Veteran Indian MP and energy specialist Suresh Prabhu visited Melbourne earlier this month. He served in the Parliament over four consecutive terms until 2009 and was a senior minister responsible for a range of portfolios, including energy. At a special forum for the Australia India Institute he discussed the challenges and opportunities for providing the infrastructure and services required by India's 1.3 billion citizens. Many believe that these issues have the makings of a global crisis. And yet through a mix of technological innovations, global best practices, and India's traditional wisdom he argues it is possible to meet the need without significantly enhancing the country's carbon footprint.