Develop or Die?

Sustainable Development has become the mantra of the 21st Century. No other concept has had a profound impact on institutional decision-making; forcing governments to change policies and companies to re-think how they do business.

First commissioned for the BBC this series is made up of two episodes filmed on location in India, China, Vietnam and Malaysia and the third programme an Outside Broadcast debate from Mumbai (Bombay).

This series looks at the challenges now facing Asia; how to develop their economies whilst at the same time handling the growing pressure - mainly from the developed world - to protect the environment, combat pollution and deal with climate change.

Episode 1 – Asia’s big hitters

We look at India's growing automotive industry from Bangalore to the Punjab. The country now has an unstoppable love affair with the motor car which is raising concern in the developed world in respect to air pollution on the sub-continent. Ironically, it is also home to the Reva electric car – known in London as the G-Wizz, which has zero emissions.

We look at China's breakneck construction. The country will have more new housing than the current stock of the 15 largest countries of the European Union by 2020. Chongqing, in Central China is set to double in size to over 20 million in the same time frame. While in Rizhao, on the north eastern seaboard, 90 percent of the homes have solar-thermal heaters, due to government legislation.

Episode 2 – Asia’s growing tigers

In Vietnam we look at the country’s burgeoning tourism industry, already coming under pressure not to develop unsustainably like its neighbour Thailand.

We look at agriculture and in particular the multi-billion dollar palm oil business in Malaysia. The crop creates global controversy. Conservation versus economic development, using it for food or for fuel, pitting the livelihoods of indigenous people against the demands of consumers in the West, the crop finds itself at the nexus of all these conflicts and challenges.

Episode 3 to be released...

Croatian subs, english audio