As growth and development are the priorities of the Narendra Modi government, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on June 26 said efforts to make the global economy sustainable must not be at the cost of the world’s poor. The minister told a UN environment assembly in Nairobi, “While the social and environmental pillars tend to gain prominence, it is important to underscore that the economic pillar is the foundation of sustainable development and must be adequately addressed and elaborated.” The minister seemed to convey a political message that the Modi government is not going to compromise on economic goals even as it is willing to work to introduce cleaner technologies. But the clean up must not mean a deceleration of India’s growth rate. “While issues of peace, security and governance are obviously important enablers of development, it would be a travesty if these are placed at the centre of the agenda, to the detriment of development itself,” said Javadekar. In its first policy speech at an international forum, the new BJP government clearly indicated a recalibration of India’s position on sustainable development by emphasizing that economic growth is the best guarantor of durable peace.

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