The need to review Sustainability Reporting as in ESG compliance.

  

Sustainability or sustainable development, as a concept, demands “every generation   leave water, air and soil resources as pure and unpolluted as when it came on earth.” It recommends that each generation should leave undiminished all the species of animals it found existing on earth.  Essentially, as globally understood, it is the “ability to have something or an activity maintained at a certain stable rate or level.” 

 

As trustees of natural resources, citizens and governments are ethically bound to conserve world’s resources as part of inter-generational and distributional equity. Sustainability enables restorative environmental justice to those adversely impacted by exploitation of natural resources that undermines the guarantee of food, water and energy security and clean breathable air.  

The need to showcase economic development has instilled a sense of unfair   competition among developing nations leading to unsustainable business practices.  As a matter of environmental and economic policy, governments have called upon corporations to disclose the nature of inputs that go into each of the business processes and details of production cycles through ‘Environmental, Social, and Governance’ (ESG) reporting that ensures transparency and accountability. 

India has formalized ESG reporting under the Companies Act, 2013, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). Introduced in the year 2021, SEBI calls it as a framework for Business Reporting and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR), making it mandatory for the top 1000 listed companies. This   form of ESG reporting forms an integral part of financial investments.  ESG linked finance results in ‘greenwashing’ attempts by businesses to make false claims about their products, labelling them as environmentally harmless, while precluding end-users or consumers to counter such claims. 

Reporting for sustainability is based on environmental metrics that mandate disclosures on the carbon footprint of a commercial activity, energy generation and consumption, water sources, consumption and wastewater management, emission of air pollutants and greenhouse gases such as carbon di-oxide, methane, etc., aspects of biodiversity conservation to assess the impact of businesses on ecological systems and mitigation projects. 

For the limited purpose of identifying the gaps in reporting on sustainability, it would suffice to state that the environmental metrics mandated under ESG reporting is restricted to a broad spectrum of environmental standards. There is a need to harmonize environmental metrics as per norms of international environmental law and create an overarching independent third-party regulatory forum. In its present form, the data collected is incomplete, unverifiable and inconsistent. 

It is germane to the present discussion that ESG reporting excludes land-use changes from agricultural to non-agricultural purposes, bereft of specifics on alteration of the natural characteristics of land and soil for assessing their degradation, desertification, ground water depletion, impacts on rights of indigenous peoples, tribals or Adivasis under the Forest Rights Act, information on mining of critical minerals including sand from riverbeds, metals, nature of sediments and disposal of wastes. 

The recent controversies surrounding land-use conversion in the Pallikaranai Wetland in Chennai and the cancellation of the construction of an airport near Parandur in Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu by acquiring agricultural lands for public infrastructure has highlighted the adverse impacts of unsustainable land-use changes.  Similarly, there have been several protests from environmental activists and conservationists with petitions challenging the approvals granted to the controversial Nicobar Project, which would result in long-term damage to coral reefs, flora and fauna which are to be protected under several international environmental laws. 

Currently, BRSR framework does not envisage mandatory disclosure of land-use changes effected by an entity in establishing its manufacturing activity. This is a major flaw in the present reporting standards that affect the crucial agricultural economy of India. There is a clear distinction between disclosing activities in and around ecologically sensitive areas that protect habitats, aquifers, forests, shrublands, pasturelands, wetlands, mangroves, natural vegetation for livestock and   conversion of fertile agricultural lands for commercial purposes that impede wind flow, irrigation passageways, deplete ground and fresh water sources, deterioration of physical, biological properties through leaching and economic value of land.

The report should demand specifics on siting of industrial complexes established close to eco-sensitive zones, biosphere reserves, wetlands, seismic zones, forests and coastal areas.  A major gap in the reporting norms under the BRSR framework is the lack of information on noise pollution in and around a manufacturing entity, large-scale felling of trees or deforestation.  

Companies need to provide details of the value chain or supply chain that includes procurement of raw materials, whether they are sustainably grown, produced or manufactured, energy-efficient transportation and the manufacturing process of the end-products. It is imperative that the entity provides a lifecycle assessment of products starting from procurement to reaching the end-user, which includes recycle and reuse capability of the end-products without generating any non-degradable wastes.  Life-cycle assessments of products contribute to creating a low-carbon and circular economy where generation of non-degradable wastes is bare minimum, ensuring Zero-liquid discharge, which means no pollutants reach clean water sources through treatment processes. 

Sustainability is about enchancing technological capacities by ensuring big businesses invest in research and development of environmentally sound technologies (ESTs) and innovation that improves the resource efficiency of business processes across sectors. 

Finally, sustainable reporting should be expected of small businesses in determining energy usage with a mandate to install stand-alone renewable energy sources, waste generation and treatment.  This data can help incentivize and promote Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), that are equally important to development of India as a low-carbon economy.

 

 

Biomimetics Innovation and necessary global investments.

Power Point Presentation on Biomimicry, 2021.

Investments in Biomimetic technologies include medical and robotics biomimetics and overall global investment is expected to exceed USD 70 Billion by 2033. 

India was always a leader in sustainable clothing starting with Khadi. With better collaboration between the private and public sectors India can create an affordable, yet, sustainable clothing for its citizens. 

Global brands look to invest in India.

India is dealing with high volume of textile waste and is using several processes to recycle discarded apparels and fabrics. 

Breaking down of cellulose in soil by organisms is emulated in processing textile waste that is contaminated, blended and synthetic, which produces regenerative materials and is economically viable, mitigates adverse environmental impacts.

Enzymatic Hydrolysis uses custom enzymes to break down cellulosic fibre—cotton, viscose, linen—into glucose. Unlike chemical recycling, this process is green technology that handles contaminated, blended, and coloured textiles. The textile-derived glucose replaces commercial glucose making it a sustainable product. Bacterial Fermentation converts the textile-derived glucose into PHA bioplastics, fully biodegradable polymers for packaging, agriculture, and medical devices.

Similarly,  Thermochemical Gasification transforms polyester, nylon, residual fibres—into syngas, an alternative fuel used in industrial production. By pre-treating textiles through enzymatic hydrolysis synthetic gas is sustainable and commercially valuable. 

End-product of these processes become sustainable raw materials for several industries and used as recycled inputs contributing to the circular economy.

 

 A paper on Sectoral CDM which remains relevant till date on the subject of reduction of emissions. 

Relevance of Sectoral CDM under the Kyoto Protocol.

Stimulating Ethical Climate Actions

 A paper I presented at the University of Iceland, 2014, that persuades ethical actions by governments and private parties to promote environmental equity to mitigate adverse effects of climate change.

Climate Ethics and Climate Justice, A Discussion on Principles 

Reforming the International Investment Regime.

 A paper I presented in the year 2013 at Istanbul.  I am posting this paper, that is definitely outdated, since it was hacked and I recovered it online. I have also redacted all references although i am hoping   readers  understand the basic premise on which i wrote the paper initially. 

Reforming the International Investment Regime.

 

Let us not give up hope, as we endeavour to reform one society at a time.

 

I had started research and writing on indigenous rights a few years ago. For several reasons I could not complete it soon enough. I planned to publish the working paper on my blog, and it seems such a pleasant coincidence that today happens to be World Environment Day. It seems very superfluous to discuss protection of a certain sect of people under international law, as we watch the unimaginable horror that Gazans are being subjected to.   Witnessing such a global disorder and disruption caused by nations like Russia, Israel, individuals like Trump. The constant threat posed by China to Taiwan and its suppression of Hong Kong’s protesters seeking democracy, its indoctrination and tyranny imposed on Uighurs not just within its borders but also those who have moved out to other nations is a challenge to international community and international institutions. 

I remember a journalist in the Guardian posing a question to her readers, if we are becoming powerless societies. I guess we are. It appears we stand a very little chance in rising  against growing authoritarianism and despot like Trump who is seen dancing to tunes of foreign leadership. He probably gave us a clue even before he seemingly won the election in 2024, he danced his way into his campaign. By choosing him to be the President that nation has humiliated itself before the world. 

Indigenous peoples who practice subsistence form of living have nothing to do with what is happening around the world. They live in self-demarcated territories minding their own business. But when has world left alone those who wish to isolate themselves for the good of global commons and the planet earth. It is indeed a paradox.  In its essence, my paper conveys the need to respect these indigenous communities of the globe who manage natural resources for our future generations and give them a place in the international community that they genuinely deserve. Let us not give up hope and our will to resist anarchy and tyranny. 

  Expanding Business and Human Rights Treaty for Indigenous Rights

 

Wars and Climate Change -- A Juxtapose and a Paradox...

 

As an individual who has spent a few years in reading, researching and writing on climate change, the recent event of COP 29 at Baku has left with me with a sense of defeat and absolute helplessness. Nobody is listening to anybody on these issues concerning human lives or their right to sustenance form of living. Topics on Peace initiatives, mitigation and adaptation initiatives are given least importance while war and war-mongering nations are getting the full attention of the world. 

 Scientific integrity of arguments pertaining to global warming and sea level rise,  glacial climate intervention, overall impacts of climate change on global  food and water security and soil fertility has had no impact on the nations and global leaders who would rather spend more money on its military and defence either to protect their legitimate sovereignty from aggressors who wish to forcefully occupy their lands or to provide basic necessities like food and water to its starving nation like Sudan and Gaza. So, who do we turn to for financing global adaptation systems. If political leaders and climate leaders have lost their faith in the purpose of Climate Change Agreement, then it is time to just promote the global goal on adaptation that probably will help small island nations or least developed nations and developing nations that require large scale financial assistance to survive the adverse impacts of climate change. 

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute identifies at least 25 companies profiting most from war topping almost $5 billion in arms and military service sales in 2021 with most of the companies headquartered in the United States, which during the earlier regimes promised contribution to  climate finance, and in China that uses the profits to promote its economic aggression in African and Central Asian countries by investing in extractive industries in regions that are conflict ridden and creating a debt-trap for these nations. 

The insecurity of nations over their territorial integrity, influx of migrants from war-torn regions,  increasing number of refugees and internally displaced persons has governing leaders looking for long-term solutions while global warming, floods, forest fires, cyclones and drought have been relegated to oblivion. Ultimately, all problems are anthropogenic and most of them have become endemic that people are learning to live without proper access to food, water and livelihoods. It is not too late for nations like the USA, UK, Germany and China to focus on humanitarian aspects and take up resolution of conflicts and promote peace initiatives in order  to present history  to its future generations in a more humane manner. Media should headline the absence of proactive measures by world's richest nations to mitigate the plight of innocent civilians across the world scrounging for a meal and glass of fresh water and proper medical aid and question the inertia among leaders in taking up humanitarian causes.  Media is powerful but those who can afford should pay for information to gain access to accurate and truthful information in order to take informed decisions. 

The European Union has by far been one of the best in finding solutions  for climate change impacts and should continue to be world leaders in addressing climate change and global warming.  The recent forecast of what might happen after January 2025 should push EU to consolidate its position on the global political map by taking up responsibility for global issues affecting innocent people. EU has always believed in playing a servile role within the international community without really understanding its own strengths and resilience, having survived two world wars. EU is capable of preventing total collapse of systems across the world and take up its role as a global leader in climate change and humanitarian issues.