India emerges as global torchbearer linking economic growth with environmental sustainability: Dr Jitendra Singh
India is positioning itself as a global champion for marrying economic growth with environmental care, says Union Minister Jitendra Singh. Guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pledge to hit net‑zero emissions by 2070, the country is promoting the LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) movement to encourage people to live in harmony with nature.
Singh opened the first‑ever Asian Conference on Geography (ACG 2025) held at Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi. He said the event comes at the right time because it tackles three pressing topics that shape our future: climate change, rapid urbanisation, and how we manage natural resources. “These issues are deeply connected,” he explained.
The minister praised Jamia Millia Islamia for hosting the conference and thanked Vice‑Chancellor Prof. Mazhar Ali and the organizers for bringing together academics, experts and students from around the world. “We can learn a lot from each other,” Singh said.
Asia is a powerhouse of industry and growth, but it also accounts for more than half of the world’s greenhouse‑gas emissions. Singh warned that if current emission levels stay unchanged, the region will face worsening extreme weather. Heatwaves, floods, and water shortages will become even more common, according to the latest IPCC report.
He highlighted that over 750 million people in South Asia are already exposed to severe climate hazards. From melting Himalayan glaciers to flooding coastlines and heat‑island cities, places like Delhi, Dhaka, Bangkok and Manila are among the most climate‑vulnerable megacities projected for 2050.
Urbanisation, while a sign of progress, also brings challenges. Unplanned city growth can push development into floodplains, deplete groundwater, and increase pollution. Singh pointed to the 2014 floods in Srinagar as an example where natural disasters were worsened by poor planning and careless human activity. He shared staggering numbers: about 80 % of wastewater in developing Asian countries is released untreated, and urban India throws away more than 55 million tonnes of solid waste each year, with the waste stream growing 5 % annually.
The minister stressed that turning waste into wealth and adopting circular‑economy practices are essential for the future. He cited successful projects in Dehradun, such as recycling cooking oil, that not only protect the environment but also create local income.
“No policy can succeed without public participation,” Singh said. “Without a social movement, no amount of policy or seminar will produce real results.”
The conference calls for bold action on climate, smarter city planning, and innovative ways to keep our environment clean and resilient—an urgent message as India and the world face a changing climate.
Source: ianslive
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