Paper: GS – II, Subject: Society and Social Justice, Topic: Social Sector- Human Resources, Issue: Role of Population in tackling Climate Change.
Context:
On the occasion of World Population Day, there is a need to reiterate the belief that India’s large population not as a liability but as a strategic advantage for climate action.
Key Highlights:
Global Demographic Puzzle:
- Demographic mismatch: Many countries (e.g., China, Japan, parts of Europe) face challenges from falling birth rates and ageing populations.
- Altered policies: They are now encouraging citizens to have more children to maintain economic stability.
India’s Unique Position:
- High Population: India is the world’s most populous country, facing both climate vulnerability and demographic opportunity.
- India’s dilemma: The real question India faces is How to strategically use this population to shape India’s and the world’s climate future.
Rethinking Population Assumptions:
- Misdiagnosis: The problem isn’t the number of people, but their agency over reproduction and access to education, healthcare, economic independence, and birth control.
- Inter-linked dynamics: Well-being, equity, and sustainability are linked and scale and size become strengths when guided properly.
- Vulnerability as a Catalyst: India’s population is Young, Mobile and Increasingly urban. This creates adaptability and openness to change critical for a green transition.
- Unique position of India: India could become the first major economy to industrialize without carbonizing by:
- Investing in green technologies
- Promoting sustainable materials
- Avoiding the deep carbon lock-in of older economies
Population potential for India:
- Resource Efficiency and Innovation: There is an urgent need to increase productivity and resource use efficiency. India’s size allows it to:
- Provide a large market size for green solutions
- Commercialize climate innovations
- Reduce the ‘green premium’ for others globally
- Building a Climate-Resilient Economy: Population must be supported by Education and healthcare, Skilling and employment, Gender equity and Urban infrastructure. Inclusivity enhances resilience to climate shocks.
- Tackle Inequality for Climate Justice:
- Climate strategy must address inequality; ignoring it renders it ineffective.
- Vulnerable populations must be empowered to adapt to climate stress.
- This inclusion will turn population size into an economic and environmental asset.
- Potential for Sustainable Growth: Sustainability investments can create millions of jobs in MSMEs, promote decentralized innovation and support low-carbon models
A Frame for the Future:
- India has a narrow window for choosing the right development path. With 1.4 billion people, the country must:
- Use scale as a strength
- Position itself as a climate leader
- Shift from being climate-vulnerable to climate-action central
Conclusion:
With equity and investment, India’s demographic dividend can turn into a climate advantage. The nation has the potential to become a model for low-carbon, inclusive development globally.
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