An article on environment management perspective
I remember many years ago receiving a call from a bbc journalist
asking which villages in India should they visit to see the impacts of
climate change. This was 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 tell their viewers
about how India was reeling under the impact of changing climate
because of 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 heat
waves to freak snow episodes - to say that our climate has changed?
Clearly the answer isn't simple. It is true 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
true also 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. Simultaneous 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 industrialised north had to
reduce its emissions, partly because its emissions were already
leading to the threats of climate change and partly because to provide
economic and ecological space for the South to increase its emissions.
Two facts were clear: one the North could really not reduce its
emissions substantially 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 lead to
cdm - so that the North could pay for the cleaner development in the
South and get credits in its own carbon balance sheet. It was 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 will 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 governments (rich) 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 and are leading to ineffective projects at the country
level. Take the criterion for "additionality" - what can be done
without a cdm project - which is in turn leading to really 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 the rich
governments and their ngos to protect against "business-as-usual"
dirty projects, which they believe Southern government 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 cost (and procedures) -
because of the compulsory involvement of private auditors and their
procedures, which in turn negates the involvement of 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 authorised 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 for combating climate change. If
the threat of climate change is real, then the answers to it must also
get real. cdm is a half-way 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 should they visit to see the impacts of
climate change. This was 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 tell their viewers
about how India was reeling under the impact of changing climate
because of 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 heat
waves to freak snow episodes - to say that our climate has changed?
Clearly the answer isn't simple. It is true 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
true also 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. Simultaneous 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 industrialised north had to
reduce its emissions, partly because its emissions were already
leading to the threats of climate change and partly because to provide
economic and ecological space for the South to increase its emissions.
Two facts were clear: one the North could really not reduce its
emissions substantially 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 lead to
cdm - so that the North could pay for the cleaner development in the
South and get credits in its own carbon balance sheet. It was 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 will 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 governments (rich) 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 and are leading to ineffective projects at the country
level. Take the criterion for "additionality" - what can be done
without a cdm project - which is in turn leading to really 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 the rich
governments and their ngos to protect against "business-as-usual"
dirty projects, which they believe Southern government 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 cost (and procedures) -
because of the compulsory involvement of private auditors and their
procedures, which in turn negates the involvement of 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 authorised 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 for combating climate change. If
the threat of climate change is real, then the answers to it must also
get real. cdm is a half-way 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.
2. I think social climate change is more catastrophic than what is described.
1.Unreliable systems,
2.Khosboos and Sania Mirzas who want to make aberrations as norms.
3. spread of suicide, heart attacks and what not as a result of unbearable stress.
regards
From India, Delhi
I think the topic may be away from HRM.
2. I think social climate change is more catastrophic than what is described.
1.Unreliable systems,
2.Khosboos and Sania Mirzas who want to make aberrations as norms.
3. spread of suicide, heart attacks and what not as a result of unbearable stress.
regards
From India, Delhi
Hi Umalme,
Interesting article.
1. I do not agree with Dr Ji that this is far removed from HR.
Please refer an old post <link no longer exists - removed>
Any corporate is also equally responsible for protecting, maintaing the environment. And consequently it becomes an HR subject also.
2. Read this in today's Hindu newspaper::
Quote::::
Miscreants blast lake bund
K. Manikandan
Encroachers destroy 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 environment. Why blame politicians and Government. We - the PEOPLE - ourselves are responsible for the mess we are in toady. Read more about this news on
http://www.hindu.com/2005/11/30/stor...3018100300.htm
3. 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 perception. Moreover they only pointed our 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".
4. Social climate change is indeed a big issue. Who is responsible for it - we the people once again. But environmental are no way less serious than social issues.
And Drji, what do say about this :
Quote::
500 condom vending machines in 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 do 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 in a city where drinking availability has always been a big question mark. Because of rains, it is better last couple of weeks. But do we need to waste it?
Thanks
Bala
From India, Madras
Interesting article.
1. I do not agree with Dr Ji that this is far removed from HR.
Please refer an old post <link no longer exists - removed>
Any corporate is also equally responsible for protecting, maintaing the environment. And consequently it becomes an HR subject also.
2. Read this in today's Hindu newspaper::
Quote::::
Miscreants blast lake bund
K. Manikandan
Encroachers destroy 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 environment. Why blame politicians and Government. We - the PEOPLE - ourselves are responsible for the mess we are in toady. Read more about this news on
http://www.hindu.com/2005/11/30/stor...3018100300.htm
3. 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 perception. Moreover they only pointed our 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".
4. Social climate change is indeed a big issue. Who is responsible for it - we the people once again. But environmental are no way less serious than social issues.
And Drji, what do say about this :
Quote::
500 condom vending machines in 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 do 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 in a city where drinking availability has always been a big question mark. Because of rains, it is better 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 near to HRM as voltage ampereage in brain hemisphere. but a critique article upon recent development in environment changes supporting corporate.
rest of the findings are great i hope from these youngsters there are things to learn to ancestors like you and us.
thanks,
umalme
From India, Delhi
Dr Jogji this article is as near to HRM as voltage ampereage in brain hemisphere. but a critique article upon recent development in environment changes supporting corporate.
rest of the findings are great i hope from these youngsters there are things to learn to ancestors like you and us.
thanks,
umalme
From India, Delhi
Dr Ji,
Here is one more on so called "social climate". What do we do such happenings? I am moving away from the subject here which is 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 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 came also 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 will power to resist such an offer from USA? Narayanaswamy did never look 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 law. An application came up before Narayanaswamy who was sub collector the, 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 water logging due to the waste water from a nearby Government Medical College if this paddy field was filled up was correct. Narayanswamy 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 compound wall for his plot of land. People approached Narayanaswamy with 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 Rupees 11 crores payment to 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. Narayanswamy 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 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 Co-Ordinator, Quality Improvement Programme for Schools". This is what the politician will do to a 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 too 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 Co-Ordinator 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 Narayaswamy, who has suffered a lot under self seeking politicians who rule us. You have even the power to replace such politicians with these kind 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 so called "social climate". What do we do such happenings? I am moving away from the subject here which is 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 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 came also 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 will power to resist such an offer from USA? Narayanaswamy did never look 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 law. An application came up before Narayanaswamy who was sub collector the, 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 water logging due to the waste water from a nearby Government Medical College if this paddy field was filled up was correct. Narayanswamy 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 compound wall for his plot of land. People approached Narayanaswamy with 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 Rupees 11 crores payment to 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. Narayanswamy 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 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 Co-Ordinator, Quality Improvement Programme for Schools". This is what the politician will do to a 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 too 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 Co-Ordinator 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 Narayaswamy, who has suffered a lot under self seeking politicians who rule us. You have even the power to replace such politicians with these kind 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.
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.
other points you mention are rooted in human conscience and social climate.
3. Condoms are necessary items as good as any other necessaries. So if these are made easily available then in my opinion there is nothing wrong in it. How you use a product that matters.
However, there is a commercial constraint behind it. An international survey of a condom company about 2 years back found that average frequency of sexual encounter by sexually active indians was 96 per year, one less than global average. Then another survey within the country showed that condom sale is 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.
4. On the issue of Article 19 of the Constitution of India every one has right to freedom of expression but under the same fundamental right others have 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-prosocial or antisocial?
Who gets what political milage from it? Only the communists, if at all. In 1847 the manifesto of the communist party was prepared by Marx and Engels. Here community of women and abolition of family is one item in the manifesto. Women's emancipation emanates from there and in the name of equality and harrassment there is a grand conspircy against family instituation. We are very near to that. Do you support community of women and abolition of family institution?
regards
From India, Delhi
This time you appear to be quite emotional, particularly on the point of Khoosboo and Sania Mirza.
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.
other points you mention are rooted in human conscience and social climate.
3. Condoms are necessary items as good as any other necessaries. So if these are made easily available then in my opinion there is nothing wrong in it. How you use a product that matters.
However, there is a commercial constraint behind it. An international survey of a condom company about 2 years back found that average frequency of sexual encounter by sexually active indians was 96 per year, one less than global average. Then another survey within the country showed that condom sale is 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.
4. On the issue of Article 19 of the Constitution of India every one has right to freedom of expression but under the same fundamental right others have 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-prosocial or antisocial?
Who gets what political milage from it? Only the communists, if at all. In 1847 the manifesto of the communist party was prepared by Marx and Engels. Here community of women and abolition of family is one item in the manifesto. Women's emancipation emanates from there and in the name of equality and harrassment there is a grand conspircy against family instituation. We are very near to that. Do you support community of women and abolition of 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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