On the Global Crisis of Population : Consumption and Climate
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Questioner 1: Is it not a sensible decision, looking at the condition of the country, with temperatures rising, to move to a better country, where population is lesser?
Acharya Prashant: Climate change doesn’t differentiate between countries. Wherever you go, the battle has to be fought. You can fight it here, you can fight it there. If you think, you can fight it better there, then do shift.
As far as I am concerned, I would want to be in the thick of the battle. I would want to fight where the problem really is.
Why escape away to some land, where people are already more aware, more responsible? The bulk of population growth, in the coming few decades, is going to come from countries like India. What would I do, by preaching these things to Japanese? Their population is already reducing. They will go extinct, if I preach a little more to them.
(laughter)
These things need to be drilled into Indians. Because this is the place from where, the world’s most population growth is going to come.
Questioner 2: But the carbon footprint of India is way lesser than many developed countries of the world.
Acharya Ji: Sorry Sir. Look at the growth rates. What are you talking of? India is the third-biggest emitter of Carbon.
You are probably talking of per-capita emissions. Why talk of per-capita? After China and U.S., India stands at number 3. And, in terms of yearly growth, India stands at number 1.
We all want progress, you know. And every bit of that, which you call as ‘progress’, is carbon-emitting. Every bit of that, which you call as the ‘good life’, is carbon-emitting.
A fellow comes from a small town, to Bangalore, his carbon footprint probably increases five times. But, you call it ‘progress’. You call it ‘urbanization’. A fellow moves from a small house, to a big house, his carbon footprint increases four times. But, you say, “It’s great.” A fellow gets a higher paying job, and gets two more air conditioners. He has done his share…
