On April 22, 2016, India joined 192 countries across the globe to celebrate Earth Day, a day on which every human being is called upon to reflect upon the state of our planet and reaffirm support for environmental protection. What makes Earth Day 2016 special is that it came on the heels of two important milestones: first the release of the Papal Encyclical “Laudato Si- Praise be” by Pope Francis, and the second, India’s emergence as the world’s topmost destination for foreign direct investment. The “Make in India”, campaigns both overseas and at home are already creating an unprecedented expansion in manufacturing jobs. Goa too is witnessing a growth revolution of its own. Thanks to a new policy of fast approvals, business investments and job-generating industrial projects have been rising. So why is there so much concern about many proposals that the government is scrutinising and why is there so much opposition to any new projects establishing foothold in Goa? Can Goa afford not to be part of the industrial growth bandwagon? Goans have every reason to be vigilant about companies wanting to set shop here.
“Laudato Si” is very different from previous Encyclicals in that it is not specifically addressed to Bishops or to Catholics, but to “every person on our planet. In Laudato Si written in the form of a discourse, the Pope expresses his deep concern about our planet’s deteriorating environment and the plight of the poor, urging dialogue, understanding and engagement on mankind’s unprecedented transformation of the Earth’s natural and social ecology. The Encyclical is clear that the Pope is not against industrial development or economic growth. On the contrary he views business as a noble vocation that helps produce wealth and improve peoples’ lives and our world. He is also clear that the benefits that come with economic growth are many: more individuals have jobs and a better quality of life, human strife is reduced and countries prosper.
Given the potential harm that short-sighted development projects can cause, the Encyclical calls for sustainable and intelligent use of our planet’s resources. Laudato Si emphasizes that it is essential to show special care for indigenous communities and their cultural traditions, that they should be the principal dialogue partners, especially when large projects affecting their land are proposed.
Throughout the document reminds us that our planet is our common home whose fruits are meant for the benefit of everyone. When planning and executing large projects, the Pope beckons governments and decision makers to especially think about the environmental consequences of these projects and their impacts on the local population. Laudato Si states that Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies should not come after the drawing up of a business proposition or the proposal of a particular policy, plan or program. It should be part of the process from the beginning, and be carried out in a way which is interdisciplinary, transparent and free of all economic or political pressure. It should be linked to a study of working conditions and possible effects on people’s physical and mental health, on the local economy and on public safety. Economic returns can thus be forecast more realistically, taking into account potential scenarios and the eventual need for further investment to correct possible undesired effects. A consensus should always be reached between the different stakeholders, who can offer a variety of approaches, solutions and alternatives. The local population should have a special place at the table; they are concerned about their own future and that of their children, and can consider goals transcending immediate economic interest.
The Encyclical emphasizes that acceptance of an industrial proposal should factor the environmental footprint of a project, and in any discussion about a proposed venture, a number of questions need to be asked in order to discern whether or not it will contribute to genuine integral development. What will it accomplish? Why? Where? When? How? For whom? What are the risks? What are the costs? Who will pay those costs and how? Asking these questions, does not imply opposition to a project which can bring about an improvement in the quality of life. But it does mean that profit cannot be the sole criterion to be taken into account, and that, when significant new information comes to light, a reassessment should be made, with the involvement of all interested parties. The outcome may be a decision not to proceed with a given project, to modify it or to consider alternative proposals.
It is okay for Goans to be cautious, for we need to make sure that we do not squander our beautiful land that we have inherited, the landscape that makes Goa so special. It is our duty to protect this environment for our children and grandchildren.
Joaquim Goes is a Lamont Research Professor at Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University
