While the Earth may have 10 more years before the effects of global warming begin to take place according to a recent report and climate change is being interlinked with the global food security crisis, the Thirteenth Finance Commission (TFC) headed by Vijay Kelkar is already looking at various measures for managing the ecology and climate change in consistence with sustainable development.

Harnessing hydro electricity, protecting and managing forests and environmental degradation due to heavy mining activities in ore rich states are issues that the TFC is planning to address. In its various rounds of meeting with state governments, it has already discussed such concerns with them. North-east states for instance have sought the Commission's help in how to proceed with industrial development when a large part of their land is under forest cover.

In an innovative departure from the previous finance commissions, this time the terms of reference of the TFC also give it the mandate to study ways to manage the ecology, environment and climate change onsistent with sustainable development. The Commission has also roped in The Energy and Resources Institute (previously Tata Energy and Resources Institute- TERI) and the Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal to study the possible ways of sustainable development with environmental responsibility. “This is only the groundwork. We will try to address these concerns further when we begin preparing the report,” an official involved with the TFC said.

Source - Financial Express