Lessons of the Green Revolution could aid our climate transition

News: This post is created based on the article ‘Lessons of the Green Revolution could aid our climate transition’, published in Live Mint on 4^th October 2023.

Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3, Environment, Climate Change

News: The lessons from the Green Revolution can provide insights into addressing the current challenges of transitioning to sustainable energy sources and combating climate change.

M.S. Swaminathan’s contributions transformed India from a nation dependent on food aid to a self-sufficient one. The Green Revolution’s success was not just about food production but also had broader implications, including political empowerment and foreign policy independence.

What were the strategies adopted by the during the green revolution?

First, the Green Revolution focused on increasing the supply of food rather than managing demand.

Second, the Green Revolution was backed by a comprehensive set of policies, including input subsidies, price support, and public investments in irrigation.

Third, during the Green Revolution, higher credit availability and interest rate subsidies were key policy tools for success.

Fourth, the Green Revolution had wider implications beyond food security, such as political empowerment and foreign policy independence.

What lessons can the present green transition take from green revolution?

Present green transition must also focus on increasing the supply of alternative energy sources rather than just reducing fossil fuel consumption. Therefore, government should establish a balance between carbon tax and investment in green energy. carbon tax makes fossil fuels more expensive, therefore focussing on demand reduction.

Green transition requires policies that incentivize the private sector to adopt sustainable practices.

Low interest rates can promote investments in green energy. However, it should be ensured that it does not support high carbon footprint sectors.

The benefits of green transition beyond pollution should also be marketed. Because, it can help India overcome energy constraints, improve its balance of payments, and lead to political and regional shifts.