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The theme of this month’s issue is Green. For long, public apathy (and lack of understanding) allowed governments and companies to get away with planet-destroying tactics. Demands for more accountable governments and corporations have become louder only after concerted efforts to educate the public; information on green issues spreads fast thanks to the nature of social media.

The result has been less stonewalling at global climate meets, including the COP 21 in Paris last year. That’s when India agreed to reduce emissions by over 30%, and committed to increase its use of renewable energy. We have been tracking the impact of the COP 21 commitments, and says the Indian Railways is going to face a tough time. Successive governments have left passenger fares unchanged, and freight rates have not been competitive enough to take on road transport. Which leaves the Railways with little in its kitty to improve technology and services. But railway minister Suresh Prabhu seems confident that he can meet the COP 21 commitments and also build the Railways into an environmentally sustainable company. Read full story on Page 67

We then turned his sights on India’s largest corporation, the Fortune India 500 No. 1, Indian Oil Corporation. The government gave IOC and its fellow oil companies a jolt when it announced that it would implement Bharat Stage VI emission norms four years earlier than originally planned. The new deadline for implementing BS VI is 2020, giving refiners and car companies barely four years to shift from the current BS IV. Turn to page 82.

Don’t miss the feature on four entrepreneurs who have some solid ideas for a greener world. Principal photographer Yasir Iqbal travelled north and south to photograph these small businesses and came back saying there’s still hope for the planet. That’s on page 91.