Developments in science and know-how have little doubt led to a paradigm shift in human functionality, resulting in humanity making strides by no means visualised earlier than. As a consequence, there was a disproportionate rise in consumption. While this may occasionally have augured nicely for the economic system, it additionally has led to sustainability points which might be changing into progressively troublesome to resolve. No doubt, some resolutions, such because the transfer to round economic system, can come about by additional analysis and software of applied sciences. Some alleviation can even come about by restrained human behaviour and accountable attitudes.
The world, nevertheless, appears to be transferring nearer to catastrophic instabilities threatening the very existence of humanity. An added dimension is the truth that the speed of latest technology-driven adjustments is accelerating and is maybe near outpacing the flexibility of people to place in place the required governance frameworks and maintain the societies. Self-governance, guided by universally cultivated values — to keep up oneself on the fitting path regardless of the lag in evolution of social governance framework — related to the brand new scenario is the necessity of the hour. One must develop deeper insights in science and humanities collectively by collaborative analysis to understand such an goal.
The drivers for such analysis effort would clearly depend upon proper values influencing the analysis translation and adoption of resultant applied sciences in a way that empowers all whereas exploits none. Trade, pushed by vendor-buyer transactional mindsets, because the prime mover of the economic system is unlikely to nurture such values. In distinction, co-creation involving potential know-how shoppers can. Our Indian worth system, embedded in co-existence in concord with all dwelling techniques round, is nicely positioned to take complete and collaborative analysis in science and humanities ahead.
As an instance, can the fast strides at the moment going down in AI be circumscribed by values that guarantee sustainability of humanity?
Let us take the instance of vitality. There is rising demand for vitality as it’s a key contributor to higher high quality of life and economic system. While vitality sources are finite and improvement aspirations of a lot of the world are but to be realised, we’ve got arrived near a tipping level difficult our very existence. Of the vitality sources we use, renewable vitality sources like photo voltaic and wind are subtle and whereas they meet the essential sustainability standards, they’ll doubtlessly fulfill the wants of a spot the place inhabitants density will not be excessive.
Fossil fuels, nevertheless, are comparatively intense and may cater to human vitality wants. But these sources are finite. Further, international warming, on account of emission of greenhouse gases arising from fossil vitality use, has created an existential risk for humanity. This has produced a world consensus on eliminating web carbon dioxide emissions into the ambiance, limiting the usage of fossil vitality.
This has introduced nuclear vitality to the centre stage. Nuclear vitality, being intense and with out a lot carbon dioxide emission, can meet vitality wants with out the worry of worldwide warming with a lot lesser consumption of the earth’s sources. However, apprehensions round long-term security, safety, waste administration and societal acceptance have restrained each the expansion in addition to the potential of nuclear vitality.
The time has now come to look at, with each scientific and societal views, find out how to embrace nuclear vitality safely and responsibly in order that its full potential could be harnessed to counter international warming that threatens our existence. Use of thorium, which India has in plentiful measure, significantly eases considerations associated to nuclear vitality due to its inherent proliferation resistance and higher security and efficiency traits. India, with its give attention to thorium, ought to take the lead in addressing her wants in addition to that of the world in a secure and sustainable manner. Given our a long time of analysis, this appears eminently doable.
An important ingredient in realisation of such aims is coherence amongst all stakeholders. This wants a dialog amongst numerous and enlightened stakeholders, nicely past the hierarchy. It additionally requires spelling out the highest stage aims and selling liberal participation from a large spectrum, to fill in and full the image. An optimum mixture of top-down and bottom-up strategy with respect for variety and excellence is what’s going to take us to true self reliance and free us from the grip of vendor pushed logics that compromise our autonomy of determination making.
Anil Kakodkar is former chairman, Atomic Energy Commission of India. The views expressed are private. This is a part of a collection of articles for Nobel Prize Dialogue India 2025 that might be held in Bengaluru and Mumbai on November 3 and 5, in partnership with Tata Trusts.