CHENNAI: Environmental protection can be achieved at a low cost, according to Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and Quetelet Professor of Sustainable Development.

Pointing out that India was one of the nations with a high degree of coal consumption, Professor Sachs said that while meeting its energy requirements, the nation could use the fuel in a way safe to environment. He referred to the recent discussions with the Andhra Pradesh Government on the application of the technology of carbon capture and sequestration. The State Government was eager to examine it.

Professor Sachs was delivering a talk after receiving this year’s Dr. M.S. Swaminathan Award, instituted by the Rotary Club of Madras East and sponsored by CavinKare, for environment protection.

Noting that the challenge of environment protection was far from over, he said it continued to be a growing crisis, be it in India or the United States. He emphasised the need for the U.S. to play a critical role in finding solutions to the problem of climate change.

He praised the Rotary movement for its work in the area of polio immunisation and The Hindu for its contribution to public understanding of subjects such as environment. Referring to his project of Millennium Villages, Professor Sac hs said the idea came from Dr. Swaminathan.

Presenting the award, N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu, said Professor Sachs had a legendary role in the battle of ideas relating to development, poverty and environment.

Though India was recording high growth in different sectors such as information technology and biotechnology, the scale of poverty and deprivation in the country had been underestimated.

In the area of climate change, he called for public debate and action to put pressure on the Government and others to do much more than what they were till now doing, he added.

Dr. Swaminathan, agriculture scientist, praised Professor Sachs’ work in the areas of poverty eradication and environment protection. K. Ganesan, president, Rotary Club of Madras East, and C.K. Ranganathan, chairman and managing director of CavinKare, were among those who participated in the function.