India has the second largest population in the world after China, but India's population growth rate is the highest in the world. The Indian government recognizes its responsibility towards protecting the global environment because of its population size. According to the World Bank, in terms of per capita greenhouse gas emissions, India is among the least polluting countries in the world, with emissions of 1.2 tons per annum, in contrast to averages of 19 tons in the U.S., 12 tons in Europe, and 5 tons in China. However, given the large size of the population, in absolute terms India becomes a major world polluter. The Indian government and its various environmental agencies have been consciously taking several steps to improve the state of the environment in India, bring the pollution levels under reasonable control, and encourage a greener lifestyle for all Indians. Due to the various tree plantation initiatives and programs of the government, India's forest cover been consistently improving in the last few years, and now stands at nearly 24% of the total geographical area of India. The “India State of Forests Report 2009” reveals that during the 10-year period from 1997 to 2007, the green cover in India has grown by over 3 million hectares. This is in contrast to many other countries such as Indonesia and Brazil that are similarly growing economies as India, but have actually reduced their forest covers over the same time period. Furthermore, the Indian government is consciously promoting the use of solar energy extensively. Various solar energy initiatives have been introduced in the rural regions of India. Solar cookers and solar heaters are being provided in these poor regions at a price that is heavily subsidized by the government in order to reduce the dependence of lower income people on wood and coal as fuel sources. Another notable aspect is that most builders use water harvesting and waste management in their projects. They also use eco friendlier options of the building materials like fly ash cement, bamboo products, recycled aluminum and others. On the technological front, they use water saving solutions, energy saving air conditioners, composting toilets, and similar initiatives are all encouraged. Modern buildings that are being constructed in India are subjected to strict environmental clearances, and must abide with the norms laid down under the environmental laws. Green buildings using energy saving technologies are provided tax incentives and preferential assistance from the government. Even in the real estate business, “green homes” has become the buzzword, and the sector is beginning to opt for greener projects out of preference. These homes ensure that the overall harm caused by houses to the environment is minimal and its residents stand out as eco-friendly in their choices. A construction group called the SatyaVani Group of Companies, recently laid the foundational stone for one of India's biggest green home township. The entire project is supposed to be built keeping certain environmental norms in mind. For instance, they have provisions for using solar power and the materials used for the construction are claimed to emit the least amount of carbon into the environment. More steps towards green initiatives involve other environmental aspects such as rainwater harvesting programs which are being introduced in various parts of the country to conserve precious water resources. Environmentally friendlier fuels such as compressed natural gas (CNG) are replacing petrol and diesel for all commercial vehicles gradually in the Indian metro cities to cut down the air pollution levels. India can be compared with Egypt in terms of their high density of population and high environmental pollution. In many aspects still, Egypt can follow India's example and take a few steps ahead in being environmentally sound. The Egyptian government like the Indian one can also take a more intensive pro-environmental approach and encourage the citizens to support the environmentally friendly initiatives that it initiates. Indians are extremely conscious and self motivated when it comes to do their bit in saving nature and conserving our resources for posterity. As the second most-populous nation in the world, we realize that our everyday choices affect the world as much as they affect our livelihoods. Eco Options Egypt
