India national dialogue

The TARAgram Yatra 2010, brought together over 400 representatives from a wide range of sectors to discuss the transition to a more sustainable future in India. The dialogue, held over a 5-day period in New Dehli and Bundelkhand, and organised by Development Alternatives in partnership with IIED, built on a mix of discussions, workshops and field visits.

Participants stressed that in a country in which one third of people are stuck in poverty and one third of natural resource endowments are being downgraded, the current economic system fails to address the needs of people or the environment.

To transition to a green economy the participants agreed that the focus must lie on changing the world's production system and consumption habit. In the words of Dr. Ashok Khosla: "The earth has a fever – two diseases – Affluenza and povertitis", a small percentage of the population suffers from overconsumption while over a billion people are denied basic needs. This persistent poverty is coupled with increasing environmental degradation, the effects of which will again most strongly affect the poor.

A green economy in the Indian context must address the triple bottom-line of economic growth, social inclusion and environmental conservation. 

This need to transition to a green economy is a unique opportunity to invest in sectors that are both, good for development and the environment. Finance was recognised as a key driver of green economies, with investment directed towards

• Renewable Energy
• Eco-Construction
• Sustainable Agriculture
• Waste Management
• Water Management

To spread the core message, the dialogue produced a declaration describing the unique opportunity to restructure our economic system to tackle poverty and ecological degradation.

The Indian short paper provides a more detailed summary of breadth and scale of the national dialogue. 

These key messages are informing the work of the GEC Policy working group in their preparations for Rio 2012. 

For more information and next steps please contact George Varughese (Development Alternatives) or Kate Lines (IIED).