GUEST COLUMN
Act now for ecological sustainability ……….AZIM PREMJI
IN THE past few years, the issues of global warming and natural resource depletion, leading to ecological unsustainability, have been gaining more and more attention. The scepticism towards ‘doomsday predictions’ has been taken over by reflection on the causes and the effects of these phenomena, a genuine concern and urgency to find solutions. To my mind, the Nobel Peace Prize being awarded to Al Gore and the IPCC symbolises this shift. This is an indication of the international community taking cognisance of the fact that we are reaching a critical juncture and we have to act.
A disturbing moment for me came recently after watching the film An Inconvenient Truth. The film in stark detail makes us aware of the ecological impact of our rampant abuse of natural resources. It disturbs me that we humans are responsible for degrading the Earth, making it less safe for our children and for all the other species that inhabit this planet. This is not just an existential issue; it is also a moral issue.
The impact of human action is not restricted to distant phenomena such as melting polar ice caps. It is also visible in issues around us: decreasing water tables, erratic monsoons, the current food problems, the struggle to provide for our energy needs, the earth being flooded with non-biodegradable waste, and the extinction of so many living species. Overall, it is more than evident that our natural environment is significantly damaged and this is beginning to directly affect our lives.
In such a situation, it is compelling for us to understand what specific action we take is going to help in the larger scheme of things. How do we measure this and when does one begin to see results? But in this case, what is disturbing is the sheer magnitude of the issue and the seeming insignificance of what an individual can do in response. What difference would it make if some of us chose consciously to reduce our carbon footprint? Is that enough? Isn’t there a need for something larger in scale that will cause significant change? So, what does one do?
My view is that any fundamental social change does not happen overnight, nor can it happen merely through policy changes. Policy changes are necessary but not sufficient. Rather, real change begins with small groups of people who are strong enough to take the lead. A movement backed by a strong idea and a deep commitment will gather steam, until at some point it reaches critical mass. This is when the balance tips over, and change spreads rapidly right through society.
Therefore, individual action matters as much as policy action. Each of us is a contributor to this potential movement. The solution to this global issue is not something that lies outside of us. It is in fact driven directly by the choices you and I make.
Since I believe this is the right way to go forward, as a first step I am working on myself. It is quite revealing to see the number of things that can be done. Simple choices — how we use electricity, whether we car-pool to work, how we shop, how we use water at home — can lead to disproportionate reduction in our usage of water and energy and in our generation of waste. All it requires is that we be thoughtful in our action.
At another level, we have also been working to bring the same thoughtfulness within Wipro. The easier bit has been efforts such as rainwater harvesting, water recycling, processes for optimising energy usage, using renewable energy sources, reducing paper usage, planting trees, and so on. The more difficult part is working on the psyche of the organisation, both people and processes. But our goal is clear: decrease our carbon footprint and make Wipro carbon, water and waste neutral in a few years. This will mean remodelling the way we operate, reviewing all our business processes through the lens of ecological sustainability and create a culture within the organisation that considers ecological sensitivity as a norm. We will include our partners, our customers and other associates in this process.
In parallel, we are engaging in projects that will help us innovate and build ideas to take this work forward beyond our company. For instance, I think our children need to grow up with a significantly different mindset to issues of lifestyle and environment. This can happen if our schools rethink their curriculum and their practices. So, our programme to help improve quality of school education, “Wipro Applying Thought in Schools”, is working on this angle.
The next few years are critical for all of us. A sustainable lifestyle can become dominant culture, and this is where I see hope. And it is imperative for each one of us to make this happen!
(The author is chairman, Wipro)
• It is more than evident that our natural environment is significantly damaged and this is beginning to directly affect our lives
• Any fundamental social change does not happen overnight, nor can it happen merely through policy changes
• Our children need to grow up with a significantly different mindset about issues of lifestyle and environment