Answer:

Analysis of case:

1. MNC wants to bring 2nd hand Mobiles in India for selling to consumers at a lower price.
2. Environment ministry has concerns over MNC activity in electronics.
3. Mrs. Soni had a dilemma about environment concern vs chance of getting low cost certified mobile phones.

Introduction:

Environmental ethics says that a country’s economic development should not hamper the environmental conditions and development should be the sustainable development. In the changing world order and increased globalisation era it is possible that some big countries, using their MNC can dump e-waste to developing countries under popular brand names.

Above mentioned case study highlighting the same scenario and creating questions on environment vs development, Economic development vs larger public interest.

Understanding key stakeholders in this case:

1. Environment ministry
2. Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
3. MNC
4. Common peoples
5. Environment of the country

Ans (1)

Reasons behind opposition from environment ministry

1. Breach of environmental ethics: Higher chances of more 2nd hand electronic dumping in India causes issues to ecology.
2. Higher e-waste in India creates health threats to citizens, animal and aquatic ecosystems.
3. Another important reason may be the problem of Sustainable development. Shorter lifespan of second-hand Mobiles create threat to economy as well as environment.
4. Groundwater pollution: Dumping e-waste and leaching from it creates concern for groundwater.
5. Eutrophication leading to threats to the community and their activities.

Ans (2): Analysis of conflict between Environment ministry and Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade

1. Dimension of peoples demand: DPIIT aims to create a new market and second hand mobile value chain for the benefit of consumers and with an aim to promote a circular economy.
2. Higher chances of dumping 2nd hand mobile and concern over e- Waste: That leads to the ultimate threat to the environment and bad impacts of e waste on biodiversity, human health, ground water and aquatic ecosystems.
   
3. Cooperative decision making in government affairs including all stakeholders: Two ministries should have taken a decision together after evaluating every aspect of the case. Without being affected by the prestige of that MNC.
4. Concern over monitoring of import of second hand mobile phones: In the absence of proper monitoring mechanisms there might be dumping of cheap phones in the market.

Ans (3) Course of action

In this situation Mrs. Soni should take a balanced approach considering both environment and economic development.

1. At first Mrs Soni should discuss all the matters in the cabinet meeting and try to formulate some criteria and discussion points with the environment ministry.
2. She should talk with MNC officials regarding the 2nd hand phones should be certified according to Indian standards and established scientific procedure.
3. Also, she can ask the environment ministry to make standard guidelines for such problems.
4. She can also check whether dumping occurs or not in the name of phones by using custom department collaboration and using technology for tracking.
5. To avoid future issues and similar incidents Mrs Soni should try to develop a registration portal using a technical team .

For sustainable development the environment and economy should go hand in hand considering the needs of the population. Values of one earth, principle of LiFE and circular economy could be possible ways for both the ministries to avoid next conflict . The element of sustainability and resource preservation necessary in environmental ethics.

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