Download Karnataka Green Growth Strategy Concept Note

 Concept Note Launch of Report: Green Growth Strategy for Karnataka Green Growth — The Indian Context As a growing economy, India strives to balance economic progress with long-­‐term environmental sustainability, keeping in mind its large, economically vulnerable population. India’s economic progress has been remarkable, with its share of the global GDP growing by 1.8 to 2.7 percent between 2005 and 2010 alone. However, this massive growth has come at a great cost, affecting air quality and leading to environmental degradation. A recent World Bank publication, Greening India’s Growth, analysed India’s growth from an economic perspective and calculated that this degradation is costing India nearly US$80 billion annually, largely in terms of air pollution, croplands degradation, inadequate water supply and sanitation, and pastures degradation. Further, India could save US$105 billion in health-­‐related costs by reducing particulate emissions by 30 per cent by the year 2030. Minor shocks—illnesses, natural disasters, poor crop yields, or indebtedness—can easily push India’s new non-­‐poor once more below the poverty line. The 12th Five Year Plan recognises this challenge and spells out detailed action plans under various sectors to ensure that growth and environmental integrity are adequately balanced. Green Growth for Karnataka As a progressive state, Karnataka envisions job-­‐oriented, inclusive economic growth through sustainable industrialization and livelihood diversification. Such transitions are likely to increase the demand for resources significantly and the achievement of this vision may be threatened by limits on resources such as fossil fuels, land and water, while also adversely impacting quality of life from air pollution and climate change. While the energy demand is estimated to go up three times the current rate of consumption by 2030, temperatures due to climate change are projected to rise between 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius in the same time-­‐frame. As might be imagined, this will have profound effects on agriculture, water and forestry and is likely to hit the economically weaker sections of society hardest. Strategy for Karnataka: a unique effort The Strategy was born out of recognition of the need for policies and measures to combat growing environmental concerns while maintaining, if not accelerating, the pace of social progress and economic growth. The Green Growth Strategy aims at meeting both the short-­‐term economic priorities of job creation, industrialisation and poverty reduction, as well as the long-­‐term objectives of economic growth and environmental sustainability. Some of the unique features of the project are: • First comprehensive effort at developing a state-­‐level green growth strategy in India, using sophisticated analytical tools and models. • Presents a detailed sectoral analysis of challenges and solutions for Energy, Agriculture, Forestry and Water sectors. • Informed by constant engagement with stakeholders, especially the government of Karnataka. • Builds upon and seeks to support existing policies and programs of the government • Identifies financial resources and suggests investment opportunities for the government, private sector and multilateral banks to encourage and enable the development of sustainable practices across sectors. A consortium of institutions led by the Bangalore Climate Change Initiative-­‐Karnataka (BCCI-­‐K) (chaired by Professor B.K. Chandrashekar), in partnership with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) has conducted this study. The intensive research efforts were led by a number of leading researchers from partner institutions, including: • Dr. N.H. Ravindranath (Indian Institute of Science -­‐IISc, Bangalore) • Dr. Anshu Bharadwaj (Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy-­‐CSTEP, Bangalore) • Dr Ruth Kattumuri (London School of Economics – India Observatory, London) • Dr R. S. Deshpande (Institute for Social and Economic Change-­‐ISEC, Bangalore) • Dr M. B. Rajegowda (University of Agricultural Sciences-­‐UAS, Bangalore) • Dr K. V. Raju (Institute for Social and Economic Change-­‐ISEC, Bangalore) • Dr. A. K. Gosain (Indian Institute of Technology –IIT, Delhi) • Dr Sandhya Rao (Integrated Natural Resources Management Consultants –INRM, New Delhi)