Context: Environment protection should be considered a national issue and not be viewed through an ideological or political lens.
Background
Environment Performance Index

• India secured the 168th rank out of 180 countries in the 12th edition of the biennial Environment Performance Index (EPI 2020). India’s rank was 177 in 2018.
• The EPI Index 2020 measures the environmental performance of 180 countries by considering 32 indicators of environmental performance across 11 issue categories covering environmental health and ecosystem vitality.
• The 2020 EPI features new metrics that gauge waste management, carbon dioxide emissions from land cover change, and emissions of fluorinated gases – all important drivers of climate change.
• Ranked 168 out of 180 countries; all South Asian countries, except Afghanistan, were ahead of India in the ranking. India scored below the regional average score on all five key parameters on environmental health, including air quality, sanitation and drinking water, heavy metals and waste management.

Political record

• The link between the great winter smog and pollution in North India, and the present EIA draft is not reasonable, since winter pollution in North India did not begin in 2014.
• The winter smog and pollution in North India demonstrate the irregularities of federalism, where the rules of the Centre and States differ.
• There are problems of environmental laws which are effective in principle against point sources like industries but not against agriculture related pollution such as stubble burning or public usage pollution relating to vehicular and household sources (which are predominantly non-point in nature).
• The UPA governments were unable to frame subordinate legislation and implement the Forest Rights Act effectively for eight long years.
• ‘Forests’ was a State subject until transferred to the Concurrent list by the 42nd Amendment Act. However, the powers of the State governments continue, which is why, regardless of political affiliation, State governments hesitate to fully implement the Forest Rights Act.

Focus on deforestation

• Deforestation has to be a primary concern for any government. Forest clearances for mining and industries are a major cause, but not the only causes of deforestation.

Other causes include the following:

• the slash-and-burn (or jhoom cycle) due to population pressure;
• conversion of forest to cultivated land;
• increasing use of timber for household and industry purposes.
• While diversion of forests for mining and industry is regulated by law and challenged in courts, the other major drivers are not even discussed.

Crucial dimensions
The vital dimensions of environment preservation are as follows:

• The balance of requirements between the environment and poverty eradication.
• The critical need to harmonise the working of the central, State, and local governments as also intelligence, monitoring and compliance with law.

Suggestions

• India needs to re-double national sustainability efforts on all fronts. The country needs to focus on a wide spectrum of sustainability issues, with a high-priority to critical issues such as air and water quality, biodiversity and climate change. India’s decarbonization agenda needs to be further accelerated.
• There is a need to balance between the environment and the development needs of the country.
• The critical need of the hour is to harmonise the working of the central, state, and local governments.
• There is a need for better monitoring and compliance with environmental laws.
• The environment is a national issue that requires the unwavering participation of all governments, and all citizens.

Road Ahead

• The environment is a national issue which requires the unwavering participation of all governments, and all citizens, regardless of political affiliation and it should not be looked from an ideological or political viewpoint.