Busting the myth: Ecological footprint of rich Indians is at par with US, Europe

Environment minister Prakash Javadekar declared last week that Indians believe only in “need-based consumption” and shun “extravagant consumption”, thanks to their “value systems”.

The minister said this in Paris at a meeting of climate change negotiators from across the world. This meeting is a prelude to the important CoP-21 climate change conference there in December. He further added: “[Indians] have an ingrained sense of responsibility where wasteful consumption is abhorred.”

The minister’s remarks reflect ignorance of the increasing dominance of carbon-heavy lifestyles in India. Several studies of the country’s resource use in the last decade indicate that our consumption is on the same path as that of industrialised nations. In fact, the well-to-do in India have a bigger ecological footprint than the world’s average.

Originally published in Catch News on September 18, 2015. Read the full story: http://www.catchnews.com/environment-news/consumerism-leading-india-down-the-path-of-ecological-ruin-1442478037.html/fullview