Abstract
In managing sustainability risks, the SES approach has, of late, been criticised for putting too much emphasis on environmental issues and not fully considering the depth of social issues such as justice. This approach, thus, is now considering both the safe environmental and the just social operating spaces for long term well-being of the earth. Following this new turn, this paper will close-read a Bengali short story of Jhareswar Chattopadhyay, “Hawa Chash” (Farming of Air), to underline the sustainability risks involved in the use of renewable energy like wind power. The story shows how officials of a company deceive Javed, a poor resident of the Sundarbans, and seize his land to launch a wind power project. Instead of paying him the price of the land, they promise him an honorarium, which also, ultimately, is not paid. The project, however, does not succeed. As the wind velocity over the sea decreases, the blades of the windmill fail to move even slightly and power generation comes to a halt. Through a discourse analysis of this story, this paper seeks to demonstrate that the production of renewable energy is not entirely in human hands; rather, the success of such projects depends significantly on the whims of nature, which should be considered a hidden risk in projects like this. It will further show how systemic sustainability risks arise from the “interplay between humans and ecosystems at multiple scales” and suggest measures to minimise them.
Presenters
Angshuman KarProfessor, English and Culture Studies, The University of Burdwan, West Bengal, India
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2026 Special Focus—Unseen Unsustainability: Addressing Hidden Risks to Long-Term Wellbeing for All
KEYWORDS
SUSTAINABILITY RISKS, SES APPROACH, RENEWABLE ENERGY, WIND POWER, JUSTICE
