Search

This book portrays India as a representative of post-colonial democratic republic states with a parliamentary form of federal-structured government and analyzes the critical challenges faced by such states in generating broadly shared economic well-being and quality of life. The reader is shown how creating and utilizing physical, human, financial, and social assets under the aegis of public policies help achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to provide a global framework to move toward a more equitable, peaceful, resilient, and prosperous society by 2030. It not only addresses how the state's capacity has long been linked to the available economic resources, but also unfolds how the political system thus evolves to crucially determine the capacity of the state to implement its programs. The chapters of this book are particularly focused on judging the state's capacity amid the neo-liberal ascendancy that has been triggered by the opening up of both the domestic and external economy, significantly initiated since 1991 and popularly known as the economic reforms in India.Examined here is the potency of the public policies of the country in fulfilling the sustainable development agendas, the specificity of which places the state at the heart of its execution, unlike many other versions of development that would be executed in parallel with or without states'action. This work book has three principal foci facets within the broad swath of discussions covered by different chapters: (1) It critically examines how successful remains the public policies in mobilizing the population is mobilized to the next orbit of income, employment, education, and health consequent to amid the existing considerable magnitude of social and economic inequalities while achieving “equity” has always been the declared agenda in the post-reform public policy frameworks; (2) It traces the rationality of the transformation of the public policies and welfare strategies duringthe post-reform period in terms of motives, goals, and coverage to achieve the SDGs; and, (3) It reviews specific post-reform policies in terms of their potency to stimulate the system in addressing sustainable development. and upholding the state's dominant and structuring intervention to resolve the existing inequalities and ensure that society develops amidst a harmonious world reconciled with nature.

This book explores the development of sustainable public procurement (SPP) as a strategic policy instrument to support decoupling of economic growth from environmental degradation and enhancing social well-being. Offering an in-depth case study of India's SPP implementation trajectory, it discusses the challenges of integrating sustainability criteria into purchasing decisions, and examines policy choices and best practices to address them. It investigates the legislative, institutional, and governance framework for SPP in India, and identifies priority actions to accelerate wider uptake of SPP policy and practices. Furthermore, the book highlights the evolving role of SPP policies in response to emerging global mega trends, such as international trade, low carbon economy, circular economy, and Industry 4.0. Given its scope, this book appeals to scholars of economics, public administration, and environmental and social sciences, as well as to policymakers, practitioners,and advocates interested in steering transformational changes towards mainstreaming sustainable procurement practices in developing economies at the desired scale.'This book comes at the right time to compensate for the lack of in-depth works on the origins, nature and reality of the implementation of sustainable purchases.”- Farid Yaker, Programme Officer, Sustainable Public Procurement, Economy Division, UNEP, Paris, France. “…If you are a procurement or sustainability professional anywhere in the world, please read this book. It will change the way you think and feel about your profession.”- Shaun McCarthy OBE, Chair, Supply Chain Sustainability School, London, UK & Director, Action Sustainability, London, UK

This book provides a comprehensive account of asymmetric linkage in the trilogy of environment, development and sustainability and its impact on society. It examines varied perspectives and issues of development related to environmental destruction and sustainability challenges. By examining the recent trends of development and recording the dilemmas which are creating ecological imbalances, it explores some alternative ways of development to achieve sustainability. Divided into three parts, it has a broad canvass. The first section examines critically the ‘perspectives'on ecology, practice and ethics, rural development and man–forest interaction in the metropolis. ‘Issues'of dams, river, agricultural distress, environmental migration, eco-tourism, ecological conservation and land acquisition are assessed in part second. ‘Alternative'means of development is explored in part third by incorporating chapters on the constructed wetland, biofuels, subsistence economy, water and traditional knowledge practice. This interdisciplinary book is of immense significance to academicians, researchers, postgraduate and graduate-level students of social sciences and environmental studies; policymakers, development practitioners and NGOs working in the area of environment and development.

This book examines the relationship between natural resource management, sustainable development, and governance with case studies from India and other places covering disaster risk reduction, conflict resolution, capacity building, climate change adaptation and resilience, citizen engagement and ecological conservation. Though the studies focus mostly on cases in India, the volume discusses how governance can be employed to help develop and implement sustainable practices globally through the lens of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework. Readers will learn how to integrate concepts of resource management, sustainable development, and governance to improve human resilience to global environmental change, and to assess the proper development approaches to assist economically stressed and resource-deprived individuals. The book will be of use to graduate students and academics, policy makers, planners, and nonprofits.

This volume examines the practicality of achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals in India, and includes policy analyses and statistical assessments of comparative data between India and different countries. With a focus on poverty and economics, the contributors offer sector and state specific performance analyses of each goal, determining the feasibility for different states and regions to implement a given goal under conditions of extreme poverty and economic distress. Readers will learn how to perform comprehensive economic performance analyses, and how to apply these methods at local and regional scales within the framework of sustainable development. The book will be of interest to students and researchers studying sustainable development, economics, and policy analysis, as well as NGOs and government agencies working towards achieving the SDGs in impoverished nations.

This book addresses central issues related to population and sustainable development in India, the second most populous country in the world. Using the latest available source of data in the context of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, it analyzes the current state of development in India in terms of economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection, especially focusing on the role of population. The respective chapters explore various aspects, but mainly focus on promoting greater sustainability in terms of population growth, child survival, and economic growth. As such, the book will be of interest to students, researchers, and policymakers in the fields of population studies, economics, and international development.

This book analyzes contemporary issues relating to energy, environment, and globalization in the Indian context. As a signatory to the Paris climate accord, India has reiterated its commitment to taking strong and positive steps toward climate change mitigation. However, as one of the fastest growing economies in the world, it is battling the effects of a steep rise in fossil fuel usage and pollution. Further, increasing globalization is leading to greater economic activity and production, resulting in additional energy use, which has a negative effect on the environment. The book argues that globalization need not have only a negative environmental impact; it can also have positive impact through the importation of environmentally sound technologies and implementing global compliance standards. The book is divided into three sections: The energy section discusses issues relating to the status of Indian natural gas market and the need for developing an efficient gasmarket in India; the economics and politics of sustainable energy in India; the challenges of thermal power and significance of clean thermal power generation in India; environmental and policy issues concerning energy use in urban India; the importance of energy use in developing Human Development Index (HDI); and issues relating to renewable energy in India. The environment section then examines topics such as the impact of global warming on local weather by examining the frequency of extreme weather events such as drought and floods, and their impact on farming activities in the Indian state of Odisha; the importance of according the economic value to environmentally significant things like national park, mangroves, etc. for sustainable development; the role of environmental accounting for ecological sustainability and ecotourism; and environmental concerns increasingly gaining traction among the corporate sector for their long-run benefits. Lastly, the third section addresses issues relating to the challenges and opportunities of globalization, such as the interface between globalization and environment; managing India's business interest in proposing new Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT); the challenges being faced by Indian exports and their revival; and making Indian SMEs competitive. As such, it is an invaluable resource for policymakers, researchers, practitioners and students in the field of energy, environment and trade economics.

This book explores the dilemmas posed by globalisation in various aspects of law. It covers diverse themes, ranging from the impact of different legislative measures, bilateral and regional agreements in the context of trade, investment and mobility of labour, to concerns about sustainability, equity, regional balance and social security in the light of globalisation. Although it focuses mainly on India and the European Union, the issues raised and challenges discussed are of a general nature, and as such relevant in the broader context. The chapters address contemporary problems in trade, investment and labour mobility, which have emerged through the complex interaction of market, state policies and socio-environmental concerns, and are expressed on national and global platforms in the context of evolving legal system. The book is a valuable resource for students, researchers and academics engaged in comparative legal studies, particularly those interested in studying the interplay ofglobalisation with various areas and aspects of law at national as well as international levels. It also appeals to anyone interested in law and policy studies.

This book presents a selection of multifaceted development issues involving social, economic and environmental aspects, in order to inspire and guide implementation of the United Nations'SDGs. It focuses on economic development, human well-being and sustainable pathways, with special attention to financial and knowledge resources, as well as measurement concepts. In doing so, the book draws a distinction between sustainability and sustainable pathways by refraining from dealing with broader and more direct environmental sustainability issues like climate change, environmental degradation and sustainable energy. The choice of topics, apart from their relevance for India, was guided by their importance in connection with multiple SDG goals. In addition to revealing the intricacies of systemic relationships and the dilemmas they create in policy choices, the book examines the role of actors and the critical importance of partnerships to help readers comprehend the breadth of diversities and inter-linkages involved. The roles of the central and state governments, the parliament and the state assemblies, the civil society, UN agencies and district-level authorities are separately explored in depth. Sharing valuable insights, the book encourages policymakers, practitioners and scholars to move towards a sustainable and equitable economy, and supports them in their efforts.

This book focuses on understanding the status quo of sustainable practices in industry operations from an emerging economy perspective, presenting various practices in India. In order to offer a balance between theory and practice, it provides guidelines for applying models to achieve the goal of sustainability in this competitive environment. The chapters include theoretical perspectives, models and empirical evidence on sustainable practices from Indian industries. The book also presents a scholarly perspective on sustainable operations from various researchers and practitioners in India for a global audience in academia and industry.

This book explores ways in which India can negotiate the low carbon path up until 2030, when it is expected to be the largest economy after the US and China. It comprehensively reviews the low climate pathways for India and provides a guide to the pathways that the country can adopt. India's population, energy demands and emissions will increase significantly, and the challenge is to restrict its CO2 emissions and walk the low carbon path. Through its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), India has pledged to reduce its emissions significantly.Addressing the question of which low carbon paths India can adhere to without compromising its growth, the book identifies the key factors that feed into existing models of climate change and discusses the cost of action versus inaction. It also examines key issues concerning India's environment through the lens of the transport, industry and water sectors. The book concludes by looking at policy implications for lowcarbon growth in India.

The book is written in the backdrop of the environmental impacts of and future requirements from the natural environment for rapid economic growth that has characterized recent economic history of China and India, especially over the past few decades. The environmental impacts of such rapid economic changes have been, more frequently than otherwise, degrading in character. Environmental impacts of economic activities create degraded natural ecosystems by over utilization of nature's provisioning ecosystem services (from Himalaya to the Ocean), as well, by the use of the natural environment as sink for dumping of unmarketable products or unused inputs of economic activities. Such processes affect wide range of ecosystem processes on which the natural environment including human population depend on. Critical perspectives cast by various chapters in this book draw attention to the various ways in which space and power interact to produce diverse geographiesof sustainability in a globalizing world. They also address the questions such as who decides what kind of a spatial arrangement of political power is needed for sustaining the environment. Who stands to gain (or lose) what, when, where, and why from certain geographical areas being demarcated as ecologically unique, fragile and vulnerable environments? Whose needs and values are being catered to by a given ecosystem service? What is the scope for critical inquiry into the ways in which the environment is imagined, represented and resisted in both geopolitical struggles and everyday life? The book provides insights to both academics from diverse disciplines and policy makers, civil society actors interested in mutual exchange of knowledge between China and India.

Nonrenewable natural resources – metallic and non-metallic minerals, industrial rocks and energy resources (both organic and inorganic), have been treated in a holistic manner in this book, including two important resources (soil and water), not commonly covered in most books on this topic. For the uninitiated reader, an introductory chapter looks into some basic definitions as well as nature and characteristics of mineral deposits followed by a chapter on the different crustal processes that produce the various ore deposits in the endogenous and exogenous environments. The strength of the book lies in its critical treatment of the genetic processes of the mineral deposits, their classification and the geodynamic context of metallogeny, and coverage of sustainable development of mineral deposits with special reference to various socio-economic as well as regulatory and environmental issues that face the Indian mining industry today. The text is punctuated with examples of Indian deposits, balanced with classical deposits around the world, to cater to the interests of Indian students and the international readership. This is a book for advanced undergraduate and post-graduate students of Geology, Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management.

This book seeks to answer the essential question of the investment-worthiness of green instruments. It is evident that investing in green and energy-efficient firms will be the most profitable choice for wise investors in the years to come. The reconciliation of the social choice for green technology and investors'choice for gray technology will be automatically achieved once green firms become more profitable than gray ones, in the Indian context. As there has been very little research done in this area, especially in the Indian context, this book addresses that gap. In order to do so, it follows the development of five different portfolios consisting of 100% green, 75% green-25% gray, 50% green-50% gray, 25% green-75% gray and 100% gray stocks, and attempts to answer questions such as: Do green portfolios entail less relative own-risk as compared to their gray counterparts? How effectively do green portfolios avoid market risk? Are green portfolios inherently more stable? Do green portfolios have a higher probability of surviving a financial crisis? Is the performance of green portfolios backed by their fundamentals? Is there any particular technical trading strategy that can ensure a consistently above-average return from these portfolios?

Following the reforms undertaken in the last two decades, India's economic landscape has been radically transformed. This book examines the new economic map, which is shown to be shaped by two intertwined currents: globalization and sustainability. Weaving extensively through these currents and the canvas of development in the Indian economy they open up, this work seeks to introduce new methodologies, a corpus of concepts and modes of analysis to make sense of the emerging order of things. What transpires in the course of the investigation is a critical reflection of the present in which not only the new institutions, policies and practices are analyzed, but their limitations, fragility and at times myopic approaches are brought to light. By highlighting the rough edges created by the new conditions, this book is firmly engaged with the frontier of the Indian economy and ends up challenging many well-known conjectures and assumptions. In doing so, it strives to shift the Indian economy to a new terrain, thereby fundamentally re-locating and re-orienting the discourse of that economy as a unique object of analysis.

This book highlights methodological approaches for the economics of sustainable development and brings together recent empirical work done in India, especially by Dr. Surender Kumar and Dr. Shunsuke Managi. Various chapters in this book use Indian data to show the very wide applicability of methodologies in the theory of production for dealing with many empirical issues of environmentally sustainable development in a developing country. I congratulate the authors for the time and effort devoted to compiling this very useful reference on the subject and the publishers for publishing this volume. The methodologies of cost functions, distance functions, and production fu- tions have been used in many recent studies and in the studies reported in this book for environmental valuation. Environmental valuation is required for designing policy instruments like pollution taxes for sustainable development and for meas- ing green GDP. The UN methodology of integrated environmental and economic accounting provides ways of measuring the cost of maintaining environmental resources at sustainable levels or the maintenance cost for estimating green GDP. Some of the chapters in this book show that the methodology of distance functions could be used for estimating the cost of environmentally sustainable development.