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Low-Carbon Future - World leaders get serious
Read more on - Polity | Economy | Schemes | S&T | Environment
- The story: In April 2021, US President organised the Leaders’ Climate Summit, and the debate on India's net-zero emissions targets started again.
- The broader picture: U.S. President Joe Biden's convening 40 world leaders — including 17 of the biggest carbon emitting countries — in the virtual summit aimed at aligning global ambitions on greenhouse gas reduction and relaunching the United States as a leader in the fight against climate change. Biden was expected to commit the US to a 50 percent decrease in greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels by 2030. The target would almost double one set by President Barack Obama under the 2015 Paris climate accord, although how Biden plans to get there is not yet known.
- The cuts are in line with those recommended by U.N. experts in order to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and prevent the catastrophic effects associated with any further increase.
- U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the world was “on the verge of the abyss,” with 2020 going down in history as one of the three hottest years ever recorded.
- The White House announcement follows a similar one made by the European Union, the third largest carbon emitter. The bloc has adopted new targets to reduce carbon emissions by 55 percent on 1990 levels, with the legal muscle to enforce the goals expected to come in June.
- China's approach: While the second and third highest emitters are making their ambitious goals, the White House hopes the dramatic cuts convince China, the number one carbon emitter, to follow suit. China has committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2060, but plans to hit peak emissions by 2030—risking further environmental damage between now and then. That Xi Jinping agreed to attend the virtual summit was a good sign, if only to “at least allow some leeway for Chinese officials to reach out to their U.S. counterparts.”
- India’s approach: The IPCC 1.5°C report called for global carbon emissions to reach net-zero by 2050. India being a climate-vulnerable country, it must contribute to limit the global temperature rise ideally below 1.5°C. While doing so, it should not lose sight of the history of global climate negotiations and its own developmental needs. By announcing net-zero commitment, India risks taking a heavier burden of decarbonisation than many wealthier countries. Hence focused near-term sectoral transformations through aggressive adoption of technologies can be adopted.
- De-carbonise power sector: The electricity sector is the single largest source (about 40%) of India’s greenhouse gas emissions, and de-carbonising it would require transformational changes in urbanisation and industrial development. Electricity should be used for transport and integrating electric systems into urban planning, and so far, electricity sector was focussed on expanding renewable electricity capacity-175GW of renewable capacity by 2022. It now needs a comprehensive shift going beyond expanding the renewable energy targets. This can be done by limiting the expansion of coal-based electricity capacity.
- How to do: India can pledge that it will not grow its coal-fired power capacity beyond what is already announced and reach peak coal electricity capacity by 2030. Then, it should strive to make existing coal-based generation cleaner and more efficient.
- The multi-stakeholder "Just Transition Commission" can be created to represent all levels of government and affected communities to ensure decent livelihood opportunities to people in the India’s coal belt.
- This is necessary because the transition costs of a brighter low-carbon future should not fall on the backs of India’s poor.
- Existing problems of the sector such as the poor finances and management of distribution companies needs to be addressed.
- India will need to work hard to become a leader in technologies of the future such as electricity storage, smart grids and technologies that enable the electrification of other sectors such as transportation.
- Energy services: Growing urbanisation and uptake of electricity services offer a good opportunity to shape energy consumption within buildings through proactive measures. Air conditioners, fans and refrigerators together consume about 60% of the electricity in households. India could set aggressive targets- 80% of air conditioner sales and 50% of fan and refrigerator sales in 2030- should be most efficient. This will reduce green house gas emissions and benefit the consumer by lowering their electricity bills. India can leverage this transition too as an opportunity to become a global leader in production of clean appliances. Such a sector-by-sector approach can be developed for other sectors which can set a path towards net zero emissions and achieve the Paris Agreement targets. India can also come out with timelines for achieving climate targets.
- Timelines: India can also consider committing to submit plausible pathways and timelines to achieving net-zero emissions as part of its future pledges. It can undertake detailed assessments of its development needs and low-carbon opportunities, the possible pace of technological developments, and can also assess the potential geo-political and geo-economic risks of over-dependence on certain countries for technologies or materials. It can use interim period to develop a strategic road map to enhance its own technology and manufacturing competence as part of the global clean energy supply chain.
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