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TO provide adequate food, shelter, water, sanitation, medical care, education and access to communication, we need commercial energy which is necessary and sufficient condition for sustainable development in general and sustainable human development in particular. We have to ensure not only intra-generation equity but inter-generation equity. This calls for a concrete plan of action instead of a lip service for development in all dimensions without distress and discontent among the people of the global village for all times to come.
The author has made a sincere attempt to compile the single set of thirty energy indicators for sustainable development with socio-economic and environmental dimensions for world-wise use. It is based on consensus of experts at international agencies such as the International Atomic Energy Agency, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, International Energy Agency, European Environment Agency and the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, which is a matter of record. It is pertinent to note that the writer is aware of the fact that no set of energy indicators are definite and final, which must evolve in continuous manner with the needs, priorities, capabilities, conditions prevailing in a nation like India. This calls for sincere efforts of the researchers who need motivation and liberal funds for the great cause. To ensure sufficient energy, the writer has listed many challenges which include the improvement in human, social, economic and environmental conditions for the present and future generation and demands for cooking, lighting, transport and communications. He has made a case for universal accessibility, affordability and reliability, safety and environmental-friendly services, which call for changes in technologies, methods, infrastructure and, above all, mindset of the people. There is case for regulation and standards to reduce pollution with economic instrument of carbon taxes and emissions trading, public and private sectors to give priority to research and development along with sustainable consumption patterns. We need to phase out energy and transport subsidies. There is a rationale for coordination among energy-related policies at all levels of operation in an economy. To bring sustainability in all sectors of any economy, we need to understand, analyse, interpret and adopt 5 Rs of sustainability. It is in our hands to design the developmental programmes, so that they pass the 5 Rs test — resistance: the process of development must be resistant to degradation and generate economic growth equitably not only intra-generational but also inter generational keeping the future generations in mind; resilience: the process should have flexibility to adapt and ensure least degradation of environment; regeneration: the development process should have the capacity to regenerate the natural resources consumed during its implementation so that the net effect on the environment is minimised;`A0redesign: the development process should evolve after design — feedback — redesign cycle so as to ensure that the goals of sustainability are adequately addressed; and replenishment: the process should attempt to replenish the natural capital rather than destroying it. Above all, we need to perceive environment as a human resource development activity which is a necessary for sustainable development.
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Divided into seven
chapters, the book is full of wisdom for the government at all levels to
consider the prognosis therein by its author Pradeep Singh Chauhan who
deserves commendation for his valuable contribution towards the emerging
area which has to be explored in a continuous manner.