Whose sustainability counts? Reflections on an Indian oasis and the drive for certified bamboo

Abstract

This paper traces a controversial development in India called Lavasa. Lavasa is a new hill station being created in Maharashtra, which aims to tap into a new eco-city trend of urban development. In order to ascertain “world-class” status, the city requires globally recognized standards. This study follows the Forest Stewardship Council certification process. This seemingly easy model of bamboo certification assisted in identifying underlying existing local tensions regarding land tenure, indigenous people's rights, potential landslide areas, and inequitable pay for women. Through a focus on one site of consumption and production, the paper explores two linked issues: the global “branding” of sustainable cities and sustainable product certification. Whilst both the city and certification reproduced neoliberal spaces of governance, a performativity lens highlighted the political outcomes of envisioning different “realities”. The paper argues that the concerns of distributional equity are a major challenge developing countries face in advancing sustainability.