By Arnab Jyoti Das, India
Few countries in the world are as vulnerable to the effects of climate
change as India is with its vast population that is dependent on the growth of
its agrarian economy, its expansive coastal areas and the Himalayan region and
islands. In 2014, the World Health Organisation (WHO) in its Ambient Air
Pollution (AAP) database, revealed that thirteen of top 20 dirtiest cities were
Indian. Delhi topped the list followed by Patna, Gwalior and Raipur.
Realizing the problem, the government formulated a policy for abatement of
pollution providing multi-pronged strategies in the form of regulations,
legislations, agreements, fiscal incentives etc. Over time, the thrust has
shifted from curative to preventive measures through adoption of clean technology,
reuse and recycling, natural resource accounting, environmental audit to bring
about sustainable development.
A recent example is the Rs 2,315 crore Hubli-Ankola railway line cutting
across the Western Ghats in Karnataka which has been shown a red signal by the
Supreme Court of India’s panel on forest and wildlife, which said that the
project’s “huge and irreparable” ecological impact would “far outweigh” its
actual tangible benefits.
Mobile enforcement teams have also been deployed on regular basis at
various locations for prosecution of polluting vehicles and not having
Pollution under control (PUC) certificates. The broad policy framework on
environment and climate change has been laid down by the National Environment
Policy (NEP) 2006, which promotes sustainable development along with respect
for ecological constraints and the imperatives of social justice.
The country has a definite plan of action for clean energy, energy
efficiency in various sectors of industries, steps to achieve lower emission
intensity in the automobile and transport sector, a major thrust to non-fossil
based electricity generation and a building sector based on energy
conservation. Wind energy has been the predominant contributor to the renewable
energy growth in India accounting for 23.76 GW (65.2%) of the renewable
installed capacity, making India the 5th largest wind power producer in the
world.
Solar power is poised to grow significantly with solar mission as a major
initiative of the Government of India. Solar power installed capacity has
increased from only 3.7 MW in 2005 to about 4060 MW in 2015, with a CAGR of
more than 100% over the decade. The ambitious solar expansion programme seeks
to enhance the capacity to 100 GW by 2022, which is expected to be scaled up further
thereafter.
India's investment in climate change appears to be ramping up domestically
as well. People are very particular in buying any vehicle or electrical
equipment, they look for fuel economy and power savings guide certified by the
Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). The best way forward is by making
investments in leapfrog technologies such as ‘100% renewable energy’.
Dharnai in Bihar (India), is a shining example. The village faces extreme
poverty, and high illiteracy rates. But life in Dharnai has transformed in the
10 months since an affordable solar grid arrived, the first village in India
where all aspects of life are powered by solar energy. Battery backup ensures
power is available around the clock and solar water pumps has improved the access
of farmers to fresh water resources.
The story of Dharnai ‘solar-powered micro-grid’ could be an exemplary model
for bringing clean energy to all and combat climate change. People argue that
renewable sources of power are not financially viable, especially for
developing economies but they need to realize that any prototype of any model
is always the most expensive to build.
It is through constant improvement that we reach an optimized process; this
is a cornerstone upon which industry has been built and it is through this
principle that I believe we can make our transition to a new era in sustainable
development.
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