Environmentalists in India are pushing for a “Green Manifesto” and want to involve political parties in discussions and setting an agenda for sustainability in the country. They are inspired by Green parties in Europe and want to explore the idea of greening the manifestos of Indian political parties. They hope that by pressuring existing parties, environmental issues will be taken more seriously.
One environmentalist, Prof K Purushotham Reddy, highlighted the seriousness of the environmental issue in Telangana, where political parties are influenced by corporations and environmental degradation is impacting livelihoods. They want voters to realize the importance of this issue and make it a major election topic.
To initiate this debate, a national symposium called “Green Manifestos – A Direction for Political Parties in India” will be held this month. It will be attended by experts such as economist Mohan Guruswamy and former commissioner R Dileep Reddy. The symposium aims to discuss how India can tackle environmental issues and the importance of green manifestos.
In Scandinavia, Green parties have struggled to gain power despite the region’s climate consciousness. The Green Party in Norway only received 3.8% of the vote, while the Green Party in Germany had to support a coalition government. In India, there is a distinct need for a Green party.
Manifestos in India are typically used to inform voters about promised actions by political parties. However, there is often a focus on direct benefits and little variation between party manifestos. The symposium hopes to start a discussion about how green political parties and manifestos can be in India.
Overall, environmentalists in India are aiming to involve political parties in sustainability discussions and push for greener manifestos. They believe this will help address environmental issues more seriously and make it a key election topic.
