Vol. 1, Issue 5, Part D (2015)

Abstract
This paper is to what extent it is reasonable to hold individuals and institutions responsible for environmental problems. A distinction is made between backward looking and forward looking responsibility. Previously, individuals were not seen as being responsible for environmental problems, but an idea that is now sometimes implicitly or explicitly embraced in the public debate on cleaning and sanitary problems that individuals are appropriate targets for blame when they perform actions that are harmful to the environment. It is argued that instead of blaming individuals for performing actions that are not eco-friendly we should ascribe forward looking responsibility to individuals, a notion that focuses more on capacity and resources than causation and blameworthiness. In line with that testimony, India has established the “Clean India” (Swach Barath). An active and continuous social responsibility initiative to make our communities cleaner, greener and more eco-friendly through conservation, minimization of waste and efficient usage of energy resources to curb global warming and climate change.