IN A warming world, the call to re-evaluate how we gauge development is gaining traction. Traditional indicators like GDP (Gross Domestic Product) measure output and growth, but they fail to account for the impact of human actions on environmental quality and societal well-being. There is a need for a concept to measure the environmental costs, social inequalities, sustainability implications and the negative externalities of resource use by humans these are crucial to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
To address these shortcomings and measure the growth of the environment along with development, the Uttarakhand government in 2021 announced that it would be the first state to introduce a Gross Environment Product (GEP). This measure aims to assess the growth and health of natural resources, and the positive or negative impact that human activities have on them. The state is currently working on formulating a GEP index.
GEP as a concept was introduced in 2011 by the Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organization (HESCO) in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The concept rests on gauging the health of four pillars-forest, water, air and soil. "Continuous work has been done worldwide to improve each of these pillars, but an integrated method of measuring these efforts has been lacking; GEP is an attempt to fill this void," says a December 2023 study published in the journal Ecological Indicators. (Anil Prakash Joshi of HESCO, who led the study is one of the authors of this appraisal). The GEP index can be articulated as a sum of the indices of each of its pillars (see 'Formulae for growth').
Each constituent of the GEP index highlights a specific aspect. The Forest-GEP index evaluates status of forest resources, Soil-GEP index gauges soil health, Air-GEP index focuses on air quality improvement and Water-GEP index assesses water quality and quantity.
STATUS OF FORESTS
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der December 16, 2023-Ausgabe von Down To Earth.
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FIX OUR FOOD
Chemical-dependent farming, lax labelling laws, rising anti-microbial resistance must top the agenda
BATTLE THE CAR BULGE
Clean, affordable, integrated and accessible public transport the only solution
CONSERVE NOW
Disregard for biodiversity conservation over the past two decades needs immediate redressal
SCRAP THE DUMP
Disincentivise garbage dumping, invest in behavioural change
PLAN THEM COOL
As urban India turns into a heat trap, the government must focus on improving cities' liveability
THINK LONG-TERM
India needs continued emphasis on flagship programmes, aligned to long-term planning that focusses on water security and circular economy in a climate-risked era
OVERHAUL OVERDUE
Hold polluting industries accountable for public health risks, environmental hazards, climate change; provide them support for green transition
LOOK BEYOND DUST
Reinvent National Clean Air Programme to focus on fine particulate matter and trans-boundary pollution
IT'S NOW OR NEVER
Clean energy sectors need demand-driven markets and domestic industries that can cater to the entire value chain
VISION 2030
Economic growth must take into account needs of energy transition, climate mitigation, with action aligned as per India's 2030 climate goals