This is a great & timely article at the beginning of the Copenhagen Climate Conference 2009.

Pravin Sheth, one of Ahmedabad’s most eminent political analysts, dissects the twists and turns of policy in Gujarat. Unlike most states that are treating climate change as an external or distant challenge, the Gujarat CM is taking it as an immediate crisis

Gujarat CM’s ‘Hopenhagen’ initiatives

Since 1947, environment, along with education and welfare had remained the Cinderella of federal and state governments. A couple of years back, ‘budget leftovers’ were earmarked for education, health and environment. Not so in Gujarat, now.

While, the Copenhagen summit is still apportioning the country-wise burden of environmental health, Gujarat under its foresighted CM is engaged in preparing itself for climate change and a development path with built-in ecological balance.

Narendra Modi and eco-friends know that the future enviro-catastrophe in India won’t happen in Darfur or Detroit, but in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. Gujarat contributes 11 per cent to the world’s chemical exports. Receding forests, the Golden (smoking) Corridor and the moodiness of monsoon are worrying farmers and everyone alike.

Unlike most Indian states that are treating climate change (CC) as an external or distant challenge, Modi is treating it as an immediate crisis.

While high-profile representatives of 192 nations including India are discussing their take in energy efficiency, Gujarat has the highest CO2 reduction in India and is taking steps for further cuts. Modi has led Gujarat over other states in creating alternative energy. It is the largest producer of renewable energy - wind and solar - in India.

It is switching from coal-based energy to gas grid, reducing 17 million tonnes of carbon emission. It is set to produce 1,600 MW wind energy by 2012 and the Clinton Foundation has awarded Gujarat the world’s largest solar power plant.

Thirty-four solar plants for high-intensity power generation are in the pipeline. The BRTS in Ahmedabad has helped save 37 lakh tonnes of carbon emissions. Recently, a world’s leading British company has selected Khambhat Bay as the India’s first centre for tidal power generation; the proposed project is to take care of the rising sea levels that may damage Gujarat’s 1,600-km-long coast. The Jyoti Gram scheme seeks to regulate equitable power distribution and ration its overuse.

The Gujarat government has said that it is ready to bear 20 per cent of the cost incurred by its pharma companies which undertake environmental protection and the highest number of projects with Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM) - 100 - are in Gujarat.

Modi has formed a group of eminent experts under Nobel prize winner R K Pachouri to supervise climate change and orient officers for carrying out policies on Gujarat’s environmental health. The Chief Minister has announced transforming cities into green cities with emphasis on energy efficient buildings and solar energy facilities.

Gujarat’s innovative eco-drive is increasingly recognized outside the habitual circle of skeptics. The Union government has adjudged Gujarat the first Green State of India (on Dec 12, 2009). Most significantly, it is the only state which has the Department of Climate Change in Asia set up to evolve a comprehensive CC policy and promoting green technology.

Energy-intensive measures already in place are the increase in plant load factor and decreasng T&D losses, the 2200-km-long state-wide gas grid, the securing of huge deposits of oil and gas in the state, India and abroad, making electricity a common man’s infrastructure in all villages and the establishing the country’s biggest CNG and LNG infrastructure. The state is emerging as the country’s petro-capital.

Rain water is being conserved through thousands of check dams, bori bandhs, khet talavadis, deepened wells and recharged city ponds. The government has been encouraging micro-irrigation and provides subsidies/loan to farmers swtiching to drip irrigation. A rationally worked out power supply to farmers has helped increase crop and milk production.

Ahmedabad, ridiculed as India’s most polluted city in 2003, has won UN’s recognition as the Green City of 2009; Surat has been named the Asian City of CC, an international model by Rockefeller Foundation.

Innovation and leadership initiative have created hope for greening of Gujarat, unregardful of whatever happens at Copenhagen.

Gujarat’s green policy will create job opportunities but is its society ready to shun the consumerist culture? Can the government stop environmental degradation noted in SEZs controlled by powerful industrial-realtor lobby? A green state needs green culture.