The emergence of the concept of sustainable development in recent years has brought in the general realisation that societal perceptions must shift towards ecological determinism so as to achieve qualitative growth within the limits of the ecosystem's carrying capacity. The carrying capacity based planning process, innovative technologies for enhanced material and energy effectivity of production and consumption, structural economic change towards less resource-intensive sectors, and preventive environmental management through increasingly interventionist policies are some of the strategies for reconciling developmental goals with ecological capabilities.
The paper analyzes existing and future environmental issues emanating from developmental objectives and policies in population, agriculture and forestry, energy, industry and human settlement sectors in India and suggests an agenda for action, with focus on environmentally sound technology, to ensure discernible positive movement towards the overall aspirational goal of sustainable development.
It argues for a dynamic policy framework for environmental management in which the time lag between problem awareness, technological solution and remedial action is minimized through anticipation and prevention of environmental problems that may arise as a consequence of decisions taken within various sectors of the economy; restoration of environmental quality wherever necessary; structural changes in the economy; and inter-policy coordination.
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