What’s the news?

• In the face of mounting global concerns about climate change, India is firmly committed to reducing emissions and championing green energy initiatives

Central idea

• In recent years, environmentalists have expressed growing concern about the deteriorating state of our planet. Their apprehensions are substantiated by a century-long analysis of temperature data, revealing a significant 1.10°C increase in Earth’s temperature from 1880 to 2022. This upward trend in temperatures has dire implications, with experts predicting severe social, economic, and environmental consequences.

Climate change challenges

• Temperature Rise: Earth’s temperature increased by approximately 1.10 degrees Celsius from 1880 to 2022. This temperature rise is expected to result in major social, economic, and environmental problems.
• Extreme Weather Events: More frequent climate-related disasters, including droughts, forest fires, ice melting, rising sea levels, flooding, and cyclones, are occurring globally. These events significantly impact people’s lives and livelihoods.
• Climate Refugees: Rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and other climate-induced events are leading to the migration of communities.
• Agricultural Disruption: Climate change disrupts agricultural production, potentially leading to food shortages, rising commodity prices, and increased poverty.
• Resource Conflicts: Climate change can exacerbate conflicts over limited resources such as water and arable land as competition intensifies in resource-scarce areas.
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The burning of fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and gas, contributes significantly to climate problems. These activities generate greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane), which trap heat in the atmosphere, causing global warming.
• Global Warming: Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb heat, preventing it from being adequately reflected into space. This phenomenon intensifies global warming.

The role of green energy

• Green Energy Definition: Green power is electricity produced from sources such as wind, sun, biomass, geothermal, biogas, and low-impact small hydropower projects.
• Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Green energy is a major solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as it doesn’t produce significant carbon dioxide or other pollutants during electricity generation.
• Diverse Green Energy Sources:

• Wind Energy: Generated using turbines harnessing wind power.
• Solar Energy: Produced from sunlight using solar panels.
• Biomass: Utilizes organic material like wood and agricultural residue for energy.
• Geothermal: Extracts heat from the Earth’s core for power generation.
• Biogas: Captures methane from decomposing organic matter.
• Low-Impact Small Hydropower: Uses natural water flow for electricity generation with minimal environmental impact.

• Reducing Fossil Fuel Dependence: Transitioning to green energy reduces reliance on conventional fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas, thereby curbing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Sustainable and Renewable: Green energy sources are sustainable, relying on replenishable natural processes for long-term energy production while minimizing environmental harm.

Environmentally Friendly Practices

• Promotion of Public Transport: Encouraging the use of public transportation to reduce carbon emissions from individual vehicles.
• Electric Vehicles (EVs): Advocating for the adoption of electric vehicles as a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional combustion engine vehicles.
• Non-Motorized Transport: Promoting non-motorized transport options, such as walking and cycling, to reduce the reliance on motorized vehicles.
• Energy-Efficient Gadgets: Encouraging the use of energy-efficient electronic devices and appliances to reduce energy consumption.
• Sustainable Diet: Highlighting concerns about the consumption of non-vegetarian food, especially red meat, due to its resource-intensive nature.
• Reduce, Reuse, Repair, and Recycle: Advocating for practices that reduce waste generation, including reusing and recycling products and resources like water and waste materials.

International Commitments

• UN Call for Net-Zero Emissions: The United Nations (UN) has called upon world leaders to achieve net-zero emissions by the year 2050.
• Climate Finance Support: Industrialized countries have been asked to provide $100 billion annually as climate finance to support developing countries in their climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.

India’s Role in Emission Reduction

• Commitment to Renewable Energy: India has made substantial commitments to expanding its renewable energy capacity. The country aims to achieve 50% of its power generation from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030 and reach net-zero emissions by 2070.
• Solar Energy Expansion: India has been actively promoting solar energy through initiatives like the National Solar Mission. By the end of 2022, India had installed 63.30 gigawatts of solar power capacity. States like Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Karnataka have made significant progress in this regard.
• Bio-Energy Programs: The National Bio-energy Programme focuses on generating energy from biomass, such as agricultural residue, wood, and solid waste. Over 800 biomass plants have been installed in various states, contributing to 10.73 gigawatts of installed capacity.
• Green Hydrogen Mission: India launched the National Green Hydrogen Mission in 2023, with the goal of producing about 5 million metric tonnes of green hydrogen per year by 2030. This initiative is a step towards clean energy generation.
• Wind and Hydro Energy: India also emphasizes wind energy, wind-solar hybrid projects, and small hydro projects, which together contribute significantly to its renewable energy capacity.
• Government Support: The Indian government allocates significant funds to support renewable energy projects. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) allocated substantial funding in 2023-24, prioritizing solar and wind energy initiatives.

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Challenges

• Continued Reliance on Fossil Fuels: India still heavily depends on fossil fuels, with about 60 percent of installed capacity coming from conventional sources.
• Energy Import Dependency: A significant portion of oil (about 85 percent) and gas (about 45 percent) is imported annually, posing challenges related to energy security.
• Rising Energy Demand: Meeting the growing energy demands driven by urbanization, infrastructure expansion, and industrial production is a pressing challenge.

Way Forward

• Reducing Dependency on Non-Renewables: India must decrease its reliance on non-renewable resources, particularly fossil fuels, to mitigate emissions and environmental impact.
• Self-Reliance in Green Energy: Achieving self-reliance in green energy production is vital to meeting future energy needs sustainably.
• Effective Implementation of Green Initiatives: Ensuring the successful implementation of green energy initiatives and the maintenance of green assets created is crucial.
• Affordable and Efficient Alternatives: Providing cost-effective and efficient alternatives, such as renewable energy solutions and energy-efficient technologies, can facilitate the adoption of green practices.
• Shift in Habits and Attitudes: Encouraging changes in consumption patterns and fostering a more environmentally responsible mindset among the public is imperative for a successful transition to green energy and sustainability.

Conclusion

• Climate change is a global crisis that demands immediate action. India’s commitment to green energy initiatives is a significant step toward mitigating the effects of climate change. However, a concerted effort is required from governments, industries, and individuals to transition to sustainable practices and secure a greener future for all.

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