We have all heard how much more eco-friendly trains are as compared to flights. Lower carbon emissions, for one. Many climate advocates such as Sonika Bahsin, further share measures they take to enhance this sustainability of train travel. These include carrying their own cups for drinks, packed food to avoid disposable utensils, and more. Even Hannah Ritchie, PhD, has shared in her book “Not the End of the World,” how taking less flights, especially cross-atlantic flights, can have a significant impact on reducing individual carbon emissions. While both the book and the concept of individual CO2 footprint have faced criticism, the common idea remains that flying is worse for the environment and trains are one of the most eco-friendly ways to travel large distances.
Yet, while traveling via train in India, I had to question how much of this sustainability is actually accessible. For one, getting on and off the train seems like a nightmare for those with mobility issues, unless one is travelling ins coaches dedicated to people with disabilities.
The rush and the short wait time- which might be necessary to stay on schedule- remain a horror for those with anxiety, and the upper berths and uncomfortable seating arrangements a major source of trouble for the elderly as I have been told by several family members. The often unclean bathrooms are just another extension of the same problems, especially for those with OCD but also anyone with concerns about basic bodily hygiene, though that does seem to be improving in the AC coaches. All this, alongside the fear of stolen items.
Not to mention, when we use train bathrooms we defecate on tracks and I wonder how hygienic or eco-friendly is that? Moreover, who is cleaning those tracks and if it’s a person, how does that work with human dignity? Yes, some trains have implemented bio-washrooms which use technology to separate the toxic parts of human poop but so far, in four to five trips, I’ve only noticed it once.
So yes, trains might be sustainable with lower carbon emissions but perhaps telling Indians to travel by rail isn’t the solution we in the sustainability community have been thinking it is. How bad is it that something that is meant for the masses seems like an elitist and ableist solution when looked at from the lens of my travel experience?
Yet, we as a country have made strides in sustainable development, so far as becoming one of the voices of the developing world in the latest COP30 at Brazil. Climate advocacy is also intersection as shown by the works on Youth Ki Awaz by writers and activists such as Puneet Singhal, who demands that disability focused climate-resilient infrastructure become the cornerstone of sustainable development going forward. India has also entered the top 100 countries in following the SDG goals, even if some find the same goals not adequate to address today’s needs or cultural diversity. Regardless, there is hope for Indian sustainable development, whether that is by getting better aviation fuel such as clean hydrogen- even though many have pointed out greenwashing in that sector- or developing better rail infrastructure, that not only helps travel but addresses women’s safety, cleanliness, human dignity, and more.
To learn more about ideas that talk about the social aspect of sustainable development, especially in India, stay tuned to NB News.
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Sources
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1594758®=3&lang=2
