A population is the biggest factor that determines the environmental burden of any country. India’s population of 1.2 billion people exerts a direct influence on its environmental burden. While a large population means an increased risk of environmental pollution, it also means more potential to innovate and resolve environmental challenges. Thus headed in the right direction, this population can prove to be an active resource to achieve environmental protection and conservation goals.
It has been observed that India has environmental policies that demand compliances, licenses, and approvals for individuals and organizations to protect and conserve the environment. Even though such permits are basically “license to pollute to a limited extent”, it is a fact that regulating every human activity that exploits the environment is the focal point of environmental governance policies. As it is the collective responsibility of all citizens to participate in minimizing the adverse impact of their actions on the environment, it’s necessary to assess the level of public participation in attaining the goals of environmental policies in India.
In this background, this essay establishes the diminished impact of environmental governance policies in India owing to poor public participation and suggests a change in the policy approach necessary to encourage and sustain effective public participation in this regard.