Environmental Sustainability: Challenges, Approaches, Consequences, And Solutions For Sustainable Development In India

Abstract

India’s rapid industrialization, urban expansion, and resource-intensive economic growth have posed significant environmental sustainability challenges, including air and water pollution, land degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate change. These environmental stressors have direct consequences on public health, agricultural productivity, and ecosystem stability, thereby threatening the long-term sustainability of development goals. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the multifaceted challenges to environmental sustainability in India, including institutional, technological, and socio-economic constraints. It critically explores various contemporary approaches adopted by the Indian government, civil society, and private sector—such as renewable energy integration, waste management systems, green urban planning, and environmental legislation. The consequences of inaction are also examined through the lens of ecological decline and social disparities. Further, the study proposes integrated, inclusive, and actionable solutions that align with India's commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). The paper concludes by highlighting the need for policy convergence, interdisciplinary innovations, and participatory governance to transition toward an ecologically balanced and economically inclusive sustainable future.