28 April 2025 : Indian Express Editorial Analysis
1. A revolution of clean energy
(Source – Indian Express, Section – The Ideas Page – Page No. – 09)
| Topic: GS3 – Environment |
| Context |
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Origins and Significance of International Mother Earth Day
- International Mother Earth Day, celebrated on April 22, was formally established by the United Nations in 2009, although its ideological roots trace back to the environmental movements of the 1970s.
- The day emphasizes the “Harmony with Nature” initiative, aiming for sustainable development.
- Earth remains the only planet capable of supporting life as we know it, underscoring humanity’s lack of a backup option, despite technological dreams of colonizing Mars.
- This unique biosphere demands collective responsibility to preserve essential resources like air, soil, water, and biodiversity. Yet, as the reflection highlights, humanity has largely failed to uphold this duty.
Population Growth and Environmental Stress
- The dramatic increase in the human population over the past two centuries has exerted immense pressure on Earth’s resources.
- It took Homo sapiens 300,000 years to reach a population of 1 billion, but the exponential growth since the 1800s — reaching over 8 billion by 2025 — has been staggering.
- India, now the most populous country, exemplifies this trend. This rapid expansion necessitated greater production of food, shelter, and transportation, resulting in increased fossil fuel consumption.
- Consequently, these developments have significantly contributed to global warming and deteriorated air quality.
India’s Environmental Crisis
- India’s environmental health is particularly alarming. According to Yale’s Environmental Pollution Index (EPI) 2024, India ranks 176th out of 180 countries.
- The World Air Quality Report 2024 further highlights that 74 of the world’s 100 most polluted cities are in India.
- Life expectancy in Delhi/NCR is severely impacted, with an estimated reduction of 11.9 years due to air pollution.
- While authorities might contest these findings, the severity of pollution, especially during the winter months, is undeniable.
- Immediate, drastic actions are required to mitigate this emergency and restore environmental health.
Beyond Air: The Depletion of Soil, Water, and Biodiversity
- While air quality garners much attention, soil health, water resources, and biodiversity are equally critical for sustainable human existence.
- Technological advances like the Green Revolution enabled massive increases in food production but at a significant environmental cost.
- Soil degradation is rampant, with two-thirds of Indian soils having alarmingly low organic carbon content.
- Groundwater depletion is severe in regions like Punjab and Haryana, and biodiversity has suffered due to monoculture farming practices.
- These trends highlight the unsustainable nature of current agricultural methods.
Pathways to Sustainable Development
- Reversing environmental degradation demands a multifaceted approach involving policies, practices, and new products. Innovative concepts like Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) can incentivize farmers to adopt sustainable methods by rewarding practices that conserve soil, water, and biodiversity.
- Growth and sustainability must be pursued together. Although India’s economic growth and agricultural achievements have been commendable, certain policies — like free electricity and heavy fertiliser subsidies — have damaged ecosystem services.
- Reforming these subsidies by directly transferring support to farmers’ accounts could encourage more sustainable farming practices.
Way Forward
- The theme of Earth Day this year focuses on tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030.
- A promising solution lies in integrating “agrivoltaics,” where solar panels are installed on farmland, enabling simultaneous crop and clean energy production.
- Incentivizing farmers by offering competitive rates for solar power could trigger a clean energy revolution.
- This approach would not only enhance farmers’ incomes but also contribute significantly to environmental conservation, aligning perfectly with the goal of safeguarding Mother Earth for future generations.
| Practice Question: Despite rapid economic growth, India’s environmental degradation poses a serious threat to sustainable development. Discuss how innovative policies and practices can balance economic growth with ecological conservation. (250 Words /15 marks) |
Read more – 26 April 2025 : Indian Express Editorial Analysis
