IN A warming world, the call to re-evaluate how we gauge development is gaining traction. Traditional indicators like GDP (Gross Domestic Product) measure output and growth, but they fail to account for the impact of human actions on environmental quality and societal well-being. There is a need for a concept to measure the environmental costs, social inequalities, sustainability implications and the negative externalities of resource use by humans these are crucial to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
To address these shortcomings and measure the growth of the environment along with development, the Uttarakhand government in 2021 announced that it would be the first state to introduce a Gross Environment Product (GEP). This measure aims to assess the growth and health of natural resources, and the positive or negative impact that human activities have on them. The state is currently working on formulating a GEP index.
GEP as a concept was introduced in 2011 by the Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organization (HESCO) in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The concept rests on gauging the health of four pillars-forest, water, air and soil. "Continuous work has been done worldwide to improve each of these pillars, but an integrated method of measuring these efforts has been lacking; GEP is an attempt to fill this void," says a December 2023 study published in the journal Ecological Indicators. (Anil Prakash Joshi of HESCO, who led the study is one of the authors of this appraisal). The GEP index can be articulated as a sum of the indices of each of its pillars (see 'Formulae for growth').
Each constituent of the GEP index highlights a specific aspect. The Forest-GEP index evaluates status of forest resources, Soil-GEP index gauges soil health, Air-GEP index focuses on air quality improvement and Water-GEP index assesses water quality and quantity.
STATUS OF FORESTS
Esta historia es de la edición December 16, 2023 de Down To Earth.
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A SPRIG TO CARE FOR
Punarnava, a perennial herb, is easy to grow and has huge health benefits
DIGGING A DISASTER
Soapstone mining near Dabti Vijaypur village has caused many residents to migrate.
REVIEW THE TREATMENT
Several faecal sludge treatment plants in Uttar Pradesh suffer from design flaws that make the treatment process both expensive and inefficient
MAKE STEEL SUSTAINABLE
As India works to double its GDP by 2030, its steel industry must balance growth with sustainability. By embracing policies like the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy 2019 and adopting green technologies, India is paving the way for a more sustainable future in steel production
Can ANRF pull off the impossible for India?
Anusandhan National Research Foundation is expected to reorient India's innovation goals but funding issues, old mindsets remain a drag
TROUBLED WOODS
Forests are a great bulwark against climate change. But this is fast changing. AKSHIT SANGOMLA travels through some of the pristine patches of the Western Ghats to explore how natural disturbances triggered by global warming now threaten the forest health
BLINDING GLOW
The science is clear: increased illumination has damaging consequences for the health of humans, animals and plants. It’s time governments introduced policies to protect the natural darkness and improved the quality of outdoor lighting.
GROUND REALITY
What happens when the soil loses the ability to grow healthy, high-yield crops on its own?
GM POLICY MUST BE FARMER CENTRIC
On July 23, the Supreme Court of India directed the Union government to develop a national policy on genetically modified (GM) crops for research, cultivation, trade and commerce through public consultation.
Vinchurni's Gandhi
A 96-year-old farmer transforms barren land into a thriving forest in drought-prone region of Satara
