Sustainability is the development that happens for the betterment of human beings without depleting the natural resources and nature. The progress path that the world has chosen has been proved to be hazardous to all living beings on earth. A lot of social activists and environmentalists have been creating awareness through various means and in languages that are easily understandable for people from all walks of life to control the damage that the innovations have caused the world. Every country in the world has formulated measures to cease climate change, global warming, and any such inconveniencies caused to humankind by the acts of humankind. India contributing to 1/6th of the global population has a major role to play when it comes to matters like these. Let’s dig deep to find the answer to the question of how sustainable is India?
SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) and India | Architecture of India
SDG is a forum of states and union territories of the United Nations at both national and sub-national levels to adopt, implement and monitor their 17 goals framework which focuses on giving a better future and uplift the current standard of living across the globe. The core functions of SDG are to bring in private participation, localize the concept of sustainability, multi-dimensional poverty reduction. India has dropped its position from 115 to 117 in the previous year SDG (a 2030 agenda for sustainable development) because of the challenge to cease problems like hunger, food security, resilient infrastructure, gender equality, sustainable industrialization. India with a score of 61.9 SDG, lags behind fellow South Asian countries like Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. India ranks 168 out of 180 countries according to EPI (environmental performance index).
Sustainability in India
The world today has been using more power that is majorly got from non-renewable sources like coal, oil, gas, etc. though renewable energies are been in the larger picture it is still not been put to use to their fullest potential. India is no exception. India has been striving towards becoming a sustainable country but it has a long journey to make. India is one of the biggest economies in the world and a great emitter of toxins. sustainability is a challenge to overcome but one that is not neglectable. India is currently in the place where it is in terms of sustainable development because it’s not only the government that should be held responsible but every citizen.
60% of the population in India live in rural places where people are conservative of the resources that aren’t abundant to them. The scarcity of water, shortage of food, lesser tech intervention in their neighborhood, though these aren’t phrases that the country is proud of it has somehow made people valve it and use them mindfully. Sustainable development is a wholesome development of living covering all aspects of life. India is making progress towards a sustainable country but the pace at which it moving isn’t sufficient as any changes that happen in countries like India and China where the population rates are high can tweak the scene for the world.
Sustainability is the talk of the 21st century. It is seen in advertisements, public talks, lectures, etc. Companies are manufacturing products that abide by the rules of the country helping India become sustainable. Electric vehicles are gaining momentum. Plastics are replaced by bio-degradable containers.
Sustainable Architecture in India
All personnel has their roles to play when it comes to matters like sustainable living. so what architects are currently doing? Are they leading the country in the way they should? Let’s discuss it. Architects are educated on subjects like sustainability from their college levels. The health and infrastructure sectors are the sectors where architects have their contribution. When a client approaches an architect say for any scale project or any budget for that matter, what should they be doing? Isn’t their responsibility to educate the client on issues like global warming and sustainability and choose materials wisely? Design buildings with an orientation that better suits the locality? Going vernacular is looked down upon by indigenous people.
But as architects, they know the value of using locally available materials and a little innovation or thought could bring the vision of clients who wanted foreign materials for some reason.
India has stepped up a few levels. Undenied, but is it functioning according to the way it was planned or discussed? If not, then are there any alternative measures for a change of plan, or is it just used as a blindfold from the world? Laws have been formulated and rules have been regulated, green rating systems have been introduced, but how effective are they? To be precise how many MNC’s or private organizations are showing or investing in green technologies? Children study a subject called Environmental Science beginning from schools carried forward to colleges. Where are they applied? To the least is it considered as a subject of seriousness? Hardly schools run such classes instead trade it for some other subject that is termed main core.
Challenges that India face | Architecture of India
Sustainability is still the talk of the higher-order people. Unless and until it is localized to commoners it is going to remain a dream unfulfilled. India is densely populated, to take the concept of sustainability to the masses is a challenge on its own. The ill literacy rate of India makes it arduous for the government to educate people on topics that are essential like these. People who know these problems that the world collectively has been talking about and facing every day still choose to ignore them as they are either unaffected by the changes that are caused or are least bothered about the future of the world or their net generation of people.
Youth of the country are considered the backbone of the country. It is saddening to know India, a country of youth yet youngsters aren’t sighing this issue. A lot of simple ways are taught, like, switching off electrical appliances when not in use, closing the unnecessarily running tap, using showers for baths, and plenty more. How many follow these? At least a few if not all?
When the world can turn from nothing to becoming a superhuman world and are getting equipped to start a settlement on a foreign planet, knowing there is potential in humans to bring to life things that were once thought impossible, isn’t giving back life to dwindling earth easier with collective efforts? Let the selfish pattern of humans be shattered and let the world be filled with selflessness and people who want to give nature to make the next generation live with nature.
References:
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Anon, (n.d.). Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX1OnxwNJYc.
Anon, (n.d.). Available at: https://www.dreamstime.com/close-up-senior-hands-giving-small-plant-to-child-over-defocused-green-background-copy-space-image115640864.