As an agricultural country, we are particularly vulnerable to climate change. Yet, it is India that is blocking Climate Change negotiations demanding that we (with over one billion people) must first be allowed to achieve the levels of consumerism of the West before we can be asked to reform. The question to be asked is, what’s the use of a fancy house or hotel when you don’t have a planet left to put it??. Climate change is an impending reality and potentially disastrous for an agricultural country like India. It is the poor of the world that will be worst affected which is why environmental protection is not a luxury but a necessity.

There has been an increase of 70% in greenhouse gas emissions between 1970 and 2004. Increasing water scarcity is already causing serious political conflict. The current impatience with environmental regulation is shortsighted and needs to give way to an understanding of its benefits like lower air pollution at the local level, higher energy security, higher yields in agriculture, and greater employment opportunities. I should like to see organisations which have national reach such as banks, the army, the postal services etc integrate tree plantation programmes as part of their programmes.