India’s ecological problems are daunting. Shrinking forest cover, drying rivers, diminishing wildlife, burning landfills … . In the journey to fast economic growth, sustainable development has often been side-lined, with worrying consequences, as recent environmental research shows. For one, climate change is already knocking on our doors, as is evident from a more frequent occurrence of natural disasters such as floods, droughts and cyclones. In fact, a report released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts that a 2°C temperature rise over pre-industrial levels could herald deadly annual heat waves in India, slowing down developmental efforts already reeling under population growth.

Take, for example, water conservation. Despite numerous water sources such as rivers, lakes and a monsoonal climate, India still relies on groundwater for 80% of its drinking needs and up to two-thirds of its irrigation needs. With climate change worsening an already erratic monsoon, even places close to major water bodies — such as the state of Uttar Pradesh through which the river Ganga flows — are facing a future of water shortage.

The country’s colossal waste management problem, moreover, only adds to the burden of climate change. Over 150,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) — or three million trucks piled high with garbage — is generated in the country per day, a number expected to more than double by 2025 according to the World Bank. Of this colossal amount, only 83% of waste is collected and less than 30% is treated.

Failure to rein in climate change can significantly compound India’s existing socio-economic problems. It is a known ‘poverty multiplier’, whose ripple effects can be seen in the form of food insecurity, higher food prices, income losses, lost livelihood opportunities, adverse health impacts and population displacements. But it’s not just the developmental cost of climate change that is problematic. Climate change, as it proceeds today, can significantly alter the Earth’s ecology for millennia to come.

Though the Earth has proved resilient in the face of earlier devastating phases of climate change, this geological age is crucially different. According to experts, we are living in the Anthropocene — a distinct geological age marked by a dominant influence of human activity on the environment. Overwhelming evidence for the Anthropocene can already be seen in the changes caused in the atmospheric, geologic, hydrologic, biospheric and other earth systems.

Ensuring a greener, healthier, more inclusive tomorrow

If human activity has hastened environmental degradation in the Anthropocene, human activity is also striving to slow it down. In India, regular people from all walks of lives are tackling some of the most daunting ecological challenges the country is facing in the new millennium. Their example shows that sustainable development efforts at the individual and community level, too, can have a significant positive impact on the environment.

Take, for example, the quiet revolution brewing to reverse the dismal state of Bengaluru’s once famed lakes, now plagued by pollution and encroachment. One of the innovative solutions embraced by the residents is of floating islands — wetlands manufactured using the influx of waste, such as common polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes and discarded PET bottles, in these water bodies. Three species of nutrient-absorbing plants have also been planted on the floating islands of the Puttenahalli Lake. Within five months of their launch, the amount of oxygen present in the lake went up by a third of its previous amount. The initiative is now formally handled by a citizens’ group and subsists on public donations.

Eco India, a collaboration between Scroll.in and Deutsche Welle (DW), Germany’s public broadcaster, features stories on ecological innovations such as the floating islands of Bengaluru. Eco India is a solutions-focused web series that heroes everyday efforts being led by passionate environmentalists — from activists to innovators and even kids — from all over India. The series follows in the footsteps of Eco@Africa, an environment magazine by DW highlighting innovative eco-initiatives and best practices in Africa and Europe.

The inspiring stories featured in Eco India, covered over 20 half-hour long episodes, show that a passion for the environment is the only requirement for change — age, income and profession no bar. They may even inspire you to get on board or start your own eco-initiative! At the very least, it will help you make informed personal choices for a more sustainable future. Watch the promo for Eco India below:

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Eco India premieres on 27th October and will air every Saturday at 8.00pm. You can tune into the series on the DW channel and all Scroll.in channels (Facebook, Youtube and Hotstar). Catch the first episode of the series this Saturday, here.

This article was produced by the Scroll marketing team for the show EcoIndia, a joint editorial property of Scroll.in and DW, and not by the Scroll editorial team.