In order to determine how the average Indian's emissions may be reduced, one needs to understand the consumption basket and the implications of various categories of household consumption (such as cereals or durables) on emissions. With this in mind, this paper looks at consumption choices in India and calculates per capita carbon dioxide emissions of the different categories of consumption during 1987-1988 to 2007-2008. It is seen that both the increase in per person consumption and a change in the product basket have led to an increase in emissions per person. Further, the urban or higher class Indian emits more, not only because he consumes more of everything (compared, respectively, to the rural or lower class Indian), but also because of differences in the composition of consumption. Four products/product groups -fuel for cooking, fuel for lighting, durables and housing -are further explored to identify several problem products.
Forest protection committees (FPCs) form the core of joint forest management in the open access forests of West Bengal, India, and proliferated enormously during the 1980s. However, their impact in terms of forest regeneration has been marginal. It thus appears necessary to take a good look at how FPCs function, how effective they are and how they can work better. With this objective in mind, we have collected data over a cross section of 20% of the FPCs in two districts of Southern West Bengal, representing different levels of functioning (good, moderate and bad). We have regressed forest status (measured with the help of ecological tools) against two sets of variables -socio-economic aspects and operational features of the FPC. The results, among other things, indicate the significance of three factors -benefits from the sale or use of non-timber forest products, the frequency of and attendance at FPC meetings and finally, the capacity of the FPC to resolve internal conflicts. The regression exercise, other statistical exercises and a close look at other non-cardinal aspects of the way an FPC functions lead us to a set of policy prescriptions.
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