Globally all countries are currently faced with a very highly competitive world in terms of trade and commerce. This is particularly so in rapidly emerging developing countries or so called transition countries, competing for their fair share of global market. India is no exception. India in general, Karnataka in particular have begun to harness science and technology and are now going through rapid economic growth. To be successful in this endeavour, an appropriate balance between economic development, social stability and environmental quality must be achieved. Economic development based on over consumption of earth's natural resources has proved to be disastrous from the point of view of environmental degradation locally, regionally and globally and is not a feasible option, for either the developed or the developing countries. The present global environmental crisis cannot be solved by unsustainable economic growth that exhausts the natural resources. As Dr. Carl Folke, a well known Swedish economist and others have advocated the integration of ecological principles into economic development. He argues that economy is a part of the ecosystem and therefore it has to manage the earth's natural resources rather than depleting it.

Sustained economic growth implies that appropriate measures are taken from the beginning to incorporate environmental aspects into the planning process. Mechanisms and suitable methodologies are very much needed in Karnataka and in India at this time to establish sound environmental management capabilities as an integral part of the ongoing developmental process. "Ecosystem Approach", in which man and his activities are an integral part of the ecosystem is widely accepted now internationally and must be applied in dealing with environmental issues arising out of economic development. Environmental accounting and auditing of the use of natural resources are also now widely applied in many industrialized countries into the planning of developmental activities. Well trained and skilled human resources, sound scientific knowledge and information, and innovative environmental technologies are pre-requisites for sustainable economic growth. The steps to proceed systematically towards accomplishing the above goals is elaborated below.

National Capacity Building Programmes for training and skills development of human resources in all aspects of environmental management are very critical and such programmes should be encouraged and supported by the govt. as well as industry both in-house and through active participation and cooperation in bilateral and international programmes. Capacity building within developing countries is a priority for all international agencies such as UNEP, UNESCO and the World Bank, following the recommendations of the 1992-United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. International training and manpower development programmes should be used on the basis of sustainable development, sharing the knowledge and expertise with other countries.

The need for scientific research and information is no doubt obvious to make a sound and well informed policy decision. Scientists and engineers should be pragmatic and understand the necessary linkages between scientific input and the nature of the environmental problem to be resolved. The managers and the policy makers should not simplify complex environmental problems and implement policies fully realizing further scientific input is warranted before coming to such a decision. In India, advanced scientific and technological institutes such as the Indian Institute of Science, Indian Institutes of Technology, CSIR Laboratories and other regional academic institutions are well equipped to meet this challenge. The government and the industry should encourage and provide incentives to the scientific and academic community to undertake scientific research on the natural environment.

The academic and industrial sectors must play key roles in the introduction of new and innovative technologies to deal with environmental issues arising out of economic development. The government must create appropriate climate for R&D activity in this area. Many industrialized countries have already started marketing environmental services and technologies in developing countries and the investment these countries made, 10-15 years back, on environmental R&D is now paying rich dividends with increased trade and commerce in this area. Marketing environmental services and technologies is a big business now for many industrialized countries. Japan, Sweden, Canada, United States and many European countries lead the way with substantial global market in this area. While introducing new environmental technologies caution should be exercised particularly in developing countries. Developing countries with inadequate environmental regulations and laws are highly vulnerable and in some cases environmental technologies that are already banned and obsolete in industrialized countries have found their way into developing countries. Inappropriate environmental technologies should be thwarted from being introduced indiscriminately. National expertise and capability is very essential to evaluate environmental technologies before their introduction in the country.

In order to succeed in this challenging enterprise, government agencies, industries, universities and non-government organizations must work together. Public participation directly and through voluntary organizations and non-government organizations is essential. There is heightened and alarming concerns for environmental issues of very rapid industrial development coupled with unchecked population growth - concern not just for local, regional and national environmental issues but for emerging global environmental problems such as global climate change and ozone depletion and their impact on every facet of human living on earth. Other environmental issues are equally important in a global sense, namely long-range atmospheric transport of air pollutants, including acid rain; pollution of the oceans particularly in the coastal areas, where roughly 60 percent of the world population lives; transport, fate and pathways of toxic contaminants in the biosphere, and environmental instability of megacities. In Karnataka and India the environmental agenda is firmly entrenched in the public and hopefully also in the political agenda. Environmental activism by voluntary organizations and NGOs has swung in favour of environmental protection. Environmental education and awareness at all levels particularly children should be at the forefront.

ADDRESS

1.) President,
Karnataka Environment Research Foundation.