When the world is worried about global meltdown, sustainability activist Sir Jonathon Porritt shares reasons of a hopeful future in his latest book
leading environmentalist Sir Jonathon Porritt is on a mission these days. At a time when everybody is expecting gloomy days ahead sans natural resources, he is hopeful and advocating a better future. On a sort of world tour to unveil his latest book, The World We Made, he arrived here recently to mark 20th launch ceremony. “It’s the last event for this book since I have covered many nations. It was important to visit India, given the nation’s unique and pressing environmental challenges — as well as the crucial leadership role it must play globally to attain a sustainable society,” he said.
Told through the eyes of a 50-year-old British teacher (fictitious character) writing in 2050, the book paints a vision of some of the key events, technological breakthroughs and lifestyle revolutions that Jonathon believes could transform the world’s prospects for the better over the next few decades. There are 50 short chapters covering varieties of issues such as Malaria Defeated, Incredible Edible Cities and Slumdog Billionaires. “By 2050, we can address the sustainability challenges that we face today, like pollution, overexploitation of fishing, loss of biodiversity and so on. We can get our act together. We can make good life for approx ninebillion people by that time,” he said.
Jonathon warns that in the coming years, society could face water riots, cyber warfare, peak oil and global famine. But in taking right action now, a more sustainable world is achievable.“life in 2050 in India could include vast solar plants that power a global united grid, the growth of food on local vertical farms and healthcare tailored to the level of an individual genome,” he said.
He further commented, “As the recent floods in Uttarakhand and cyclone Phailin remind us, India will suffer some of the worst effects of climate change over the coming decades. In seeking to address the deeply interconnected challenges of development and sustainability, leadership and collaboration will be essential across sectors and geographies.”
“There is a growing tide of innovators, social entrepreneurs and changemakers across the country who are already carving out new pathways towards a sustainable future, yet more needs to be done. I hope that this book will inspire businesses and individuals to do their bit, take action and think again about the shared future we wish to create. Not only is India a source of immense potential for cutting-edge innovation and entrepreneurship, it is also home to a wealth of cultural values and traditional practices that have been lost from many other parts of the world. Jugaad is one of many techniques from which we could learn a great deal in these resource-constrained times.”