India Inc now joins the war to save planet earth

New Delhi, Jul 13 (UNI) It is now greening of India by corporates , as they join the war to save planet earth and improve climate change and global warming.

From less than 10 per cent two years ago, one-fifth of the Indian companies are resorting to ''aggressive initiatives'' to fight out global warming, a survey by ASSOCHAM on India Inc's response to global warming and climate change issues shows.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Saplings have been planted on a large scale at various manufacturing units and industrial waste is being dumped in safe places to prevent damage to the quality of environment.

More than 70 per cent of the 180 respondent companies, which are top corporates, are extremely sensitive to problems arising out of environmental degradation and its ill effects on the climate change.

These respondents well understood and appreciated the impact of global warming on agriculture, forestry, transport and energy.

Yet the response of India Inc to achieve this dimension of corporate social responsibility is far below that of the global business community.

The global ratio of companies undertaking aggressive steps towards fighting out global warming is 55 to 60 per cent.

The survey also took the views of 240 employees engaged in companies that vigorously adopted measures to mitigate the after effects of climate change.

The findings in this regard, however, are disappointing.

A meager 7 to 10 per cent employees working in various private and public enterprises take the issue seriously and are keen to work closely with the industry and society to improve the environment.

These committed employees subscribe to the view that government, corporates and NGOs need to effectively launch campaigns against environmental degradation in all metros, towns and villages.

ASSOCHAM President Sajjan Jindal, however, bemoaned the fact the 80 per cent of the corporates prefer to stick to their business plans for growth and production than paying attention to environmental problems.

Issues pertaining to climage change and global warming are only a second preference in their scheme of things.

The survey brings out that 21 per cent of corporates have committed measures by partnering with developed world to respond to needs for climatically changes in blocs and countries such as the United States, the European Union and ASEAN.

More than 60 per cent companies in these regions have wholeheartedly supported the initiatives taken by domestic corporates to address the issues.

The respondents in the survey felt that Public Private Partnership (PPP) model in these countries are working in the right direction for protecting the environment from the damaging effects of global warming. Neverthless, all is not well with the partnership offer between Indian government and the corporates, the survey said.

UNI MP-GS AK CS1342