Rishit Jain 2432107 AEC Assignment
Sustainable Development in India and
China: Achievements, Challenges, and
Innovations
1. Introduction to Sustainable Development
1.1 Definition and Principles
Sustainable development is defined as meeting the needs of
the present without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs (Brundtland Report,
1987).
It integrates three pillars: economic growth, social inclusion,
and environmental protection.
Emphasizes intergenerational equity, resource efficiency, and
resilience.
1.2 Global Frameworks
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): 17
goals adopted in 2015 to end poverty, protect the planet, and
ensure prosperity for all by 2030.
Paris Agreement (2015): Global treaty to limit global warming
to well below 2°C, preferably 1.5°C.
Net-Zero Emissions: Commitment by countries to balance
greenhouse gas emissions with removal or offsets by mid-
century.
Rishit Jain 2432107 AEC Assignment
Rishit Jain 2432107 AEC Assignment
1.3 Role of Ecosystem Services
Ecosystem services are benefits provided by nature to people,
essential for well-being and economic development.
Categories: provisioning (food, water), regulating (climate,
disease), supporting (nutrient cycles), and cultural (recreation,
spiritual).
Example: Forests sequester carbon, wetlands purify water, and
pollinators support agriculture.
2. Comparative Analysis: India vs. China
2.1 Economic and Demographic Context
India:
Population: 1.4 billion (2024), rapidly urbanizing, large
rural workforce.
Economy: Fifth-largest globally, services and agriculture
dominant, high energy demand.
Energy: 75% electricity from coal, growing renewables
sector.
China:
Population: 1.4 billion, urbanization rate over 60%, aging
population.
Economy: Second-largest globally, manufacturing
powerhouse.
Energy: Largest global emitter, heavy reliance on coal but
rapid renewables growth.
Rishit Jain 2432107 AEC Assignment
Rishit Jain 2432107 AEC Assignment
2.2 Renewable Energy Progress
India:
Target: 500 GW renewable energy by 2030.
Current: Over 200 GW installed (2025), major solar and
wind projects.
Initiatives: International Solar Alliance, Green Hydrogen
Mission.
China:
Target: 1,200 GW solar/wind by 2030.
Current: Over 1,000 GW installed.
World leader in solar panel manufacturing, electric
vehicles, and battery storage.
2.3 Net-Zero Goals
India: Net-zero by 2070, with interim targets for emissions
intensity and clean energy.
China: Net-zero by 2060, peaking emissions by 2030.
Comparison: China’s earlier target but higher current
emissions; India’s later target but lower per capita emissions.
Rishit Jain 2432107 AEC Assignment
Rishit Jain 2432107 AEC Assignment
2.4 SDG Achievements
India:
SDG Index Score: 71/100 (2023-24).
States like Kerala and Tamil Nadu lead in health,
education, and clean energy.
Challenges in gender equality, clean water, and climate
resilience.
China:
Major success in poverty eradication (800 million lifted
out of poverty).
Strong in infrastructure, education, and renewable energy.
Facing challenges in air quality, water scarcity, and
regional inequalities.
3. India’s Net-Zero Emission Roadmap
3.1 Policy Initiatives
Panchamrit Strategy:
500 GW non-fossil capacity by 2030.
50% energy from renewables by 2030.
1 billion tonnes reduction in carbon emissions by 2030.
45% reduction in emissions intensity of GDP by 2030.
National Hydrogen Mission:
Promote green hydrogen production for energy and
industry.
Rishit Jain 2432107 AEC Assignment
Rishit Jain 2432107 AEC Assignment
Nuclear Energy Mission:
₹20,000 crore allocated for new research and capacity
expansion.
3.2 Sectoral Strategies
Energy:
Solar parks, wind corridors, rooftop solar, and grid
modernization.
Electrification of transport (FAME scheme for EVs).
Industry:
Energy efficiency programs (PAT scheme), green steel, and
cement.
Agriculture:
Promotion of climate-resilient crops, micro-irrigation, and
organic farming.
3.3 Challenges
Heavy dependence on coal for baseload power.
Funding and investment gaps for large-scale renewable
deployment.
Need for technological innovation and skilled workforce.
Institutional and regulatory bottlenecks.
Rishit Jain 2432107 AEC Assignment
Rishit Jain 2432107 AEC Assignment
4. Ecosystem Services in Sustainable Development
4.1 Regulating Services
Water Purification:
Example: New York’s Catskill Watershed – natural filtration
saves billions in water treatment costs.
Indian examples: Wetlands (e.g., Chilika Lake) filter
pollutants and recharge groundwater.
Carbon Sequestration:
Forests and mangroves absorb CO₂, mitigate climate
change.
China’s afforestation projects and India’s Green India
Mission.
4.2 Supporting and Provisioning Services
Pollination:
Wild bees and insects increase crop yields (e.g., apple
orchards in Himachal Pradesh).
Fisheries and Food:
Healthy rivers and coastal ecosystems sustain livelihoods
and food security.
4.3 Cultural Services
Eco-tourism:
Indian Himalayas and China’s Yunnan province attract
millions, supporting local economies.
Spiritual and Recreational:
Rishit Jain 2432107 AEC Assignment
Rishit Jain 2432107 AEC Assignment
Sacred groves in India, parks in urban China.
4.4 Case Study: Mangrove Restoration in China
Coastal provinces have restored thousands of hectares of
mangroves, reducing storm damage and boosting fisheries.
5. Natural Resource Conservation Programs
5.1 India
5.1.1 Project Tiger
Launched in 1973 to save Bengal tigers.
Population increased from 1,411 (2006) to 3,167 (2022).
53 tiger reserves across 18 states.
5.1.2 National Wetland Conservation Programme
Over 160 wetlands protected.
Focus on biodiversity, flood control, and water purification.
5.1.3 Green India Mission
Target: 10 million hectares of afforestation.
Community involvement, carbon sinks, and biodiversity
enhancement.
5.1.4 Other Initiatives
National Afforestation Programme, Wildlife Protection Act, Joint
Forest Management.
Rishit Jain 2432107 AEC Assignment
Rishit Jain 2432107 AEC Assignment
5.2 China
5.2.1 Great Green Wall
100 billion trees planted to combat desertification in northern
China.
Mixed results: improved vegetation cover, but some
monoculture issues.
5.2.2 Ecological Red Lines
25% of territory protected for biodiversity.
Strict land-use regulations and ecological compensation.
5.2.3 Yangtze River Protection Law
Bans on fishing, pollution control, and wetland restoration.
6. Recent Environmental Challenges & Solutions
(2025)
6.1 India
6.1.1 Water Scarcity and Extreme Weather
255 extreme weather days in 2024, 74% rise in cropland
damage.
Droughts in Maharashtra, floods in Assam.
Solutions: Rainwater harvesting, micro-irrigation, watershed
management.
6.1.2 Air Pollution
Delhi and northern India: severe smog episodes.
Stubble burning penalties in Madhya Pradesh; promotion of
bio-decomposers.
Rishit Jain 2432107 AEC Assignment
Rishit Jain 2432107 AEC Assignment
6.1.3 Innovations
IIT Guwahati’s hybrid aerogel for wastewater treatment.
Solar-powered cold storage for farmers.
6.2 China
6.2.1 Air Quality
Beijing and northern cities: winter smog, PM2.5 levels.
Transition to electric buses, stricter emissions standards.
6.2.2 Water Scarcity
Over-extraction of groundwater in northern plains.
South-to-North Water Diversion Project.
6.2.3 Soil Pollution
Heavy metal contamination in agricultural land.
Remediation programs and stricter agrochemical controls.
6.3 Global
6.3.1 Climate Tipping Points
La Niña predictions for 2025: increased risk of floods and
droughts globally.
Importance of early warning systems and climate adaptation.
6.3.2 Agricultural Pollution
Sensor-based nutrient monitoring in the Mississippi Basin
(USA).
Precision agriculture to reduce fertilizer runoff.
Rishit Jain 2432107 AEC Assignment
Rishit Jain 2432107 AEC Assignment
7. Policy Recommendations
7.1 India
Strengthen urban planning for sustainable cities.
Phase out coal subsidies and support just transition for workers.
Scale up green financing and climate bonds.
Improve data collection and monitoring for SDGs.
7.2 China
Accelerate closure of inefficient coal plants.
Expand carbon trading markets and enforce emissions caps.
Invest in rural green infrastructure and ecological restoration.
7.3 Global
Enforce binding emissions targets under Paris Agreement.
Support technology transfer and climate finance for developing
countries.
Promote regional cooperation on water, air, and biodiversity.
8. Conclusion
India and China, as the world’s most populous nations, play a
pivotal role in global sustainable development.
Both countries have made significant progress but face unique
challenges.
Success depends on innovation, strong institutions, community
participation, and international collaboration.
The path to sustainability is complex but essential for planetary
health and human well-being.
Rishit Jain 2432107 AEC Assignment
Rishit Jain 2432107 AEC Assignment
References (Sample – Expand as
Needed)
United Nations SDG Reports
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change,
Government of India
National Development and Reform Commission, China
“India’s Roadmap to Net Zero,” NITI Aayog, 2024
“China’s Ecological Civilization,” Nature, 2023
World Bank, “Ecosystem Services and Poverty Alleviation,” 2022
Recent news articles from The Hindu, Times of India, China
Daily, Reuters
Rishit Jain 2432107 AEC Assignment
