What Paris climate deal means for Indians?
The agreement aims to cut down global greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming to well below 2C over pre industrial times and limit it to 1.5C
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New Delhi: Thanks to the Paris Climate Agreement, cleaner and greener cities, better transport system, energy and water efficient appliances, cleaner water bodies could become a reality for a common man in India in the next 15 years.
Along with over 170 countries, India Friday signed the Paris climate agreement that brings together the developed and developing nations to combat climate change. The agreement that aims to cut down global greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming to well below 2 degree Celsius over pre industrial times and limit it to 1.5 degree Celsius.
It was finalised at Paris in December 2015 where over 190 countries adopted it.
In run upto December 2015 Paris submit, India had declared it’s Intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs) - voluntary actions - to tackle climate change.
Apart from achieving 350 GW of renewable power and reducing the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33-35% by 2030 from 2005 levels, India had also promised introduction of new, more efficient and cleaner technologies in thermal power generation, promotion of renewable energy generation and increasing the share of alternative fuels in the overall fuel mix, reducing emissions from the transportation sector and waste, promotion of energy efficiency in the economy, notably in industry, transportation, buildings and appliances, development of climate-resilient infrastructure, and full implementation of the Green India Mission and other afforestation schemes. Read More
“Signing of the deal will lead India to invest significantly in public transport benefiting the common man. Also with huge thrust on renewable energy, solar rooftop will be a focus area," said Chandra Bhushan, who is deputy director general at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a Delhi based environment think tank.
Explaining further Bhushan said, the deal would also result in more green buildings and water efficient systems.
Among other things that India promised were energy efficient appliances including electrical appliances.
Action on some of the promises India made had already started in India. For instance, India has already undertaken a national level programme to replace all incandescent bulbs with efficient LEDs. The central government is also soon going to start a programme to replace ceiling fans with energy efficient ceiling fans.
Of the 100,000 MW of solar power targeted till 2022, 40 GW is estimated from solar rooftop. The government has already started large scale policy measures to make it possible including people and industries at large to adopt it.
The government is also taking steps to promote drop irrigation to move towards efficient agriculture - another promise that India made.
Also the environment ministry has brought out new waste management rules in the past few months. This is expected to not just control both air and water pollution but also help in generating power with waste to power plants.
Meanwhile, apart from carrying out large scale afforestation programmes, the Indian government has recently announced smart city policy that is aimed at developing cities that are climate change resilient, water and energy efficient apart from heavily replying on renewable power.
But one of the main concerns that the government has repeatedly voiced is that huge investment is required to carry out so much amount of work.
According to estimates, at least $2.5 trillion (at 2014-15 prices) will be required for meeting India’s climate change actions between now and 2030.
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