Event Report
Reetwika Mallick
As part of the IMPRI 5th Annual Series of Thematic Deliberations and Analysis of Union Budget 2024-25, the IMPRI Center for Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainable Development (CECCSD), IMPRI Impact and Policy Research Institute, New Delhi, hosted a session on “The Environment and Union Budget 2024-25.” This session provided a thought-provoking discussion at the intersection of two critical pillars shaping our nation’s future.
Chair & Moderator for the event was Mr Ashish Kothari, Founder-Member of Indian Environmental Group Kalpavriksh; Visiting Senior Fellow, IMPRI. In the esteemed panel of experts Prof Krishna Raj, Visiting Professor, IMPRI; Professor, Centre for Economic Studies and Policy, Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bangalore, India. Mr Soumya Dutta, Co-Convener of South Asian People’s Action on Climate Crisis (SAPACC) in New Delhi. Prof Shyamala Mani, Senior Advisor, WASH and Waste Management, CCDC, Centre for Chronic Disease Control; Former Professor, National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), New Delhi; Visiting Professor, IMPRI Mr Debadityo Sinha, Lead, Climate and Ecosystems, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, New Delhi Ms Bhavreen Kandhari, Founder, Warrior Moms Ms Aparna Roy, Fellow and Lead, Climate Change and Energy at the Centre for New Economic Diplomacy (CNED), Observer Research Foundation (ORF), New Delhi Ms Prarthana Borah, Independent Advisor to Environmental Startups Ms Gopalika Arora, Associate Fellow, Centre for Economy and Growth, Observer Research Foundation (ORF), New Delhi Mr Himanshu Shekhar, Senior Editor (Political and Current Affairs), New Delhi Television Limited (NDTV India); Visiting Senior Fellow, IMPRI.
Mr. Ashish Kothari, Founder-Member of Kalpavriksh and Visiting Senior Fellow at IMPRI, critiqued the recent budget for its superficial treatment of environmental issues such as biodiversity, wildlife, and pollution, noting that environmental terms were often mentioned only in specific contexts rather than addressing broader concerns. While he acknowledged positive aspects like support for natural farming and solar rooftops, he raised concerns about the negative ecological and social impacts of large-scale solar projects
Kothari also criticized the Blue Revolution’s focus on marine exports, which could lead to overexploitation and harm marine biodiversity. He called for a more integrated approach to budgeting that balances environmental sustainability with economic development.
Mr. Debadityo Sinha, Lead for Climate and Ecosystems at Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, New Delhi, despite significant financial commitments, the budget falls short in emphasizing biodiversity conservation, with only 3.5 crore allocated for this purpose compared to larger sums for development.
Despite increased funding for some institutions, the budget allocated insufficient funds for critical areas like the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) and overall conservation efforts. He stressed the need for a stronger emphasis on species conservation and noted that infrastructure often overshadows environmental priorities.
Prof. Krishna Raj, Visiting Professor at IMPRI and Professor at ISEC critiqued the 2024-25 Union Budget for its lack of alignment between climate policy and finance. He noted that while the budget focuses on ambitious developmental goals, such as transforming India into a $40 trillion economy by 2047, it falls short in integrating climate considerations.
Despite India’s plans to cut carbon emissions, current budget allocations are insufficient, and programs like the National Mission for a Green India and National Afforestation Program need a much larger budget to meet the target of 33% forest cover.
Mr. Soumya Dutta, Co-Convener of South Asian People’s Action on Climate Crisis (SAPACC), highlighted, while there is increased funding for renewable energy, significant challenges remain in the energy transition. Dutta highlighted the continued reliance on coal and expressed concern that minimal allocation to the Ministry of Coal might be undermined by policies promoting private coal mining. Despite India’s leadership in renewable energy, he pointed out that other sectors are adopting energy-intensive practices similar to those in Northern countries, which contradicts the country’s climate goals.
Ms. Gopalika Arora, Associate Fellow at the Centre for Economy and Growth, Observer Research Foundation (ORF) highlighted gaps in managing natural resources and supporting climate adaptation for rural communities, noting a significant decrease in crop insurance funding which could leave farmers more vulnerable. Positive aspects included renewed focus on the sugar industry and steps toward improving the ethanol blending targets.
In the energy sector, Arora commended the budget’s focus on energy security, including energy storage and nuclear energy, but noted that while the budget aimed to ensure renewables meet energy demands, it was limited in scope. She concluded that broader, more comprehensive measures are needed to effectively address the country’s diverse challenges.
Prof. Shyamala Mani, Senior Advisor at WASH and Waste Management, CEH, PHFI; former Professor at NIUA; and Visiting Professor at IMPRI, critiqued the Union Budget’s approach to urban and rural sanitation and waste management. She noted that while the budget promised improvements in water supply and treatment across 100 cities, there was no increase in funding for these initiatives. Additionally, she pointed out the omission of climate resilience in policy discussions and inadequate funding to address sanitation-related health issues.
Mr. Himanshu Shekhar, Senior Editor at NDTV India and Visiting Senior Fellow at IMPRI, addressed the government’s focus on climate issues in the recent budget. Mr. Shekhar underscored the importance of integrating climate-resilient practices in agriculture and advancing solar energy initiatives. To combat the use of non-biodegradable materials, the budget saw an increase in customs duties on PVC flex. This measure aims to reduce the reliance on materials that contribute to environmental degradation.
The government plans to release a policy document on energy transition, which will outline strategic plans for shifting towards sustainable energy sources. A new taxonomy for climate finance is in development to help identify and classify investments that align with climate objectives.
Ms. Bhavreen Kandhari, Founder of Warrior Moms, emphasized the critical need to address air quality, noting that previous budgets have not fully utilized allocated resources for this issue. She criticized the absence of a comprehensive flood mitigation scheme in many states, which has led to severe suffering for families affected by frequent flooding. Ms. Kandhari concluded by underscoring the need for robust and actionable policies to address these pressing issues, ensuring that resources are effectively utilized and environmental commitments are genuinely implemented.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the panel discussion on “The Environment and Union Budget 2024-25” highlighted critical gaps in the budget’s approach to environmental and climate issues. Panelists called for a more integrated and strategic approach that balances developmental ambitions with urgent climate and ecological needs, emphasizing that effective implementation and genuine commitment are crucial for achieving long-term sustainability and resilience.
Acknowledgement- Written by Reetwika Mallick, Visiting Researcher and Assistant Editor IMPRI.
