There are a few obvious features of the results that emerge. The countries considered within the block called BRICS are quite heterogeneous, not only in terms of geo-political and other socio-cultural features but also in terms of economic, environmental, and social efficiencies. Overall, Brazil is the best performer given the lowest sum of ranks. India followed closely by China, being the giants in the group, are significantly less efficient that Brazil or South Africa. If we go by environmental efficiency alone, then again Brazil and South Africa perform better than the others, and China is by far the worst.
China
Even though China is the largest economy in BRICS and the second largest in the world, with the highest fixed capital, its overall performance leaves much to be desired. China’s argument against cutting down of carbon emissions has been that it needs to grow fast for a longer period of time to remove poverty and unemployment. Hence, its performance cannot be expected to be moving to a sustainable path, at least in terms of carbon emissions. China has the highest carbon dioxide emissions in the world, and its economic efficiency (despite phenomenally high growth rates) has been poor. It implies that energy efficiency would be low, and the ability to use resources well, including labor, would be below par. This is revealed in the value for social efficiency too. Despite having the highest input value, its mean efficiency is only 56%. Poverty reduction, energy efficiency, creation of greater equality, and better management of urbanization remain challenges that will hold back China from transitioning to a sustainable development path in the near future.
China’s sustainable development strategy covers four broad areas. They are overall macropolicies, social development, sustainable economic development, and protection of natural resources. These four areas are further divided into nine priority areas covering capacity building, sustainable agriculture, cleaner industry, cleaner energy, conservation of nature, pollution control, poverty reduction, population control, and biodiversity conservation. These broad goals and priorities are embodied in the 5-year plans of China as formulated by the national government.
China faces a severe resource shortage, and in important resources such as land, water, and petroleum its per capita resource base is far lower compared to the global average. Also, many of the natural resources are distributed unevenly across China, leading to problems of demand and supply in regions. China’s environmental and ecological damage is quite severe. In some cities, air pollution has marked negative health effects on citizens. Water shortage in many regions has compromised the quality of drinking water for residents. The desertification of land and grassland has been occurring at an astonishing pace. China has realized that it requires substantial legal reforms to ensure that its sustainable development strategies can be implemented without too many legal hurdles and costly litigation. China has also taken initiatives to report on a regular basis to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Hence, its emissions and sinks of green-house gases would be known publicly: the steps taken as well as the results arising from them.
India
India is the second largest economy in BRICS with high amounts of fixed capital and investments in technological innovations. Yet its economic efficiency is low. India ranks last in both economic efficiency and social efficiency. Even in terms of environmental efficiency, though ranked fourth, the mean efficiency in India is much higher than that of China, at 81%. However, despite this, India is now the third largest emitter of carbon dioxide in the world after China and USA. On this count itself, India, with its excessive dependence on coal, needs to do much better in terms of energy efficiency.
Like in China, the reduction of poverty remains the key challenge. Associated with this issue of poverty, there are deep rooted issues of unemployment, low income, low levels of educational attainment, and poor health infrastructure. Like China, India too has argued in international fora that it needs to grow faster for a longer period of time to reduce poverty, and hence may not be able to bring down its emission levels in the near future.
The strategy for sustainable development in India is contained in a detailed study ‘Empowering People for Sustainable Development’ (EPSD). There was no separate plan for sustainable development. Details of projects would be contained in the nation’s 5-year plan documents, until recently when formal planning was discontinued altogether. The EPSD has four main objectives. They are combating poverty, empowering people, using core competence in science and technology, and setting environmental standards, conservation of natural resources, and improving the core sectors of the economy. There is a sectoral thrust in the EPSD document. While the natural environment’s importance is acknowledged, there is an equal importance assigned to the growth of the energy sector, transportation, and manufacturing industry. Separate targets are set and monitored such as the poverty rate, gender gaps, increase in forest cover, reduction in population growth rate, and increased access to education.
According to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the economy is considered as a sub-system of the regional ecosystem. Hence, a large number of legislations and regulations have been enacted since the 1980s covering air, water, biodiversity, forests, pollution control, and waste management. There are a number of specialized institutions as well that provide research and knowledge for policymakers to take more informed decisions, like the Centre for Environment Education and the Tata Energy and Resource Institute and a number of other civil society organizations.
Brazil
Brazil, in the set of BRICS, is the most efficient economy. Brazil is the leading economy in South America and contains rich resources in the form of good agricultural land, mines, as well as developed manufacturing and services sectors. Its per capita income is much higher than that of China or India. Its macroeconomic policies have resulted in low inflation and low public debt. Brazil’s environmental performance is creditable, despite its constant pressure to preserve and maintain its large rainforest terrain. Its environmental efficiency value at 90% is quite good in this regard. Brazil is one of the leaders in climate negotiations by voluntarily pledging to cut emissions. The challenges Brazil face pertain to deforestation, soil degradation, oil spills, water pollution, and loss of biodiversity. In terms of social efficiency, Brazil ranked first. Brazil’s stable economic growth (until the recent slowdown) improved social welfare outcomes, and programs designed to lower inequalities have all gone well for the economy.
Brazil’s strategies to combat unsustainable development focus on the following broad areas: the transition to a knowledge society, social inclusion for solidarity, rural and urban sustainability, strategic use of natural resources like water, forests, biodiversity, and improved governability and ethics to promote sustainability. Brazil, however, does not embed its sustainability strategy as a national policy objective, though policy objectives do include economic development, social upliftment, and environmental protection. While the concept of responsibility to the future is not a central theme in its policies, the reduction of social and economic inequalities is a top priority. This is done through a twin approach. A federal agency is assigned the task of distributing free food and making compensatory redistributive policies. The government also promotes a variety of specific partnerships among civil society organizations, private sector companies, and government departments to design and support programs for poverty reduction.
In terms of selected initiatives of interest, Brazil has come up with an innovative law that defines and penalizes a set of activities dubbed as environmental crimes, which include many infractions from killing of wild animals to creating industrial pollution. Brazil is home to the largest part of the Amazon rainforest, and its destruction often catches the attention of the world simply because of the sheer magnitude of natural wealth contained in the rainforest. A special control program has been designed by the Brazilian government to limit deforestation and unauthorized exploitation. A special commission has also been set
