12th World Congress on Environment Management

12th World Congress on Environment Management
Summary of Recommendations

“Despite Climategate and crippling economic crisis, climate change remains humanity’s greatest challenge”. This was the verdict of the scores of environment experts from across the world who participated in the 12th World Congress on Environment Management organized by the World Environment Foundation that concluded in The Ashok Hotel in Delhi this weekend. Here are the recommendations:

1. Despite failed talks at Copenhagen, despite crippling economic crisis, despite bungling of IPCC and despite climategate, climate change continues to be humanity’s gravest challenge.


2. Every effort should be made to make a success of the upcoming Climate Change summit slated at Cancun this December.


3. The problem of climate change cannot be solved at the same level of thinking that created it. The negotiating parties have to forget the past and start afresh considering they are not saving the planet but the survival of their own children. They must abandon their ego system and work cohesively to protect the eco-system.


4. For this to happen Climate Change dialogue must come out of its silos and  compartmentalized  thinking and adopt an integrated and holistic approach.


5. We need better communication skills to create a buy-in with out stakeholders and get rid of barriers to communication especially during the talks and encourage more international cooperation and hone listening skills to keep ourselves in tune with the needs of our stakeholders.


6. Climate change is to be viewed not only in its environmental context but also its impact on social, political and health consequences. Most of all it is becoming a security issue as it is sharpening disparities by making poor even poorer. Water is becoming a serious global security risk. Water pollution is also having dangerous repercussions on global health affecting the health of children due to water borne diseases.


7. Continuing degradation of biodiversity, the focal point of a landmark study by UN’s  The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB), demonstrates  how depletion of natural systems can affect human survival. The story of the loss of honey bees is a stark reminder of how our food security relies on these communal insects. Concern for biodiversity cannot be excluded from our quest to save the planet.


8. Dr Marcia Gidden’s study demonstrated chemical induced puberty. 1% of 3 year old girls in US had swollen breasts and pubic hair. This shows why organic farming should be an integral part of fight against climate change.


9. Our efforts need to be focused way beyond  minimising carbon. We need to make a concerted assault on dematerialisation, zero waste, biodiversity, afforestation,  pollution, poverty and regional imbalances in a cohesive and coordinated manner.


10. The starting point for all this is pricing of natural capital in the balance sheets and the production process.


11. To combat the battle of climate change successfully, business has to be brought centre stage and should participate at the head table.


12. Climate Change should be recognised as a great source of innovation for transforming business as usual. Technologies exist today that can not only successfully fight climate change but bring inclusive growth and solve poverty once for all. All it needs is a cohesive approach from the top.


13. For instance digitalisation of processes has the potential of dematerialising the world in a way few can imagine. By doing away with transportation of physical goods it can save a huge amount of carbon emissions. Miniaturisation of the micro chip itself has already lightened the load of the earth by millions of tonnes


14. Mobile technologies and smart systems provide processing and transmission capabilities that can cause huge reductions in carbon emissions. Mobile communication industry forecasts Carbon emission reduction by 40% by 2020.


15. Government should introduce incentives to finance digitalisation in all its aspects in a robust manner  to dematerialise the world. It should stimulate investment and provide incentives for use of mobile, broadband and encourage telecommuting.


16. Smart systems and mobile networks can help monitor and radically improve energy efficiency. Their widespread use should be encouraged.


17. Intelligent use of ICT solutions can bring about 15% of to emission cuts worldwide. Digitalisation and dematerialisation strategies need to be given equal importance together with reforestation as it can bring carbon reduction with economic growth


18. Urbanisation revolution is another opportunity for greening the construction industry. All investment in infrastructure should be based on use of green technology.


19. Coming generations will scarcely believe their forefathers taxed hard work but polluters and destroyers of environment got away scot free. We must begin the new tax regime of taxing entities on the use of environment. But we cannot make progress unless we start pricing the natural capital.


20. Businesses are doing much more to combat climate change than government negotiators can imagine. Securing their involvement in negotiations can be a win-win for both sides. They should certainly be part of the negotiating parties in the Cancun Conference.


21. There needs to be much greater transparency in the operations of IPCC and all the scientific work related to climate change to regain the lost  trust.


22. Green banking has great potential in minimizing carbon emissions, water usage and improving biodiversity. Green banking is the key for applying fiscal incentives for greening businesses. Banks should give preferential  interest rates for green projects and withhold support from projects that are not eco-friendly.


23. Insurance companies have a lot to lose from climate change and need to be involved much more constructively and intimately in the drive for a low carbon economy. They should engage in awareness and advocacy programmes involving both adaptation and mitigation measures for an effective response to climate change and offer special reduction for customers with proven record of low carbon usage.


24. We need much greater use of external verification mechanism for Climate Change outcomes claimed by respective parties. There should be extensive use of auditing such as ISO 14064 as a form of external verification of claims made by companies on carbon minimization.


25. Auditors should insist greening of the entire vendor chain by companies before  considered for certification. (Auditors can not insist and only Boards can do that)


26. Harvesting the sun should be made a prime sport. Government should establish single window clearance for all projects related to solar energy as a part of its solar mission. It should consider even greater incentives for business  going for R & D in solar technology and further incentives for entrepreneurs investing in  production and use of solar technology.


27. Each house should be rated on its energy efficiency. Houses with solar panel be given special tax credits. Energy efficiency rating should be made a prerequisite for the purchase and sale of the house.
    
    
28. We need constructive engagement with designers to make minimalism the goal of luxury.
    
    
29. Our growth model needs to move away from encouraging consumerism goading society to “spend, spend and spend” or shop until your drop. Our focus should be to enhance enjoyment of experience and not acquisition.
    
    
30. We need to change our measure of growth from traditional GDP to green GDP and adopt the eleven point holistic model of PROACTIVATE.
    
    
31. Our greatest challenge lies in making minimalism and experiential growth aspirational. For this we need to work with designers and artists to influence aesthetics of the society to make minimalism the goal of luxury.

Author : Dr Madhav Mehra
Dr Madhav Mehra is the President of World Council for Corporate Governance

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