Green GDP

I read in an editorial piece in TOI , a month back about parameters that go into GDP calculation & how that conflicts with environmental issues. Since i have lost that article (yes i had cut it and kept it safe apparently & am not spending time searching it online), so whatever i say herewith is my own understanding of the editorial. So yes back to the point. The things that really matter in the calculation:investment in sectors which in india is being driven by mainly in power/fuel/infrastructure/retail which are again exploitation of natural resources by biggies or making concrete jungles while cutting forests and reclaiming lakes.Another is Consumption - driven again by apparels& accessories/electronics/cars/white goods/FMCG/residential properties which again is leading to consumerism/industrialisation & then government spending & export-import. And we all know how all that works.

So here is where i come.I thought that so much stress is being laid on environmental issues/global warming/deforestation/land reclaimation/disappearing water bodies/save our tigers/keep groundwater clean etcetra etcetra etcetra and the list goes on. But the growth of an economy is dependent on GDP and every nation is running in the race to be at the top. Suddenly the entire world believes that super-powers of yester years are going out of power soon and the top spots are available & everyone is plundering & looting their own country. So why cant GDP or Economic Growth have an environmental friendly factor or parameter included. Phew. There i said it.

Thus,GDP/EG should give credence to afforestation i.e. how many acres of new forest land has been created.How many natural habitats or national parks have been created for animals? how many rivers are being cleaned & pollution stopped in them? Land laws are being modified to include saving ponds & lakes from reclaimation. Stricter regulations laid down for illegal mining & plundering the natural resources.Are tribals being reinhabited in their natural environment.Industrial waste in not being thrown around like candy wrappers for wind to take them everywhere.

Its high time we put our money where our mouth is and stop this nonsense that 'we all are going to die by 2012' . Nations need to take a stand and make environment issues a parameter when they applaud a country on their growth. Make countries who have maximum carbon emissions skip the award ceremonies.Developing nations who are selling their natural resources to big corporations should be sued in international courts.

P.S. If anyone else has written on this, then i am ignorant of it.kindly share with me.

Cheers.