Government Official
Jairam Ramesh
Former Environmental Minister
Jairam Ramesh believes the “cult” of unfettered economic growth has been ruinous for India’s environment. In an interview with Yale Environment 360, he talks about his vision of “green growth,” which he says is essential for his nation’s future. He is highly qualified holding a B.Tech., M.S. and Graduate Study Educated at I.I.T., Bombay, Carnegie Mellon University, U.S.A. and M.I.T., U.S.A.
Mr. Ramesh was influential in developing and is also now the biggest critic of Governmental policies. Today, Ramesh is one of the most outspoken critics of India’s environmental policy under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who, despite his support of major investments in renewable energy, is otherwise widely criticized by conservationists for putting economic growth ahead of environmental preservation.
According to Ramesh, the average Indian is producing 2 tons of CO2 emissions per year. The U.S. is at 16.6 tons per capita today. It’s a reality now that CO2 reductions will happen within the responsibility of each country, instead of being determined and governed by a legally binding agreement. But what needs to be top-down is monitoring. If you leave monitoring to the individual states alone, then nothing is guaranteed. That would be a disaster.
Contact: Jairam Ramesh C-1/9, Lodhi Garden, Rajesh Pilot Marg, New Delhi – 110003
Telephone : 24638111, 24632288, Mobile: 9868181402
Climate Program Advocate
Sunita Narain
Director General, The Center for Science and the Environment
Sunita Narain is director general of the India-based research institute the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), treasurer of the Society for Environmental Communications, and editor of the fortnightly magazine, Down To Earth. Over the years, CSE has been doing cutting-edge theoretical research with practical application, and has substantially contributed to many successful cases of environmental victories in the country. As head of this organizations, Ms. Narain has the decision-making and supervisory powers to decide on the course of activities of the organization.
Contact: sunita@cseindia.org
Climate Program Opponent
Mr. Sutirtha Bhattacharya
Chairman and Managing Director of Coal India Limited.
Mr. Bhattacharya served in the Indian Administrative Service in different high-level positions. Coal India Limited—a state-owned coal mining corporate—is the world’s largest coal mine. It has a track record of repeated violations of environmental legislation in India. Mr. Bhattacharya led the company to influence the Indian government’s plans to increase coal production to 1,000 million tonnes in the next four years. This regulation will most likely prevent India from reducing environmental pollution.
Contact: Corporate Headquarters of Coal Bhawan, Kolkata, West Bengal 700156, India. Phone: 91- 33 2324 6526
–Submitted by Climate Scorecard Country Manager Hriday Sarma