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The ongoing negotiations regarding global measures to tackle the greenhouse effect are proving to be difficult particularly due to severe conflicts of interest between North and South. The Government of India so far was among those not very enthusiastic about adopting substantial and legally binding reduction targets for global emissions of greenhouse gases. It referred to national development plans as well as financial constraints and emphasized that the main responsibility for expected climate changes lies with industrialized countries. However, this paper argues that India should review its stand particularly with regard to C02 emissions caused by fossil fuel consumption and deforestation. A look at India's industrial, transport and household sectors clearly shows that a continuation of present energy-intensive trends would lead to severe financial, foreign exchange and ecological constraints. In the process of finalizing the 8th Five Year Plan there are opportunities to formulate new priorities towards delinking economic growth and energy use, as well as increasing energy efficiency and enhancing the use of renewable energy sources. Illustrative scenarios show that such a reorientation of India's energy policy would substantially contain future increases of C02 emissions. From this point of view it would be rational for India to take a supportive stand towards a global climate convention and, at the same time, as one of the heavyweights within the G 77, use her influence to serve Third World interests in the negotiation process. This would be especially important as regards the manifold global distribution issues involved in the negotiations of a climate convention and the respective protocols.

The environmental crisis in India is primary a resource crisis, having its roots both in "modern" growth and in poverty. The crisis affects the very livelihood of a large section of the population, mainly the poor. India, given the present state of economic affairs, obviously requires economic growth, but increase in the Gross National Product cannot be the only yardstick. The growth trend appears to be extremely resource-intensive, thus leading to strong negative impacts on the environment. India's environmental policy lacks effectiveness due to severe implementation problems; it is curative and repair-oriented rather than preventive in character. Three aspects of a strategy towards "sustainable development" appear to be worthy of further thought: (a) strengthening of environmental policy and respective institutions; (b) ecological modernization of the production process towards reducing resource (particularly energy) inputs, emissions and waste; (c) a gradual intersectoral shift in investment from hard sectors towards soft sectors. Such a strategy might have a positive impact not only on the environment but also on economic growth, employment and income distribution.

Nach einem Überblick über die Dimensionen der Umweltkrise in Indien untersucht der Autor Wachstum, Strukturwandel und staatliche Umweltpolitik. Seiner Meinung nach ist die Umweltkrise in Indien primär eine Ressourcenkrise, die sowohl "entwicklungsbedingt" als auch "armutsbedingt" ist. Sie hat bereits verheerende Auswirkungen in Teilen des Landes und bedroht die Existenzgrundlage eines Teils der Bevölkerung, besonders der Armen. (DÜI-Sen)

Wandel des entwicklungspolitischen Leitbildes Indiens und Wirtschaftsprogramm des indischen Ministerpräsidenten Rajiv Gandhi; Finanzpolitik und Bekämpfung der Schattenwirtschaft; Industriepolitik; Außenhandelspolitik und industrielle Kooperation; der 7. Fünfjahresplan 1985-90; die ersten Ergebnisse. (Bibliothek des Auswärtigen Amtes)