Relevance: GS-3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.

Key Phrases: Indian Energy Outlook Report; Energy Access; Lack of coordinated urban planning; Mumbai Climate Action Plan; effects of climate change will cost India $35 trillion until 2070; multi-sectoral convergence and collaborative efforts.

Context

• As per Indian Energy Outlook Report 2021 (by International Energy Agency), India will become 3rd largest energy consumer by 2030.
• By 2050, electricity will have a majority share in the global energy system.
  • Renewables will become the backbone of the electricity generation system.
  • This will require countries to make a transition in how power is generated.
• Bloomberg NEF, an energy research firm, estimates that India could fall short of its 2022 renewable energy generation capacity targets by 36%.

Key Highlights

Challenges for India in meeting its Climate Change targets

• Hydrocarbons have played a major role in ensuring energy access.
  • Over the past decade, India has added new electricity connections for 50 million people each year.
  • Coal and oil have fuelled industrial growth and energy needs.
• The demand for energy is prioritised over climate change targets.
  • A 2020 study by Pew Research Centre found that 25% of the Indian population prioritises job creation, even at the cost of the environment.
• Lack of coordinated urban planning
  • As per a NITI Aayog report, there is a lack of a master plan in 65% of the country’s 7,933 urban settlements.
• Lack of established methods and procedures to account for losses due to traditional energy production activities
  • Some estimates suggest that the effects of climate change will cost India $35 trillion until 2070 without any intervention.
  • This cost doesn’t include the loss of lives lost from increased drought and floods.
• Loss in utilisable renewable energy due to climate change and pollution
  • As per IIT Delhi Report, India with 300 days of sunshine lost 29% of its utilisable solar irradiance due to air pollution.

Achievements of India regarding Climate Change

• Mumbai recently unveiled Climate Action Plan (MCAP) to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050.
  • It is an integrative master plan and is grounded in multi-sectoral convergence and collaborative efforts.
  • It has secured a commitment from private power generators to supply 3400 MW of power from renewable energy sources.
  • IIT Mumbai has tied up with Indian Meteorological Department to develop sensors to better measure GHG emissions.
• India set itself an ambitious goal of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel electricity capacity.
  • The current renewable energy capacity is 160 GW.
  • This target was announced at COP 26 and is to be achieved by 2030.
  • In 2021, India added 10 GW of solar capacity or 62% of all new power generation capacity added in 2021.
• Recent Union and State budgets have initiatives regarding climate change.
  • But, these need to be integrated into a concerted approach to ensure that these deliver as per the plan.
• Delhi government has announced that 1 lakh “green” jobs to be created in five years.
  • This must be woven into a multi-state effort to counter the loss of jobs from the closing of thermal power stations.
  • This is as per recommendations of the eight-year national “just transition” strategy.

What should India do to catch up and meet its 2030 goals?

• Diversify and strengthen renewable energy sources.
  • Rooftop solar power projects must be given a boost.
  • Households should be incentivised for such projects.
  • Run of river projects, Offshore wind power plants can be explored.
• Urban planning must include GHG emission targets.
  • Investment in housing to reduce direct and indirect GHG emissions.
  • Electrifying public transport and increasing its accessibility, affordability, and availability.
  • More walkable roads and space for cycling must be built.
  • Flood resistant drainage systems should be put in place.
  • Securing commitments from private power generators to deliver electricity from renewable-only power sources.
• Increasing funds for Green-tech
  • Front-loading investments to cater to the demand for green infra.
  • India will need higher investment in grid infrastructure, grid automation, distributed grids, and battery storage systems.
  • All relevant technologies related to the above sectors exist today but it needs sharper focus for putting them to good use.
• Accurate monitoring system to measure climate change mitigation and losses due to climate change.
  • Due to the rising pollution level, Gigawatt hours is a more representative way to measure solar power generation capacity instead of the number of days of sunshine.
  • Lives lost due to climate change-related disasters must be factored in.
• Reducing emissions
  • There is a need to boost the efficiency of appliances and systems.
  • This can be achieved through initiatives like the National mission on enhanced energy efficiency (NMEEE).

Conclusion

• At the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogues in 2017, Angus McCrone, Chief Editor of Bloomberg NEF, said: “India is an important example of what happens to emissions worldwide.” We must lead by example.

Source: The Hindu BL

Mains Question

Q. What are the challenges to meeting India’s climate change targets? What have been India’s achievements in climate change mitigation? Suggest a suitable way forward.