This series dives into impactful case studies from India, Mexico, Japan, the Netherlands, and Kenya, exploring groundbreaking steps to balance the conflicting interests of climate change activists and sceptics. By examining these initiatives, we uncover lessons that are reshaping societies and setting new benchmarks for responsible development globally.
1. Green Transportation: Mexico
Sustainable transportation refers to low- and zero-emission, energy-efficient, and affordable modes of transport. Mexico faces huge challenges when it comes to air pollution. 26% of overall greenhouse gas emissions in Mexico are attributed to vehicular emissions. Therefore, Mexico took a few ground-breaking steps in order to transform its mobility.
Initiatives taken by Mexico: lessons to be learnt
- General Law of Mobility and Road Safety: Mexico was one of the first and few countries that recognised safe and sustainable mobility as a constitutional right.
- The TranSIT initiative—Transition towards a Sustainable, Integrated, and Smart Public Transport in Mexico—started in September 2022 with the objective to improve the quality and efficiency of public transport at the national and subnational level.
- City’s Metro was started way back in 1969 and was designed in a way that it became one of the longest and most affordable ones in the entire Latin America. Similarly, the Metrobús, a bus rapid transit system, was started in order to promote public transportation.
- ‘Ecobici’ bike-sharing program—this revolutionary innovation was one of the most important steps taken by the federal government. The expansion of bike lane networks has allowed people to hop over different parts of the city with minimal environmental impact.
- Data-driven approach: Now, the city of Mexico is using mobile apps and sensors to get real-time data to monitor traffic conditions, adjust transport routes, and improve overall efficiency.
2. Sustainable Agriculture: Japan
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) defines the term “sustainable agriculture” as the agricultural practices associated with the management and protection of the natural resource base to meet the demand of the current as well as future generations.
The Japanese government has set an ambitious target of reducing 50% pesticide use and 30% chemical fertiliser use by 2050.
Initiatives taken by Japan: Lessons to be Learnt
- Government policies—subsidies and financial incentives for organic farming, programs aimed at educating farmers, certification schemes for organic produce—were started. Stringent regulations on chemical usage and waste management were laid down.
- Technological integration: robotics and automation are being used extensively in Japanese farm lands for multiple activities like planting, harvesting, sorting, and packaging to ensure efficient management of farm operations. The practice of growing crops in vertically stacked layers is gaining popularity in Japan’s urban areas. A data-driven approach with the help of sensors and drones is promoting efficiency, reducing waste, and increasing crop yields.
- Sustainable farm practices: The country’s mountainous terrain and limited space for farmland necessitate sustainable farm practices to avoid wastages. Crop rotation, furrow and drip irrigation, natural fertilisers, and pesticides are their local culture since ages.
3. Solar Energy: India
Given high energy demand in India on account of a huge demographic load, rising per capita income, and a higher focus on manufacturing, India aimed at tapping its renewable energy potential. This also goes in line with India’s INDC targets of reducing emissions intensity of its GDP by 45 percent by 2030 from the 2005 level and installing 50% of cumulative electric power capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030.
In September 2024, India’s installed solar power capacity crossed the 90 GW mark. Further, it is expected to reach the 100 GW mark by 2025.
Initiatives taken by India: Lessons to be Learnt
- Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) was launched way back in 2010, setting an ambitious target for increasing India’s solar energy to 20 GW by 2022, which later was expanded to 100 GW.
- The International Solar Alliance (ISA) was founded by India and France in 2015 to bring together solar-rich countries, focusing on reducing solar energy costs, improving technology sharing, and mobilising funding for solar projects.
- Promotion of Rooftop Solar: Decentralised solar energy generation has been the cornerstone of India’s solar policies. The target for rooftop solar is set at 40 GW as part of the 100 GW goal. Recently, PM Suryodaya Yojna has been launched with the same objective.
- Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects—large-scale solar parks like Bhadla Solar Park in Rajasthan (capacity over 2.2 GW)—have been constructed across various states.
- Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to provide financial support and Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO) to make it mandatory for electricity distribution companies and large consumers to purchase a specified percentage of their energy from renewable sources, including solar, have further helped India to achieve this feat.
4. Circular Economy: Netherlands
In recent times, it has been witnessed that Europe is taking a charge in formulating the ‘green’ policies. Be it the European Commission’s approval of an action plan to boost Europe’s transition to a circular economy in 2015 or the European Green Deal to transform the European economy into a modern, resource-efficient, and competitive one in 2019. In March 2020, the Circular Economy Action Plan was introduced as part of the Green Deal.
In line with this, the Dutch government has aimed to become a country 100% based on circular economy. Presently, the Netherlands is 24.5% circular.
Initiatives taken by the Netherlands: lessons to be learnt
- It identified 5 key sectors: (i) construction; (ii) plastics; (iii) consumer goods; (iv) biomass and food; and (v) manufacturing, which account for maximum emissions and pollution.
- Bubble barrier technology: It deployed this technology. In it, there is a pipe that is laid at the bottom of the riverbed diagonally, and the air is pumped through that pipe. This leads to the creation of air bubbles, which then rise to the surface and act like bubble curtains. These bubble curtains push the plastic under water up to the surface. The river’s natural flow is used to collect the plastic in the catchment area. That is how the plastic is blocked without interrupting the movement of fish.
- Exchange of ideas: Holland Circular Hotspot, a private-public platform, was founded to host and encourage the collaboration and exchange of ideas.
- Private participation: a lot of corporations have also come forward. Resident company DSM-Niaga has made a name for itself by recycling carpet, while Vertoro has found success turning paper pulp into fuel for ships—just to name a couple.
5. Sustainable Urbanisation: Nairobi, Kenya
The city of Nairobi faced issues of congestion, poverty, spatial constraint, high population density, and unchecked urban sprawl. To tackle all the issues, the Kenyan government took multiple steps to transform Nairobi into a sustainable city.
Initiatives taken by Kenya: lessons to be learnt
- Nairobi Integrated Urban Development Master Plan (NIUPLAN) was launched in 2014 to develop the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network, electric buses, and support infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists.
- Nairobi National Park and Greenbelt Initiative: in 1997, the Green Belt Movement started in Kenya, empowering women to protect the environment. Till date, lakhs of women have been involved, and over 5,000 nurseries have been established. More than 51 million trees have been planted—on farms, in schools and churches, along rivers, and in the countryside. Nairobi actively works to protect its iconic national park and greenbelt areas, creating buffer zones and enforcing policies against encroachment.
- Big Four Agenda and Affordable Housing: incorporated energy-efficient materials, solar power, and water-saving designs.
- Rainwater harvesting and water recycling were promoted to address water scarcity. These initiatives help reduce reliance on the municipal water supply and improve water security.
- Nairobi Rivers Rehabilitation and Restoration Program to restore Nairobi’s rivers that have been polluted by urban runoff and waste.
Conclusion
As we look to the future, each initiative underscores the importance of collaborative action—between governments, businesses, and citizens—in tackling global issues. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.
References & Credits:
- https://www.goldmanprize.org/blog/green-belt-movement-wangari-maathai/
- https://sdgs.un.org/goals
- https://www.government.nl/topics/circular-economy/circular-dutch-economy-by-2050
- https://mnre.gov.in/physical-progress/
- https://kippra.or.ke/restoring-nairobi-to-a-green-city-in-the-sun/
- https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/2/596
