Today's Editorial

Stop the dithering and encourage green elections in India

Relevance: GS Paper II & III

Why in news?

As India prepares for its next general election, environmental considerations must be prioritised, paving the way for 'green elections'.

Background:

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) has been urging parties and candidates to avoid the use of plastic/polythene for the preparation of election material during an election campaign since 1999.
• In 2023, before the Assembly elections in five States, the ECI has expressed concern over the environmental risks associated with non-biodegradable materials in elections.
• Earlier, Sri Lanka and Estonia have conducted environmentally conscious elections.
• Green elections entail adopting eco-friendly practices at every stage, from campaign materials to election rallies and polling booths.

Need for a paradigm shift:

• The climate crisis has highlighted the urgent need for a shift to sustainable practices in all aspects of human activity.
• The environmental footprint of elections is often overlooked.
• In the 2016 US presidential elections, the emissions by campaign flights by just one of the candidates alone were equivalent to the carbon footprint of 500 Americans for a year.
• Research from Estonia (2023) found that the primary source of carbon emissions during elections is from the transportation of voters and logistics to and from the polling booths, while the secondary source is from the running of the polling booths.
• Traditional methods of conducting elections, relying on paper-based materials, energy-intensive rallies, loudspeakers, PVC flex banners, hoardings and disposable items, cause a significant environmental footprint and impact citizens’ health.

Challenges in green elections:

• Implementing environmentally friendly elections will entail technological, financial, and behavioural challenges.
• Technological challenges: Electronic and digital voting require robust infrastructure  (especially in rural areas), checks for hacking and fraud, fair access to new technologies, and training of officials.
• Financial challenges: These include substantial upfront costs for eco-friendly materials and technology, which would deter financially constrained governments.
• Behavioural challenges: Cultural inertia in valuing a voter's physical presence at polling booths is a behavioural challenge, and public scepticism towards new approaches and fear of compromises to vote security is another.

Eco-friendly electoral initiatives:

• Kerala:
  • During the 2019 general election, the Kerala State Election Commission urged political parties to avoid single-use plastic materials while campaigning.
  • Subsequently, the Kerala High Court banned flex and non-biodegradable materials in electioneering.
    • Wall graffiti and paper posters emerged as alternatives.
  • Government bodies collaborated with district administrations in Thiruvananthapuram to ensure a green election, and training sessions were conducted in villages for election workers.

• Goa:
  • In 2022, the Goa State Biodiversity Board had eco-friendly election booths for the Assembly elections, using biodegradable materials crafted by local traditional artisans.
• Sri Lanka:
  • In 2019, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party launched the world’s first carbon-sensitive, environmentally friendly election campaign.
  • It measured carbon emissions from vehicles and electricity used during political campaigns and compensated for the emissions by planting trees in each district through public participation.
    • This offset the immediate carbon footprint of the campaign and drew awareness about the importance of forest cover.

• Estonia:
  • Estonia laid the foundations for digital voting as an online voting alternative.
    • This method also encouraged voter participation.
  • The success of Estonia’s approach suggests that digital voting, accompanied by robust security measures, is both eco- and electorate-friendly.

Way forward:

• A blueprint for a green transition must involve all stakeholders, including political parties, Election Commissions, governments, voters, the media, and civil society.
• Political Parties:
  • Political parties must take the lead. The journey can begin by enacting legislation mandating eco-friendly electoral practices, with the ECI incorporating them in the Model Code of Conduct.
    • This involves campaigning through digital platforms or door-to-door campaigning (reducing energy-intensive public rallies) and encouraging the use of public transportation for election work.
    • Incentivising the replacement of plastic and paper-based materials with sustainable local alternatives for polling booths, such as natural fabrics, recycled paper and compostable plastics, will aid waste management and support local artisans.
• Election Commissions:
• • The ECI and State Election Commissions can push for digital voting even though this necessitates officials' training and capacity building.
    • Transitioning to digital voting systems could reduce the carbon footprint by up to 40%.
• Government:
• • To ensure equal participation of all voters in the digital electoral process, the government must educate and support voters and ensure equitable access to digital technology.
    • This is essential to enhance the faith of the electorate in the election system and their trust in the government.
• Media and Civil Society:
• The media can play a crucial role in emphasising the environmental impact of conventional election methods and turning the spotlight on innovative, eco-friendly alternatives. Meanwhile, civil society should act as a catalyst.

Conclusion:

There is a need for eco-friendly elections, which would boost environmental stewardship alongside civic participation. Embracing eco-conscious electoral practices can help India set an example for other democracies worldwide.