I’m in Delhi as part of the LSE’s Asia Forum which heard from the distinguished economist Dr Manmohan Singh, who also happens to be the Prime Minister. He pointed out that India is now post-post-colonial and will soon become an economic power to balance the mighty nations of the West. But as he stressed, Chindia, as they call the two emerging superpowers of the East, must develop in a different way to Europe and America. “Mother nature” he explained, won’t be able to cope with the environmental costs” of two billion people causing as much grief to the planet as we in the West have done, as they strive for the living standards enjoyed by the developed world.
So it was interesting to see two stories in today’s India Times. One warned of the dangers caused by pollution to the nation’s vital rice crop. The other was a joyful celebration of plans for a massive expansion of Delhi’s airport to cope with the hundreds of millions of extra flights that prosperity will bring. Environmental journalism is in its infancy here. But these two tales are a reminder of how Green thinking has to be part of all our news media literacy and our reporting if we are to have sustainable growth in the world.