Goa can set example for sustainable development: Pachauri

Goa can set example for sustainable development: Pachauri
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The exploitation of Goa’s natural resources through various factors including mining is nothing new even as the latter faces closure since last five months, a renowned climate scientist today said Goa can set an example for sustainable development.
While delivering a lecture on ‘Ethics and Governance’ at the D D Kosambi Festival of Ideas at Kala Academy, Director General of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi, Dr R K Pachauri however cautioned the State’s susceptibility to non-eco-friendly changes.   
“Goa is beautiful but it is fragile to changes. It is vulnerable to climate change, vulnerable to floating population…tourists visiting here. They (tourists) expect something in return because they spend (money) on their visit and other needs here. They will not leave anything behind for healthy environment,” he said.
Maintaining that Goa has potential to bring healthy transformation, he suggested that government create and enforce laws and regulations by which tourism does not become destruction.
“Goa fortunately does not have overpopulation like Delhi…Goa is a small state, it has bounty ecosystem, natural resources, beauty, environment which can be preserved. If we have to bring about transformation then Goa can set as a base,” the Nobel Peace Prize Winner commented. Goa, he said, has the wealth in form of biodiversity.
Himachal Pradesh minus Shimla — which is turning into a slum — he strongly opined the two states can bring changes in right directions. “It will spread and provide aspiring examples on sustainable development,” he added.
Speaking about the rapid environmental change, Pachauri while acknowledging India’s move towards development said these were not suited to the culture and ecosystem.
“We have to see where to bring transformation. Our society has the potential for doing well, to be able to develop in a manner to make worthy of admiration,” he said.
The 72-year-old who conceptualized and launched Lighting a Billion Lives Initiative in 2005 to bring electricity to energy starved rural areas of India through solar energy, asked to distinguish from several institutions which are dysfunctional and mal functional.
He expressed displeasure that individuals are preoccupied doing good for themselves at the cost of the environment which is threatening the social fabric of the society.
“There are fundamental problems in society…might cause hazard. The trend today is production and consumption of goods and services,” he said admitting it is a part of human aspiration.
. “We have forgotten the negative impact on the environment… we cannot presume nature will be tolerant. Therefore, we need to understand, identify and quantify the natural resources. This requires deep analyses,” he said.
Dr Pachauri said government should play a role to shift the lifestyle that can bring regulation and thus benefit the survival of ecosystem and natural resources for future.
“What is important in decision making is first, to change the structure of the economy and infrastructure in which it is based… like enhancing the public transport system, bringing regulation like using CFSL bulbs…Focus on lifestyle which are sustainable and not bad to the ecosystem of the planet. It is essential to spread awareness,” he said.
For such initiatives, he said leadership at community, local, state and national level was required with participation from the general people as well. “Change is not going to be without tears/pain. But it will be good in the long run,” he said.