The Hindu Business Line : `Polluting industries, countries should encourage afforestation'

WHILE the whole world is grappling with the problem of environmental pollution caused by emission of carbon dioxide (CO2), Kyoto Protocol has not been able to address the issues arising out of different levels of CO2 emissions by developed and developing countries.

Eco-partnership scheme is a possible complementary solution to the Kyoto Protocol and envisages planting of trees for carbon sequestration, according to Mr A. Rustam Effendi, former chairman of the India Committee of the Jakarta-based Indonesian Chamber of Commerce.

Unveiling his scheme to a select audience here last week, Mr Effendi said the essence of eco-partnership was basically a voluntary activity designed to balance the costs and benefits.

It involves all stakeholders including the industry, the community and the Government. Following the `polluter must pay' principle, polluting industries and countries should encourage afforestation and reforestation programmes.

Unfortunately, efforts at CO2 sequestration are considered by the industries as cost and not as an investment for future replacement of natural assets. While efforts to reduce CO2 in the atmosphere are continuing with schemes such as multi-lateral Kyoto Protocol as well as self-imposed policy such as imposition of tax (Europe) and permit system (USA), eco-partnership between industry and community through afforestation and reforestation is the most desirable alternative for CO2 containment, Mr Effendi said.

Since the industrial revolution, the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere has increased alarmingly — from 280 ppm (part per million) to 380 ppm today. It is likely to worsen in the future.

Interestingly, Asia may soon emerge as the region with large CO2 emission with both China and India — two of world's most populous countries — chasing industrialisation and economic growth.