Page 2 - 5th TERI-KAS Environmental Governance Policy Dialogue
P. 2
Policy Paper
TERI, in partnership with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Introduction
(KAS), organized a series of dialogues titled “Environmental
Governance in the context of Sustainable Development The most widely quoted definition of ‘Sustainable
in India” during 2012 and 2013, focusing on the different Development’ is from the World Commission on
ecosystems of India. The aim of these dialogues was to Environment and Development (1987) (Brundtland
engage with multiple viewpoints on issues of environmental Commission), which in its report; ‘Our Common Future’
governance using a multi-stakeholder approach and then defined sustainable development as ‘meeting the needs
formulating the norms/rules for sustainable development of the present without compromising the ability of future
in the country by including these viewpoints in policy generations to meet their own needs’. The concept
making exercises. The dialogues have been instrumental came into being in the light of concerns about pollution,
in capturing the diversity of stakeholder opinions using a environmental protection and arguments surrounding
multi-stakeholder approach and increasing participation of limits to growth. Amongst discussions questioning the
major groups in governance mechanisms for sustainable acceptability of conventional economic growth, the
development. The objectives of these dialogues have been: definition provided by the Brundtland commission left a
First, to highlight the specific environmental issues and legacy of a thought process that environmental protection
or ecological sustainability is compatible with continuing
challenges in different regions. economic growth which is socially just (Baker et al, 1997).
Second, to bring out the diversity in perceptions of Despitetheeagerreceptionofandthecontinuedinterest
in the idea of sustainable development, there still is a lack of
issues and solutions to underscore that a diverse set of concrete examples of it becoming the basis for a genuine
viewpoints needs to be valued and incorporated in the model of development successfully. One of the biggest
environmental governance framework for the country. attempts to promote this concept and its mainstreaming
Four dialogues were conducted focusing on the northern into development philosophy as we know it has been the
mountain region, the western desert region, the coastal United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
region including marine ecological systems and the (UNCSD), the 3rd decadal version which concluded in
plateaus and hilly regions of India. The first of the series 2012. The Rio+20 covered the topics of Green Economy
took place at Shimla from the 29th to 31st of July, 2012. and Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development
It focused on the environmental governance issues of the (IFSD), though a lot of discussion on IFSD was focused on
Indian Himalayan region. The second of the series took international modalities and structures.
place at Jodhpur from November 15th to 16th, 2012 and The outcome document “The Future We Want”
focused on the environmental governance issues of the defines a roadmap for us to take collectively. Translating
Indian Desert region. The third took place at Goa from 5th these outcomes and directions into actual action towards
to 7th of April, 2013 looking at the challenges of coastal and sustainable development requires a considerable amount
marine ecosystems in India. The fourth dialogue took place of conviction and action at the national and sub-national
at Bangalore from October 6th to 8th, 2013 addressing the level through the development of effective governance
plateau and hilly region of the country. A fifth concluding frameworks. Furthermore, as the discourse on sustainable
policy dialogue was organized on 14-15 July, 2015 which development shows, the integration of environment,
aimed to bring together these diverse perspectives from ecology and society is imperative for fulfilling our collective
across the country. aspirations.
These geographical regions were chosen keeping in True sustainable development is not possible until
mind that ecological and social systems traverse across the existing understanding of ‘development’ undergoes
administrative boundaries and often have fuzzy outlines. This a complete change and moves away from its present
approach had relevance to the context of environmental consumption centred meaning. There has been a noticeable
governance as it provided a focused discussion on lack of practical commitment to the idea by many of the
ecosystems of the region and their interconnectedness developing countries, even after its adoption by a large
with society and economy. As the discussions in these number of national and international bodies. The reason
dialogues went beyond the traditional sectoral focus of for this, it has been argued, is that the concept has failed
economic development, environmental degradation and to extricate itself from the ‘dogmatic power of the dominant
drivers of social change, this approach also aimed at bringing scientific-industrial paradigm, where instrumental rationality
stakeholders together and gathering varying perspectives and the cognitive framework of neo-classical economics
across themes to overcome the silo thinking in public policy.
2
TERI, in partnership with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Introduction
(KAS), organized a series of dialogues titled “Environmental
Governance in the context of Sustainable Development The most widely quoted definition of ‘Sustainable
in India” during 2012 and 2013, focusing on the different Development’ is from the World Commission on
ecosystems of India. The aim of these dialogues was to Environment and Development (1987) (Brundtland
engage with multiple viewpoints on issues of environmental Commission), which in its report; ‘Our Common Future’
governance using a multi-stakeholder approach and then defined sustainable development as ‘meeting the needs
formulating the norms/rules for sustainable development of the present without compromising the ability of future
in the country by including these viewpoints in policy generations to meet their own needs’. The concept
making exercises. The dialogues have been instrumental came into being in the light of concerns about pollution,
in capturing the diversity of stakeholder opinions using a environmental protection and arguments surrounding
multi-stakeholder approach and increasing participation of limits to growth. Amongst discussions questioning the
major groups in governance mechanisms for sustainable acceptability of conventional economic growth, the
development. The objectives of these dialogues have been: definition provided by the Brundtland commission left a
First, to highlight the specific environmental issues and legacy of a thought process that environmental protection
or ecological sustainability is compatible with continuing
challenges in different regions. economic growth which is socially just (Baker et al, 1997).
Second, to bring out the diversity in perceptions of Despitetheeagerreceptionofandthecontinuedinterest
in the idea of sustainable development, there still is a lack of
issues and solutions to underscore that a diverse set of concrete examples of it becoming the basis for a genuine
viewpoints needs to be valued and incorporated in the model of development successfully. One of the biggest
environmental governance framework for the country. attempts to promote this concept and its mainstreaming
Four dialogues were conducted focusing on the northern into development philosophy as we know it has been the
mountain region, the western desert region, the coastal United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
region including marine ecological systems and the (UNCSD), the 3rd decadal version which concluded in
plateaus and hilly regions of India. The first of the series 2012. The Rio+20 covered the topics of Green Economy
took place at Shimla from the 29th to 31st of July, 2012. and Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development
It focused on the environmental governance issues of the (IFSD), though a lot of discussion on IFSD was focused on
Indian Himalayan region. The second of the series took international modalities and structures.
place at Jodhpur from November 15th to 16th, 2012 and The outcome document “The Future We Want”
focused on the environmental governance issues of the defines a roadmap for us to take collectively. Translating
Indian Desert region. The third took place at Goa from 5th these outcomes and directions into actual action towards
to 7th of April, 2013 looking at the challenges of coastal and sustainable development requires a considerable amount
marine ecosystems in India. The fourth dialogue took place of conviction and action at the national and sub-national
at Bangalore from October 6th to 8th, 2013 addressing the level through the development of effective governance
plateau and hilly region of the country. A fifth concluding frameworks. Furthermore, as the discourse on sustainable
policy dialogue was organized on 14-15 July, 2015 which development shows, the integration of environment,
aimed to bring together these diverse perspectives from ecology and society is imperative for fulfilling our collective
across the country. aspirations.
These geographical regions were chosen keeping in True sustainable development is not possible until
mind that ecological and social systems traverse across the existing understanding of ‘development’ undergoes
administrative boundaries and often have fuzzy outlines. This a complete change and moves away from its present
approach had relevance to the context of environmental consumption centred meaning. There has been a noticeable
governance as it provided a focused discussion on lack of practical commitment to the idea by many of the
ecosystems of the region and their interconnectedness developing countries, even after its adoption by a large
with society and economy. As the discussions in these number of national and international bodies. The reason
dialogues went beyond the traditional sectoral focus of for this, it has been argued, is that the concept has failed
economic development, environmental degradation and to extricate itself from the ‘dogmatic power of the dominant
drivers of social change, this approach also aimed at bringing scientific-industrial paradigm, where instrumental rationality
stakeholders together and gathering varying perspectives and the cognitive framework of neo-classical economics
across themes to overcome the silo thinking in public policy.
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