environmental management concepts

Environment Management Concept

Definition

Its an attempt to control human impact on and interaction with the environment in order to preserve natural resources

Environmental management focuses on the improvement of human welfare for present and future generations

Administrative functions that develop implement and monitor the environmental policy of an organization

Sustainable Development

is a pattern of resource use that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present but also for generations to come

The development initiatives be initiated in such a way that the future generations can enjoy the benefits of Nature without any compromise

Using the resources to the extent to which it is sustained

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

Significance in India

WHY factor

India is the worlds sixth largest and second fastest growing producer of greenhouse gases

Delhi Mumbai and Chennai are three of the worlds ten most polluted cities

Two-thirds of city dwellers lack sewerage one-third lack potable water

India urban population grows equivalent of another New York City every year This equals to a projected urban population of over 500 million in 20 years

Trends in Environmental Management

Impact Assessment and Planning (IAP)

Assessing environmental and social impacts prior to setting up operations and obtaining environmental approval from the authorities is almost mandatory in most project categories IAP assessments may be required not only for newly constructed facilities but also for new operations that will be housed in an existing building

Environmental Liability and Clean-up

Foreign investment has resulted in heightened scrutiny of current and historic environmental liabilities associated with property transactions in India

Sustainability and Regulatory Compliance

The increasing desire of Indian companies to meet world class standards has caused established companies in India to take on sustainability initiatives as a means of improving their global brand and reputation

Climate Change

While India still lags the West in coming up with concrete regulations based on the development versus environment debate there is an increasing awareness in India that climate change is not about scoring points but about the existence of entire communities inside and outside of India

National Environmental Policy

The National Environment Policy seeks to extend the coverage and fill in gaps that still exist in light of present knowledge and accumulated experience

It does not displace but builds on the earlier policies

National Forest Policy 1988

National Conservation Strategy and Policy Statement on Environment and Development 1992

Policy Statement on Abatement of Pollution1992

The National Environment Policy is intended to mainstream environmental concerns in all development activities

Objectives of the National Environment Policy

Conservation of Critical Environmental Resources

To protect and conserve critical ecological systems and resources and invaluable natural and man-made heritage which are essential for life support livelihoods economic growth and a broad conception of human well-being

Intra-generational Equity Livelihood Security for the Poor

To ensure equitable access to environmental resources and quality for all sections of society and in particular to ensure that poor communities which are most dependent on environmental resources for their livelihoods are assured secure access to these resources

Environmental Governance

To apply the principles of good governance (transparency rationality accountability reduction in time and costs participation and regulatory independence) to the management and regulation of use of environmental resources

Enhancement of Resources for Environmental Conservation

To ensure higher resource flows comprising finance technology management skills traditional knowledge and social capital for environmental conservation through mutually beneficial multistakeholder partnerships between local communities public agencies the academic and research community investors and multilateral and bilateral development partners

Multilateral Development Banks are institutions that provide financial support and professional advice for economic and social development activities in developing countries The term Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) typically refers to the World Bank Group and four Regional Development BanksThe African Development BankThe Asian Development BankThe European Bank for Reconstruction and DevelopmentThe Inter-American Development Bank Group

Principles National Environment Policy

Human Beings are at the Centre of Sustainable Development Concerns

The Right to Development

The right to development must be fulfilled so as to equitably meet developmental and environmental needs of present and future generations

Environmental Protection is an Integral part of the Development Process

The Precautionary Approach

Where there are credible threats of serious or irreversible damage to key environmental resources lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation

Economic Efficiency

The services of environmental resources be given economic value and such value to count equally with the economic values of other goods and services in analysis of alternative courses of action

Example Polluter Pays

Entities with ldquoIncomparablerdquo Values

Significant risks to human health life and environmental life-support systems besides certain other unique natural and man-made entities which may impact the well-being broadly conceived of large numbers of persons may be considered as rdquoIncomparablerdquo in that individuals or societies would not accept these risks for compensation in money or conventional goods and services

Equity

The cardinal principle of equity or justice requires that human beings cannot be treated differently based on irrelevant differences between them

Legal Liability

The principle of legal liability may be viewed as an embodiment in legal doctrine of the ldquopolluter pays approach

Fault Based Liability

In a fault based liability regime a party is held liable if it breaches a preexisting legal duty for example an environmental standard

Strict Liability

Strict liability imposes an obligation to compensate the victim for harm resulting from actions or failure to take action which may not necessarily constitute a breach of any law or duty of care

Public Trust Doctrine

The State is not an absolute owner but a trustee of all natural resources which are by nature meant for public use and enjoyment subject to reasonable conditions necessary to protect the legitimate interest of a large number of people or for matters of strategic national interest

Decentralization

Decentralization involves ceding or transfer of power from a Central Authority to State and Local Authorities in order to empower public authorities having jurisdiction at the spatial level at which particular environmental issues are salient to address these issues

Integration

Integration refers to the inclusion of environmental considerations in sectoral policymaking the integration of the social and natural sciences in environment related policy research and the strengthening of relevant linkages among various agencies at the Central State and Local Self-Government levels charged with the implementation of environmental policies

Environmental Standard Setting

Environmental standards must reflect the economic and social development situation in which they apply Standards adopted in one society or context may have unacceptable economic and social costs if applied without discrimination in another society or context

Preventive Action

It is preferable to prevent environmental damage from occurring in the first place rather than attempting to restore degraded environmental resources after the fact

Environmental Offsetting

There is a general obligation to protect threatened or endangered species and natural systems that are of special importance to sustaining life providing livelihoods or general well-being

Regulatory Reforms

Revisiting the Policy and Legislative

Framework

Process Related Reforms

Substantive Reforms


Approach

The objective is to reduce delays and levels of decision-making realize decentralization of environmental functions and ensure greater transparency and Accountability

Framework for Legal Action

A judicious mix of civil and criminal processes and sanctions will be employed in the legal regime for enforcement through a review of the existing legislation

Substantive Reforms

Environment and Forests Clearances

Under the new arrangements there would be significant devolution of powers to the StateUT level

Coastal Areas

Living Modified Organisms (LMOs)

Environmentally Sensitive Zones

Monitoring of Compliance

Use of Economic Principles in Environmental Decision-making

LMOs

In order to ensure that development of biotechnology does not lead to unforeseen adverse impacts the following actions will be taken

Review the regulatory processes for LMOs so that all relevant scientific knowledge is taken into account and ecological health and economic concerns are adequately addressed

Periodically review the National Bio-safety Guidelines and Bio-safety Operations Manual to ensure that these are based on current scientific knowledge

Ensure the conservation of bio-diversity and human health when dealing with LMOs


The following actions will be taken

Identify and give legal status to Environmentally Sensitive Zones in the country having environmental entities with ldquoIncomparable valuesrdquo requiring special conservation efforts

Formulate area development plans for these zones on a scientific basis with adequate participation by the local communities

Create local institutions with adequate participation for the environmental management of such areas to ensure adherence to the approved area development plans which should be prepared in consultation with the local communities



Take measures including capacity development initiatives to enable Panchayati Raj Institutions and urban local bodies to undertake monitoring of compliance with environmental management plans Measures will also be taken to encourage municipalities to annually report their environmental performance to their governing bodies

Develop feasible models of public-private partnerships to leverage financial technical and management resources of the private sector in setting up and operating infrastructure for monitoring of environmental compliance with ironclad safeguards against possible conflict of interest or collusion with the monitored entities


It is necessary that the costs associated with the degradation and depletion of natural resources be incorporated into the decisions of economic actors at various levels to reverse the tendency to treat these resources as ldquofree goodsrdquo and to pass the costs of degradation to other sections of society or to future generations of the country

Environment

The term environment refers to an organizationrsquos natural and human surroundings An organizationrsquos environment extends from within the organization itself to the global system and includes air water land flora fauna as well as human beings

Current Condition in India

Rapid growing Population

Economic Development

Uncontrolled Growth of Urbanization

Industrialization Globalisation

Expansion and Massive Intensification of agriculture

Destruction of Forests

Rapid Growth of Population50 of population to be in Urban cities by 2020UN projection half of world population to stay in Urban cities by 2008

Environmental Conflict

India lags behind in putting forward any system for planned management of its fragile eco-system that is in constant conflict with the needs of development

Indian scenario is bleak what with all round failures in arresting the population growth with attendant pressures on land and scarce natural resources increasing urbanisation industrialisation growth in rapacious consumption wasteful life styles

In India relationship between westernised models of development and the preservation environment on the face of its fight against poverty the conflict exists broadly on three levels-

o Some castigate excessive concern for environment as a result of conspiracy of the developed nations against progress in the underdeveloped countries like India and maintain that India may address issues concerning environment only after it reaches the level of production and consumption of the industrialised nations

Some others feel that concern for environment is bound to divert attention from the problems of the poor Environment to this group has nothing to do with trying to give a better deal to the large and ever growing population

Some believe that in India at least the very large and ever-growing population is responsible for the environment crises

Environmental Issues in India

Forest and Agricultural Degradation of land

Resource depletion (water mineral forest sand rocks etc) is an economic term referring to the exhaustion of raw materials within a region

Environmental Degradation

Public health

Loss of biodiversity

Loss of resilience in ecosystems

Livelihood security for the poor


Degradation means reduction of

Forest quality - the density and structure of the trees the ecological services supplied the biomass of plants and animals the species diversity

Fertility and output Quality of Agricultural Land

Biomass is the mass of living biological organisms in a given area or ecosystem at a given time

Causes

Land clearance such as clearcutting and deforestation

Agricultural depletion of soil nutrients through poor farming practices

Livestock including overgrazing

Inappropriate Irrigation and overdrafting

Urban sprawl and Commercial development

Land pollution including industrial waste

Vehicle off-roading

Quarrying of stone sand ore and minerals

Overdrafting is the process of extracting groundwater beyond the safe yield or equilibrium yield of the aquiferAn aquifer is a wet underground layerThe Urban sprawl is the spreading of urban developments (as houses and shopping centers) on undeveloped land near a cityA commercial clear cut is when cutters remove only the valuable trees and leave others standing

Effects

Accelerated soil erosion by wind and water

Soil acidification and the formation of acid sulfate soil resulting in barren soil

Soil alkalinisation owing to irrigation with water containing sodium bicarbonate leading to poor soil structure and reduced crop yields

Soil salination in irrigated land requiring soil salinity control to reclaim the land

Soil waterlogging in irrigated land which calls for some form of subsurface land drainage to remediate the negative effects

Destruction of soil structure including loss of organic matter


is defined as any change or disturbance to the environment perceived to be deleterious or undesirable

Environmental degradation is the deterioration of the environment through

depletion of resources such as air water and soil

the destruction of ecosystems

the extinction of wildlife

Water resources

Usage of Ground and Underground water by the Industry - causes huge droughts and contamination to a massive area by exploiting an excessive amount of ground water and then replacing it with toxic discharge

85 of rural drinking water and 55 of urban water comes from underground sources has caused the national water table to suddenly and very dramatically drop

The rivers are slowly being polluted and destroyed by sewage chemicals and other agricultural and industrial waste

Deforestation

almost 53 Million hectares of forest have been destroyed since the independence for housing industrialisation and river projects

Poor management and abuse of power are again the increasingly sad cause behind the mass deforestation- Poaching

The invasion of foreign tree species such as Eucalyptus etc

Eucalyptus is water intensive and nutrient intensive

Eucalyptus is toxic due to allelopathic properties which serve to reduce not only other plant life including crops by restricting germination of other species but is also detrimental to soil micro and macrofaunamacrofauna (biology) in soil science animals that are one centimetre or more long but smaller than an earthworm Potworms myriapods centipedes millipedes

Public Health

Public health has often been defined as a science dealing with the determinants and defence of health at the population level while clinical medicine deals with multiple maladies and their remedies at the level of an individual patient

Public health aims to understand and influence the social cultural and economic determinants of health as well as to study and structure health systems as efficient channels for health services delivery

Loss of Biodiversity

Biodiversity is the distribution and number variety and variability of living organisms over time

Biodiversity may be diversity within species (genetic diversity) between species (species diversity) and between ecosystems (ecosystem diversity)

Biodiversity includes all ecosystemsmdashwildlands nature preserves or national parks plantations farms croplands aquaculture sites rangelands and urban parks too have their own biodiversity

Loss in biodiversity has direct and indirect negative effects on Food security Vulnerability Health Energy security Clean water and Social relations

Fragmentation of habitats and the sharp decline in small subpopulations of plants and animals bring them on the edge of decline

18 domestic poultry breeds are under threat and around 40 species of plants and animals have extincted

India has lost about 40 of its mangroves and some crucial part of its wetlands

Major problems with biodiversity conservation

Low priority for conservation of living natural resources

Exploitation of living natural resources for monetary gain

Values and knowledge about the species and ecosystem inadequately known

Unplanned urbanization and uncontrolled industrialization

Major biodiversity threats

Habitat destruction

Extension of agriculture

Filling up of wetlands

Conversion of rich bio-diversity site for Human settlement and industrial development

Destruction of coastal areas

Uncontrolled commercial exploitation

Loss of resilience in ecosystem

Ecosystem resilience describes the capacity of an ecosystem to cope with disturbances such as storms fire and pollution without shifting into a qualitatively different state

A resilient ecosystem has the capacity to withstand shocks and surprises and if damaged to rebuild itself

In a resilient ecosystem the process of rebuilding after disturbance promotes renewal and innovation

Without resilience ecosystems become vulnerable to the effects of disturbance that previously could be absorbed


Poor farmers are unable to cope with adverse climatic conditions can only resort to seasonal migration due to lack of any productive assets or availability of alternative employment options in the village

Slowdown in agricultural growth and productivity changing cropping patterns increase in distress migration changing consumption patterns government policies favouring industrial houses among others have seriously undermined the food and livelihood security of the poorer households

Environmental issues in India

Water pollution

Growing water scarcity

Air pollution

Poor management of waste

Falling groundwater tables

Preservation and quality of forests

Biodiversity loss and landsoil degradation

Water pollution

Discharge of untreated sewage is single most important cause for pollution of surface and ground water in India

Large gap between generation and treatment of domestic wastewater in India

India lacks sufficient treatment capacity

Sewage treatment plants that exist do not operate and are not maintained

Improper design or poor maintenance or lack of reliable electricity supply to operate the plants together with absentee employees and poor management

The untreated industrial wastes have resulted in calcium magnesium fluoride mercury beta-endosulphan and heptachlor pesticide were more than permissible limit (MPL) in ground and tap waters

The water has high concentration of COD and BOD (chemical and biochemical oxygen demand) ammonia phosphate chloride chromium arsenic and chlorpyrifos pesticide in many of the dwellings along the industrial belt

The ground water also contains nickel and selenium while the tap water has high concentration of lead nickel and cadmium

Endosulfan is an off-patent organochlorine insecticide and acaricide that is being phased out globallyHeptachlor is an organochlorine compound that was used as an insecticideAcaricide An agent usually a chemical that kills mites

Water is Precious and scarce Resource

Only a small fraction (about 3) is fresh water

India is the wettest country in the world but rainfall is highly uneven with time and space (with extremely low in Rajasthan and high in North-East)

On an average there are only 40 rainy days

Out of 4000 BCM(Billion Cubic Meter) rainfall received about 600 BCM is put to use so far

Water resources are over-exploited resulting in major Water Quality problems

Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974

Preamble Maintaining and restoring of wholesomeness of water ndash level of WQ

Provision for consent

Every polluter (industry or municipality) has to obtain consent from SPCBsPCCs-State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) Pollution Control Committee (PCC)

Consent is conditional

Standards prescribed for effluents

Monitoring the compliance

Major Factors Responsible for WQ Degradation

Domestic 423 class I cities and 499 class II towns harboring population of 20 Crore generate about 26254 mld of wastewater of which only 6955 mld is treated

Industrial About 57000 polluting industries in India generate about 13468 mld of wastewater out of which nearly 60 (generated from large amp medium industries) is treated

Non-point sources also contribute significant pollution loads mainly in rainy season Pesticides consumption is about 100000 tonnesyear of which AP Haryana Punjab TN WB Gujarat UP and Maharashtra are principal consumers

Domestic sewage is the major source of pollution in India in surface water which contribute pathogens the main source of water borne diseases along with depletion of oxygen in water bodies

Sewage along with agricultural run-off and industrial effluents also contributes large amount of nutrients in surface water causing eutrophication

A large part of the domestic sewage is not even collected This results in stagnation of sewage within city a good breeding ground for mosquitoes and contaminate the groundwater the only source of drinking water in many cities

WATER POLLUTION CONTROL STRATEGY

Urban sources ndash National River Action Plan

Industrial Sources ndash through consent ( SPCB)

Special Drives 17 categories of industries

Industries discharging into rivers and lakes

24 Problem areas action plan

Environmental auditing

Common effluent treatment plants for cluster of SSI units (124)

Promotion of low-waste and no-waste technology

Recent efforts to address water issues

US$100 billion project to interlink all major river networks in India

Connect water-deficient areas to water-abundant ones by interlinking 37 Indian rivers

Transfer water through 30 links across 9600 kilometers and the project would connect 32 dams

Aims a transformation of Indias water treatment management transmission and distribution

Water Scarcity- Indian Scenario

The thirst of water for Indiarsquos rapid development is growing day by day

Large area under the less water conditionsdrought prone

The quality of groundwater is not good

Water supply of the 90 of Indiarsquos territory is served by inter-state rivers

Growing number of conflicts across the states on water sharing issues

Major Reasons behind Water Scarcity

Population growth and Food production (Agriculture)

Increasing construction infrastructure development Activities

Massive urbanization and industrialization throughout the country

Climatic change and variability- Depleting of natural resources due to changing climate conditions (Deforestation etc)

Lack of implementation of effective water management systems

httpyoutubeXGgYTcPzexE

Air Pollution

Vehicle emissions are responsible for 70 of the countryrsquos air pollution

Air pollution from vehicle exhaust and industry is a worsening problem for India

Exhaust from vehicles has increased eight-fold over levels of twenty years ago industrial pollution has risen four times

At average trip speeds between 20 to 40 kilometers per hour the cars pollutant emission was twice and At average trip speeds between 5 to 20 kilometers per hour the cars pollutant emissions were 4 to 8 times as much as much as when the average speed was 55 to 75 kilometers per hour

Some Indian taxis and auto-rickshaws run on adulterated fuel blends

Some adulterants increase emissions of harmful pollutants from vehicles worsening urban air pollution

Fuel adulteration is essentially an unintended consequence of tax policies and the attempt to control fuel prices in the name of fairness

Indiarsquos environmental problems are exacerbated by its heavy reliance on coal for power generation

Emits a high amount of carbon and greenhouse gases

Harmful pollutants like nitrogen and sulphur oxides emitted by aircraft at approximately 35000ft combine with other gases in the atmosphere to create noxious particulate matter

8000 people will die due to aircraft pollutants this year and 3500 of them would be from India and China

Fuelwood and biomass burning is the primary reason for near-permanent haze and smoke observed above rural and urban India and in satellite pictures of the country

Fuelwood and biomass cakes are used for cooking and general heating in over 100 million Indian households and are used two to three times a day daily

World Health Organization claim 300000 to 400000 people die of indoor air pollution and carbon monoxide poisoning in India because of biomass burning and use of chullahs

Recent trends in Indias air quality

Most Indian cities continue to violate Indias and world air quality PM10 targets Respirable particulate matter pollution remains a key challenge for India

A decreasing trend has been observed in sulphur dioxide levels in residential areas of many cities such as Delhi Mumbai Lucknow Bhopal during last few years The decreasing trend in sulphur dioxide levels may be due to recently introduced clean fuel standards and the increasing use of LPG as domestic fuel instead of coal or fuelwood and the use of LPG instead of diesel in certain vehicles

PM10 (meaning Particulate Matter 10 micrometers or less in diameter)

Most Indian cities greatly exceed acceptable levels of suspended particulate matter This is because of refuse and biomass burning vehicles emissions power plant emissions industrial sources

The Indian air quality monitoring stations reported lower levels of PM10 and suspended particulate matter during monsoon months possibly due to wet deposition and air scrubbing by rainfall Higher levels of particulates were observed during winter months


Huge amount of wastage pileups have been created in the cities because of high population density and congestion in most Indian cities

Large numbers of factories have been established across the city area and in the outer circles of the city which ignore the system of proper waste disposal

Unplanned drains coming out of the slum areas

Drainage water gets added to the drinking water and resulting in serious health problem to the public

In India ineffective drainage has been a major reason for the spread of water borne diseases

Improper disposal of bio-medical waste by several health centres mainly dental clinics primary health centres community health centres and diagnostic centres poses a health hazard to the general public sanitation workers and rag pickers

Lack of regular supervision of health centres by the Pollution Control Board on disposal of bio-medical waste


Groundwater levels have dropped in many places across the globe over the past nine years

The decline is due to expanding agriculture which in turn has increased water demand

Climate change may also accelerate declines in groundwater in some places as precipitation patterns are becoming more extreme increasing the severity of droughts

Groundwater currently makes up about 97 percent of all the available fresh water on the planet and presently accounts for about 40 percent of our total water supply

Precipitation is Rain sleet hail snow and other forms of water falling from the sky


Groundwater is a key driver of the global economy If it becomes depleted entire industries may be forced to shut down or move Whole regions could face acute water scarcity

Over-extraction also has serious implications for the environment especially when the climate is warming as falling water tables can lead to emptying lakes and rivers and dying landscapes as the water they depended on is withdrawn

In the 10 years since Coca-Cola started operations (2000-2010) groundwater levels have plummeted 2535 meters (832 feet)


When deforestation perpetrates a whole gamut of consequences from soil infertility to global warming arises

Depletion of forests increases the risk of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere with the resultant effect of the reduction of the ozone layer which leads to global warming

Global warming is said to pose a serious danger to civilisation because of its devastating effects on the ecosystem

Deforestation changes the quantity of water that percolates into the soil which results in reduction of evaporation


Forestry in India is a significant rural industry and a major environmental issue

Indias forest cover to be about 68 million hectares or about 20 percent of the countrys area

Indias consumption of fuelwood is about five times higher than what can be sustainably removed from forests

The variety and distribution of forest vegetation is large There are 600 species of hardwoods

To achieve sustainable forest and ecological security

India must pursue rural development and animal husbandry policies to address local communities need to find affordable cattle fodder and grazing

To avoid destruction of local forest cover fodder must reach these communities on reliable roads and other infrastructure in all seasons year round

Revenue generated from lease of mines must be pooled into a dedicated fund to conserve and improve the quality of forests in the region where the mines are located

Power to declare ecologically sensitive areas must be with each Indian state

Sustainable agro-forestry and farm forestry must be encouraged through financial and regulatory reforms particularly on privately owned lands

Government should reform regulations and laws that encourages sustainable Growth of Forest

Social organisations and Local people be involved in activities that preserve and conserve forest and to maintain ecological security

Biodiversity loss

Biodiversity is defined as lsquothe variability among living organisms from all sources including terrestrial marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are a part this includes diversity within species between species and of ecosystemsrsquo

India has a total of 89451 animal species accounting for 731 of the faunal species in the world and the flora accounts for 1078 of the global total

44 plant species are critically endangered 113 endangered and 87 vulnerable Amongst animals 18 are critically endangered 54 endangered and 143 are vulnerable

The major proximate causes of species extinction are habitat loss and degradation

However the Underlying causes of biodiversity loss are

Poverty

Macroeconomic policies

International trade factors

Policy failures

Poor environmental lawweak enforcement

Unsustainable development projects and lack of local control over resources

Population pressures and concomitant increases in the collection of fuelwood and fodder and grazing in forests by local communities too take their toll on the forests and consequently its biodiversity

Industrial Ecology CSR and Sustainability

Industrial Ecology

Industrial ecology is the study

ndash of the flows of materials and energy in industrial and consumer activities

ndash of the effects of these flows on the environment

ndash and of the influence of economic political regulatory and social factors of the flow use and transformation of resources

Industrial Ecology has been defined as a systems-based multidisciplinary discourse that seeks to understand emergent behaviour of complex integrated humannatural systems The field approaches issues of sustainability by examining problems from multiple perspectives usually involving aspects of sociology the environment economy and technology

Industrial ecology operates at 3 levels

o Firms

design for environment

pollution prevention

eco-efficiency

green accounting

environmental management

o Across Firms

industrial symbiosis

product life-cycles

industrial sector initiatives

o Regional Global

materials and energy flow studies

policies and strategies

supply chain management

Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is about business and industry taking responsibilities beyond that of creating economic value

ldquoA concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and in their interaction with their stakeholders on a voluntary basisrdquo

CSR policy functions as a built-in self-regulating mechanism whereby a business monitors and ensures its active compliance with the spirit of the law ethical standards and international norms

The goal of CSR is to embrace responsibility for the companys actions and encourage a positive impact through its activities on the environment consumers employees communities stakeholders and all other members of the public sphere

Corporate Social Responsibility in India

The problem with corporate social responsibility (CSR) is that nobody is very clear about what exactly it encompasses

The Indian government has been trying to make it mandatory for companies to spend at least 2 of net profits on CSR

Facing strong criticism it gave up the effort in mid-July 2011 and made the spending voluntary

Instead of defining CSR the Indian government recast it as responsible business in a set of voluntary guidelines for firms

No Clear Definition but Plenty of Debate

CSR should actually relate to the way you conduct your business whereas it gets confused with giving to the local communities in which you operate



Sustainable development in India

Sustainable development in India encompasses a variety of development schemes in social cleantech (clean energy clean water and sustainable agriculture) and human resources segments

India is expected to begin the greening of its national income accounting making depletion in natural resources wealth a key component in its measurement of gross domestic product (GDP)

Major Achievements

The number of carbon credits issued for emission reduction projects in India is set to triple to 246 million by December 2012 from 72 million in November 2009

This will cement Indias second position in the global carbon credits market (technically called Certified Emission Reduction units or CERs)

Indias renewable energy capacity to increase to 20000 megawatt (MW) by December 2012 from the current 15542 MW

The contribution of renewable energy to the power business in India has now reached 70 per cent compared to 10 per cent in 2000

Growth in use of green technologies has put India on the green-building leader board with countries such as the US About 2-3 per cent of all construction in India is green as good as (in) the US In the next two or three years we want to bring it up to 10 per cent which will put us on top

The US$ 179 billion Indian lighting market is estimated to be growing at 18 per cent annually and switching rapidly to energy-efficient systems

On the back of the incentive package for electric vehicles average monthly sales of electric two-wheelers has risen 20 per cent

National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) the Navratna PSU under the Union Ministry of Mines Govt of India has become the first PSU in the country by implementing a pilot-cum-demonstration project on Carbon Sequestration in its captive power plant at Angul

Corporate Investments

State-owned Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Limited (GACL) has entered into an agreement with a Germany-based specialty chemicals maker Evonik Industries for setting up a multi-million Hydrogen Peroxide and Propylene Oxide (HPPO) project at Dahej in Gujarat This project would be based on an innovative environment friendly HPPO technology

Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) an agency of the US Government has signed an agreement with Azure Power to fund its 15 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project in Gujarat The investment in the US$ 40 million project will be led by OPIC

The worldrsquos first facility to manufacture carbon foam batteries will be set up at Bavla near Ahmedabad Firefly Energy India is planning to build a plant to produce carbon foam batteries at an investment of US$ 28 million

State Bank of India (SBI) the countryrsquos largest lender has become a signatory investor in the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) a collaboration of over 550 global institutional investors with assets under management of US$ 71 trillion

CDP is an independent not-for-profit organisation holding the largest database of primary corporate climate change information in the world Over 3000 organsations across the worldrsquos largest economies measure and disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and climate change strategies through CDP These disclosures aid them in setting reduction targets and make performance improvements

National Solar Mission

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has informed that the progress in implementing the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission is satisfactory and according to schedule

The Ministry has sanctioned 802 MW capacities of grid-connected solar projects and 36 MW of off-grid solar projects

In addition six major research projects include setting up of National Centre for Photovoltaic Research and Education at IIT-Bombay were also approved

Government Initiatives

Planned launch of National Mission in hybrid and electric vehicles

Allocations of US$ 8941 million from National Clean Energy fund for speeding up The National Mission for a Green India

The budget of the Environment Ministry increased by around US$ 671 million

Extension of Tax holiday for the power sector by one year

A budgetary provision (2011-12) of US$ 566 million has been made for research and development in new and renewable energy for the first four years of the 11th Five Year Plan of the MNRE

The government would dole out US$ 335 million over the next two years to banks and finance companies to lend money to solar energy projects at a generous 5 per cent interest rate top government official said The money would be lent to small solar projects adding up to 200 MW by companies like Sidbi Nabard and National Housing Bank These lenders would be provided interest-free loans by IREDA

IFC will provide up to US$ 15 million in corporate equity financing to Simran Wind Project Private Limited (Simran) a privately-owned entity which is into wind-based power production The company will use the money to finance its pipeline projects worth US$ 40 million in Tamil Nadu

IFC ndash International Finance Corporation is a member of the World Bank Group It finances and provides advice for private sector ventures and projects in developing countries

Punjab government has initiated an ambitious clean energy project to generate 1500 MW power from the lsquorun of the canal turbinesrsquo The Punjab Energy Development Agency (Peda) has already developed an indigenous prototype of the turbines

To facilitate fast track exploration of shale gas the Ministry for Petroleum and Natural Gas expects the process of carving out suitable blocks to be completed by April 2011 which would allow floating of the first round of auctions of shale gas blocks in August 2011

Solairedirect Energy India is in talks with the Gujarat government to set up a 20 MW plant at the Solar Energy Park in Kutch at an estimated cost of US$ 671 million

Shale gas refers to natural gas that is trapped within shale formations Shales are fine-grained sedimentary rocks that can be rich sources of petroleum and natural gas

Reference Text10487141048714Krishnamoorthy Environmental Management (Prentice - Hall India)10487141048714Vijay S Chitris Changing face of the planet and Environmental Law (Snow White)10487141048714Tietenberg Environmental amp Natural Resources Economics (Pearson)10487141048714GN Pandey Environment Management (Vikas)10487141048714YK Saxena amp NK Oberol Environment Emplaned (Excel)10487141048714NK Oberol Environmental Management (Excel Books)

Significance in India

WHY factor

India is the worlds sixth largest and second fastest growing producer of greenhouse gases

Delhi Mumbai and Chennai are three of the worlds ten most polluted cities

Two-thirds of city dwellers lack sewerage one-third lack potable water

India urban population grows equivalent of another New York City every year This equals to a projected urban population of over 500 million in 20 years

Trends in Environmental Management

Impact Assessment and Planning (IAP)

Assessing environmental and social impacts prior to setting up operations and obtaining environmental approval from the authorities is almost mandatory in most project categories IAP assessments may be required not only for newly constructed facilities but also for new operations that will be housed in an existing building

Environmental Liability and Clean-up

Foreign investment has resulted in heightened scrutiny of current and historic environmental liabilities associated with property transactions in India

Sustainability and Regulatory Compliance

The increasing desire of Indian companies to meet world class standards has caused established companies in India to take on sustainability initiatives as a means of improving their global brand and reputation

Climate Change

While India still lags the West in coming up with concrete regulations based on the development versus environment debate there is an increasing awareness in India that climate change is not about scoring points but about the existence of entire communities inside and outside of India

National Environmental Policy

The National Environment Policy seeks to extend the coverage and fill in gaps that still exist in light of present knowledge and accumulated experience

It does not displace but builds on the earlier policies






















Economic Efficiency





Equity


Legal Liability




Strict Liability




Decentralization


Integration




Preventive Action




Regulatory Reforms


Framework


Substantive Reforms


Approach




Substantive Reforms



Coastal Areas





LMOs
















Environment





















Public health









Causes







Vehicle off-roading



Effects













Water resources




Deforestation






Public Health

















Habitat destruction















Water pollution


Air pollution





Water pollution

























































Air Pollution

























































Biodiversity loss






Poverty



Policy failures





Industrial Ecology







o Firms



eco-efficiency

green accounting


o Across Firms


product life-cycles


o Regional Global





















Major Achievements






















































Economic Efficiency





Equity


Legal Liability




Strict Liability




Decentralization


Integration




Preventive Action




Regulatory Reforms


Framework


Substantive Reforms


Approach




Substantive Reforms



Coastal Areas





LMOs
















Environment





















Public health









Causes







Vehicle off-roading



Effects













Water resources




Deforestation






Public Health

















Habitat destruction















Water pollution


Air pollution





Water pollution

























































Air Pollution

























































Biodiversity loss






Poverty



Policy failures





Industrial Ecology







o Firms



eco-efficiency

green accounting


o Across Firms


product life-cycles


o Regional Global





















Major Achievements

































Strict Liability




Decentralization


Integration




Preventive Action




Regulatory Reforms


Framework


Substantive Reforms


Approach




Substantive Reforms



Coastal Areas





LMOs
















Environment





















Public health









Causes







Vehicle off-roading



Effects













Water resources




Deforestation






Public Health

















Habitat destruction















Water pollution


Air pollution





Water pollution

























































Air Pollution

























































Biodiversity loss






Poverty



Policy failures





Industrial Ecology







o Firms



eco-efficiency

green accounting


o Across Firms


product life-cycles


o Regional Global





















Major Achievements

































Regulatory Reforms


Framework


Substantive Reforms


Approach




Substantive Reforms



Coastal Areas





LMOs
















Environment





















Public health









Causes







Vehicle off-roading



Effects













Water resources




Deforestation






Public Health

















Habitat destruction















Water pollution


Air pollution





Water pollution

























































Air Pollution

























































Biodiversity loss






Poverty



Policy failures





Industrial Ecology







o Firms



eco-efficiency

green accounting


o Across Firms


product life-cycles


o Regional Global





















Major Achievements













































Environment





















Public health









Causes







Vehicle off-roading



Effects













Water resources




Deforestation






Public Health

















Habitat destruction















Water pollution


Air pollution





Water pollution

























































Air Pollution

























































Biodiversity loss






Poverty



Policy failures





Industrial Ecology







o Firms



eco-efficiency

green accounting


o Across Firms


product life-cycles


o Regional Global





















Major Achievements


















































Public health









Causes







Vehicle off-roading



Effects













Water resources




Deforestation






Public Health

















Habitat destruction















Water pollution


Air pollution





Water pollution

























































Air Pollution

























































Biodiversity loss






Poverty



Policy failures





Industrial Ecology







o Firms



eco-efficiency

green accounting


o Across Firms


product life-cycles


o Regional Global





















Major Achievements











































Water resources




Deforestation






Public Health

















Habitat destruction















Water pollution


Air pollution





Water pollution

























































Air Pollution

























































Biodiversity loss






Poverty



Policy failures





Industrial Ecology







o Firms



eco-efficiency

green accounting


o Across Firms


product life-cycles


o Regional Global





















Major Achievements


































Public Health

















Habitat destruction















Water pollution


Air pollution





Water pollution

























































Air Pollution

























































Biodiversity loss






Poverty



Policy failures





Industrial Ecology







o Firms



eco-efficiency

green accounting


o Across Firms


product life-cycles


o Regional Global





















Major Achievements


































Habitat destruction















Water pollution


Air pollution





Water pollution

























































Air Pollution

























































Biodiversity loss






Poverty



Policy failures





Industrial Ecology







o Firms



eco-efficiency

green accounting


o Across Firms


product life-cycles


o Regional Global





















Major Achievements




































Water pollution

























































Air Pollution

























































Biodiversity loss






Poverty



Policy failures





Industrial Ecology







o Firms



eco-efficiency

green accounting


o Across Firms


product life-cycles


o Regional Global





















Major Achievements










































































Air Pollution

























































Biodiversity loss






Poverty



Policy failures





Industrial Ecology







o Firms



eco-efficiency

green accounting


o Across Firms


product life-cycles


o Regional Global





















Major Achievements









































































Biodiversity loss






Poverty



Policy failures





Industrial Ecology







o Firms



eco-efficiency

green accounting


o Across Firms


product life-cycles


o Regional Global





















Major Achievements


































Industrial Ecology







o Firms



eco-efficiency

green accounting


o Across Firms


product life-cycles


o Regional Global





















Major Achievements


















































Major Achievements

































environmental management concepts

Technology

national environmental

environmental concerns

development initiatives

environmental conservationto

environmental liability

environmental governanceto

environmental protection

development process