
These over-developed criteria are purportedly the response of rich governments and their NGOs to protect against "business-as-usual" dirty projects, which they believe Southern governments would want to push through in the garb of CDM. They don't trust the poor country governments. The result is bad rules made for bad projects.
The second problem concerns high transaction costs (and procedures) - due to the compulsory involvement of private auditors and their procedures, which in turn negates the involvement of the community and small projects in CDM. This was done by rich governments and their NGOs to protect against the lack of credible procedures in the South. But look at the end result. The procedure stipulates that the project proponent hires the consultant to do the project design and then hires the authorized validator to certify the project, based on the consultant's report. In other words, the entire process is regulated by mutual self-interest. It is no wonder that Down To Earth indicted two internationally acclaimed auditors - namely, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ernst & Young - for fraudulent project design documents.
I could go on. But the moot point is that the design of CDM is flawed. It keeps prices low; it forces the South to discount its advantage in reducing emissions. It does little to combat climate change. If the threat of climate change is real, then the answers to it must also get real. CDM is a halfway house because it does not build a global climate regime based on entitlements for all. But it can deliver the building blocks of a cleaner tomorrow. For this, we must do things differently. Much more differently.
- Sunita Narain
Thanks,
umalme
From India, Delhi
12I remember many years ago receiving a call from a BBC journalist asking which villages in India they should visit to see the impacts of climate change. This was in the early 1990s. I was puzzled and asked, "Is climate change here?" Finally, the television crew decided to shoot urban fires in Delhi and drought in Rajasthan to show their viewers how India was reeling under the impact of changing climate due to increased greenhouse gas emissions.
I wonder what I'd say if I got a similar call today. Would I point to recent cloudbursts and cyclonic events, which have more or less drowned several major metropolitan cities in the country? Would I point to the obvious variations and extreme weather events - from heatwaves to freak snow episodes - to say that our climate has changed? Clearly, the answer isn't simple. It is true that every Indian city that has drowned under the weight of its rain has suffered because of the progressive mismanagement at the hands of its city managers. It is also true that the intensity of floods and drought has increased because we have made the poor even more vulnerable to weather events - either by destroying the wetlands that absorbed the water or by simply ruining the land economies of people, which would sustain them in times of stress.
It is also true that our weather is changing. In other words, we have a double-whammy - already stressed regions and people who will be further hit. It is imperative that we reduce our vulnerabilities by doing 'good' development - investing in the natural resource base of people to mitigate against drought and floods. Simultaneously, it is also imperative that we reduce global emissions so that the threat of climate change is contained.
It is for this reason that the world governments party to the convention on climate change came up with the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The idea was simple: the industrialized North had to reduce its emissions, partly because its emissions were already leading to the threats of climate change and partly to provide economic and ecological space for the South to increase its emissions. Two facts were clear: one, the North could not substantially reduce its emissions as it could not de-link from the fossil fuel economy that drives growth. Two, the South did not have to make the mistakes of the emission-flatulent parts of the world. It could re-engineer its growth trajectory so that it would be more efficient or less dependent on fossil fuels. It was this reasoning that led to CDM - so that the North could pay for the cleaner development in the South and get credits in its carbon balance sheet. It was meant to be a win-win situation.
This was not to be. In our study of the working of CDM (see 'Newest, Biggest Deal', Down To Earth, November 15, 2005), we find that it has become a market mechanism simply - an agreement between private parties looking to make a fast buck. It is, as we show, not just the complicated development mechanism but also the corrupt development mechanism, which is leading to poor quality projects.
It is important to consider why this is so. It would be easy for commentators in the developed world to blame these transgressions - corruption or poor project design - on the governments and industries of the South. But the answer is not so simple.
The fact is that rich governments have worked overtime on the design of CDM so that it is what it is today. For instance, the rules and procedures that have been developed for CDM are extremely convoluted and cumbersome, leading to ineffective projects at the country level. Take the criterion for "additionality" - what can be done without a CDM project - which is leading to creative carbon accounting and poor quality projects. In fact, the current rules create perverse incentives for governments to do little to combat climate change.
These over-developed criteria are purportedly the response of rich governments and their NGOs to protect against "business-as-usual" dirty projects, which they believe Southern governments would want to push through in the garb of CDM. They don't trust the poor country governments. The result is bad rules made for bad projects.
The second problem concerns high transaction costs (and procedures) - due to the compulsory involvement of private auditors and their procedures, which in turn negates the involvement of the community and small projects in CDM. This was done by rich governments and their NGOs to protect against the lack of credible procedures in the South. But look at the end result. The procedure stipulates that the project proponent hires the consultant to do the project design and then hires the authorized validator to certify the project, based on the consultant's report. In other words, the entire process is regulated by mutual self-interest. It is no wonder that Down To Earth indicted two internationally acclaimed auditors - namely, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ernst & Young - for fraudulent project design documents.
I could go on. But the moot point is that the design of CDM is flawed. It keeps prices low; it forces the South to discount its advantage in reducing emissions. It does little to combat climate change. If the threat of climate change is real, then the answers to it must also get real. CDM is a halfway house because it does not build a global climate regime based on entitlements for all. But it can deliver the building blocks of a cleaner tomorrow. For this, we must do things differently. Much more differently.
- Sunita Narain
Thanks,
umalme
From India, Delhi
Hi umalme ji,
I think the topic may be away from HRM. I believe that social climate change is more catastrophic than what is described. Unreliable systems, individuals like Khosboos and Sania Mirzas who seek to normalize aberrations, and the spread of issues such as suicide and heart attacks due to unbearable stress contribute to the severity of the situation.
Regards
From India, Delhi
I think the topic may be away from HRM. I believe that social climate change is more catastrophic than what is described. Unreliable systems, individuals like Khosboos and Sania Mirzas who seek to normalize aberrations, and the spread of issues such as suicide and heart attacks due to unbearable stress contribute to the severity of the situation.
Regards
From India, Delhi
Hi Umalme,
Interesting article.
I do not agree with Dr. Ji that this is far removed from HR.
Please refer to an old post <link no longer exists - removed>.
Any corporation is also equally responsible for protecting and maintaining the environment. Consequently, it becomes an HR subject as well.
Read this in today's Hindu newspaper:
Quote:
Miscreants blast lake bund
K. Manikandan
Encroachers destroy the outlet point of Kilaambakkam with explosives to drain water
TAMBARAM: Miscreants on Monday night blasted the bund and a portion of the "kalangal" (outlet point) of the Kilaambakkam Lake near Vandalur to prevent the flooding of several huts and pucca houses that had encroached on the water body.
As a result, almost all the water stored in the lake, spread over 80 acres, drained out and inundated the residential areas in Urapakkam and Kilaambakkam. Farms were also flooded, and newly sown paddy damaged.
Unquote:
When we have "public" like this, what more do we need to destroy the environment? Why blame politicians and the Government? We - the PEOPLE - ourselves are responsible for the mess we are in today. Read more about this news on http://www.hindu.com/2005/11/30/stor...3018100300.htm.
I beg to differ on Dr. Ji's comments on "Khosboos and Sania Mirzas who want to make aberrations as norms." Everybody has a right to have their own views and perceptions. Moreover, they only pointed out attention to a problem. They never justified it. The so-called 'moral people' are trying to make political benefit out of it. Another sad side of "we the people."
Social climate change is indeed a big issue. Who is responsible for it? We the people once again. But environmental issues are no way less serious than social issues.
And Dr. Ji, what do you say about this:
Quote:
500 condom vending machines in the city soon
Chennai Corporation initiative for easier distribution
CHENNAI: In a bid to ensure easier distribution of condoms, Chennai Corporation's AIDS Control and Prevention Society (CAPACS) will install 500 automatic condom vending machines in the city.
Unquote:
Please read the full news at http://www.hindu.com/2005/11/30/stor...3018650500.htm.
And what do you say about this?
DOWN THE DRAIN: Drinking water gushes out of a trench from a broken Metrowater main on St. Mary's Road, Mandaveli. Photo: S R Raghunathan
This is in a city where drinking water availability has always been a big question mark. Because of rains, it has been better in the last couple of weeks. But do we need to waste it?
Thanks,
Bala
From India, Madras
Interesting article.
I do not agree with Dr. Ji that this is far removed from HR.
Please refer to an old post <link no longer exists - removed>.
Any corporation is also equally responsible for protecting and maintaining the environment. Consequently, it becomes an HR subject as well.
Read this in today's Hindu newspaper:
Quote:
Miscreants blast lake bund
K. Manikandan
Encroachers destroy the outlet point of Kilaambakkam with explosives to drain water
TAMBARAM: Miscreants on Monday night blasted the bund and a portion of the "kalangal" (outlet point) of the Kilaambakkam Lake near Vandalur to prevent the flooding of several huts and pucca houses that had encroached on the water body.
As a result, almost all the water stored in the lake, spread over 80 acres, drained out and inundated the residential areas in Urapakkam and Kilaambakkam. Farms were also flooded, and newly sown paddy damaged.
Unquote:
When we have "public" like this, what more do we need to destroy the environment? Why blame politicians and the Government? We - the PEOPLE - ourselves are responsible for the mess we are in today. Read more about this news on http://www.hindu.com/2005/11/30/stor...3018100300.htm.
I beg to differ on Dr. Ji's comments on "Khosboos and Sania Mirzas who want to make aberrations as norms." Everybody has a right to have their own views and perceptions. Moreover, they only pointed out attention to a problem. They never justified it. The so-called 'moral people' are trying to make political benefit out of it. Another sad side of "we the people."
Social climate change is indeed a big issue. Who is responsible for it? We the people once again. But environmental issues are no way less serious than social issues.
And Dr. Ji, what do you say about this:
Quote:
500 condom vending machines in the city soon
Chennai Corporation initiative for easier distribution
CHENNAI: In a bid to ensure easier distribution of condoms, Chennai Corporation's AIDS Control and Prevention Society (CAPACS) will install 500 automatic condom vending machines in the city.
Unquote:
Please read the full news at http://www.hindu.com/2005/11/30/stor...3018650500.htm.
And what do you say about this?
DOWN THE DRAIN: Drinking water gushes out of a trench from a broken Metrowater main on St. Mary's Road, Mandaveli. Photo: S R Raghunathan
This is in a city where drinking water availability has always been a big question mark. Because of rains, it has been better in the last couple of weeks. But do we need to waste it?
Thanks,
Bala
From India, Madras
Thanks for the comments, Dr. Jogji. This article is as closely related to HRM as voltage and amperage in brain hemispheres. It is a critique article on recent developments in environmental changes supporting corporations. The rest of the findings are great. I hope that from these youngsters, there are things to learn for ancestors like you and us.
Thanks,
umalme
From India, Delhi
Thanks,
umalme
From India, Delhi
Dr Ji,
Here is one more on the so-called "social climate." What do we do in such happenings? I am moving away from the subject here, which is the environment.
Quote:
RAJU NARAYANASWAMY IAS
First Rank in State in Secondary School Examination
First Rank in University in Plus Two
First Rank in IIT Entrance Examination
First Rank in All India IIT Computer Science
First Rank in IAS Entrance Examination
First Rank in IAS Training Institute
On passing out from IIT Chennai, Mr. Narayanaswamy was offered a scholarship by the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA. He, who came from a middle-class family, believed that he had a moral obligation to give something in return for the lakhs of rupees the government spent on him as an IIT student. He had the intelligence and conviction to realize that this money also came from the poorest of the poor - who pay up the excise duty on textiles when they buy cloth, who pay up customs, excise, and sales tax on diesel when they travel in a bus, and in numerous other ways indirectly pay the government. So he decided to join IAS hoping he could do something for the people of this country. How many young men have the willpower to resist such an offer from the USA? Narayanaswamy never looked at IAS as a black money spinner, as his later life bears testimony to this fact.
After a decade of meritorious service in IAS, today, Narayanaswamy is being forced out of the IAS profession. Do you know why?
A real estate agent wanted to fill up a paddy field, which is banned under the law. An application came up before Narayanaswamy, who was the sub-collector then, for an exemption from this rule for this plot of land. Upon visiting the site, he found that the complaint from 60 poor families that they will face waterlogging due to the wastewater from a nearby Government Medical College if this paddy field was filled up was correct. Narayanaswamy came under intense political pressure but he did what was right - refused permission for filling up the paddy field. That was his first confrontation with politicians.
Soon after his marriage, his father-in-law closed down a public road to build a compound wall for his plot of land. People approached Narayanaswamy with a complaint. When talking with his own father-in-law did not help, he removed the obstructing wall with police help. The result, his marriage broke up.
As district Collector, he raided the house of a liquor baron who had defaulted on Rupees 11 crores payment to the government and carried out revenue recovery. A Minister directly telephoned him and ordered to return the forfeited articles to the house of the liquor baron. Narayanaswamy politely replied that it is difficult. The minister replied that Narayanaswamy will suffer.
In his district, it was a practice to collect crores of rupees for earthen bunds meant for poor farmers but which were never constructed. A bill for rupees 8 crores came up before Narayanaswamy. He inspected the bund. He found it very weak and said that he will pass the bill after the rainy season to ensure that the bund served the purpose. As expected, the earthen bund was too weak to stand the rain and it disappeared in the rain. But he created a lot of enemies for saving 8 crores of public money.
The net result of all such unholy activities was that he was asked to go on leave by the government. Later, such an illustrious officer was posted as "State Coordinator, Quality Improvement Programme for Schools." This is what the politician will do to an honest officer with backbone - post him in the most powerless position to teach him a lesson. Since he found that nothing can be achieved for the people if he continued with the State Service, he opted for central service. But that too was denied on some technical ground. What will you do when you have a brilliant computer career anywhere in the world you choose with the backing of several advanced technical papers published in international journals to your credit? When you are powerless to do anything for the people, why should you waste your life as the Coordinator for a Schools Programme?
Mr. Narayanaswamy is on the verge of leaving IAS to go to Paris to take up a well-paid United Nations assignment. The politicians can laugh thinking another obstacle has been removed. But it is the helpless people of this country who will lose - not Narayanaswamy. But you have the power to support capable and honest bureaucrats like Narayanaswamy, who has suffered a lot under self-seeking politicians who rule us. You have even the power to replace such politicians with these kinds of people dedicated to the country.
The question is, will you do the little you can do NOW? At least a vote or word in support of such personalities?
Unquote:
Thanks
Bala
From India, Madras
Here is one more on the so-called "social climate." What do we do in such happenings? I am moving away from the subject here, which is the environment.
Quote:
RAJU NARAYANASWAMY IAS
First Rank in State in Secondary School Examination
First Rank in University in Plus Two
First Rank in IIT Entrance Examination
First Rank in All India IIT Computer Science
First Rank in IAS Entrance Examination
First Rank in IAS Training Institute
On passing out from IIT Chennai, Mr. Narayanaswamy was offered a scholarship by the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA. He, who came from a middle-class family, believed that he had a moral obligation to give something in return for the lakhs of rupees the government spent on him as an IIT student. He had the intelligence and conviction to realize that this money also came from the poorest of the poor - who pay up the excise duty on textiles when they buy cloth, who pay up customs, excise, and sales tax on diesel when they travel in a bus, and in numerous other ways indirectly pay the government. So he decided to join IAS hoping he could do something for the people of this country. How many young men have the willpower to resist such an offer from the USA? Narayanaswamy never looked at IAS as a black money spinner, as his later life bears testimony to this fact.
After a decade of meritorious service in IAS, today, Narayanaswamy is being forced out of the IAS profession. Do you know why?
A real estate agent wanted to fill up a paddy field, which is banned under the law. An application came up before Narayanaswamy, who was the sub-collector then, for an exemption from this rule for this plot of land. Upon visiting the site, he found that the complaint from 60 poor families that they will face waterlogging due to the wastewater from a nearby Government Medical College if this paddy field was filled up was correct. Narayanaswamy came under intense political pressure but he did what was right - refused permission for filling up the paddy field. That was his first confrontation with politicians.
Soon after his marriage, his father-in-law closed down a public road to build a compound wall for his plot of land. People approached Narayanaswamy with a complaint. When talking with his own father-in-law did not help, he removed the obstructing wall with police help. The result, his marriage broke up.
As district Collector, he raided the house of a liquor baron who had defaulted on Rupees 11 crores payment to the government and carried out revenue recovery. A Minister directly telephoned him and ordered to return the forfeited articles to the house of the liquor baron. Narayanaswamy politely replied that it is difficult. The minister replied that Narayanaswamy will suffer.
In his district, it was a practice to collect crores of rupees for earthen bunds meant for poor farmers but which were never constructed. A bill for rupees 8 crores came up before Narayanaswamy. He inspected the bund. He found it very weak and said that he will pass the bill after the rainy season to ensure that the bund served the purpose. As expected, the earthen bund was too weak to stand the rain and it disappeared in the rain. But he created a lot of enemies for saving 8 crores of public money.
The net result of all such unholy activities was that he was asked to go on leave by the government. Later, such an illustrious officer was posted as "State Coordinator, Quality Improvement Programme for Schools." This is what the politician will do to an honest officer with backbone - post him in the most powerless position to teach him a lesson. Since he found that nothing can be achieved for the people if he continued with the State Service, he opted for central service. But that too was denied on some technical ground. What will you do when you have a brilliant computer career anywhere in the world you choose with the backing of several advanced technical papers published in international journals to your credit? When you are powerless to do anything for the people, why should you waste your life as the Coordinator for a Schools Programme?
Mr. Narayanaswamy is on the verge of leaving IAS to go to Paris to take up a well-paid United Nations assignment. The politicians can laugh thinking another obstacle has been removed. But it is the helpless people of this country who will lose - not Narayanaswamy. But you have the power to support capable and honest bureaucrats like Narayanaswamy, who has suffered a lot under self-seeking politicians who rule us. You have even the power to replace such politicians with these kinds of people dedicated to the country.
The question is, will you do the little you can do NOW? At least a vote or word in support of such personalities?
Unquote:
Thanks
Bala
From India, Madras
Namaskar Bala ji.
This time you appear to be quite emotional, particularly on the point of Khoosboo and Sania Mirza. If you think that the opening article is within the range of HRM, I have nothing to dispute. After all, every discipline goes on expanding its scope and objective. Fine.
The other points you mention are rooted in human conscience and social climate.
Condoms are necessary items as good as any other necessities. So if these are made easily available, then in my opinion, there is nothing wrong with it. How you use a product is what matters.
However, there is a commercial constraint behind it. An international survey of a condom company about 2 years back found that the average frequency of sexual encounters by sexually active Indians was 96 per year, one less than the global average. Then another survey within the country showed that condom sales are going down in India. To confirm this, this year's international survey shows that the average sexual frequency per year has gone down to 75 in India, whereas the global average is 103 per year. If the condom vending is backed by these considerations, then I have reservations, please.
On the issue of Article 19 of the Constitution of India, everyone has the right to freedom of expression but under the same fundamental right, others have the right to contradict it. At the same time, one is judged by his/her views. Now, how do you judge Khoosboo's and Sania Mirza's views - pro-social or anti-social?
Who gets what political mileage from it? Only the communists, if at all. In 1847, the manifesto of the Communist Party was prepared by Marx and Engels. Here the community of women and abolition of the family is one item in the manifesto. Women's emancipation emanates from there, and in the name of equality and harassment, there is a grand conspiracy against the family institution. We are very near to that. Do you support the community of women and the abolition of the family institution?
Regards
From India, Delhi
This time you appear to be quite emotional, particularly on the point of Khoosboo and Sania Mirza. If you think that the opening article is within the range of HRM, I have nothing to dispute. After all, every discipline goes on expanding its scope and objective. Fine.
The other points you mention are rooted in human conscience and social climate.
Condoms are necessary items as good as any other necessities. So if these are made easily available, then in my opinion, there is nothing wrong with it. How you use a product is what matters.
However, there is a commercial constraint behind it. An international survey of a condom company about 2 years back found that the average frequency of sexual encounters by sexually active Indians was 96 per year, one less than the global average. Then another survey within the country showed that condom sales are going down in India. To confirm this, this year's international survey shows that the average sexual frequency per year has gone down to 75 in India, whereas the global average is 103 per year. If the condom vending is backed by these considerations, then I have reservations, please.
On the issue of Article 19 of the Constitution of India, everyone has the right to freedom of expression but under the same fundamental right, others have the right to contradict it. At the same time, one is judged by his/her views. Now, how do you judge Khoosboo's and Sania Mirza's views - pro-social or anti-social?
Who gets what political mileage from it? Only the communists, if at all. In 1847, the manifesto of the Communist Party was prepared by Marx and Engels. Here the community of women and abolition of the family is one item in the manifesto. Women's emancipation emanates from there, and in the name of equality and harassment, there is a grand conspiracy against the family institution. We are very near to that. Do you support the community of women and the abolition of the family institution?
Regards
From India, Delhi
Dr. Ji,
I agree with your point that "If the condom vending is backed by these considerations then I have reservations, please." It cannot and should not be a consideration for putting the vending machines. And I do not think this is.
Now on Khushbu and Sania, I reiterate my statement that they were only trying to draw our attention to a social malaise. They were not trying to justify it. As far as political mileage goes, it is the local TN parties which are trying to take advantage of the situation.
Thanks,
Bala
From India, Madras
I agree with your point that "If the condom vending is backed by these considerations then I have reservations, please." It cannot and should not be a consideration for putting the vending machines. And I do not think this is.
Now on Khushbu and Sania, I reiterate my statement that they were only trying to draw our attention to a social malaise. They were not trying to justify it. As far as political mileage goes, it is the local TN parties which are trying to take advantage of the situation.
Thanks,
Bala
From India, Madras
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