Average surface temperature predictions for the Indian sub-continent
In keeping with the recently announced voluntary and unilateral targets to reduce the emissions intensity of its increasing GDP, the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) of the Government of India has just put together an Expert Group with an objective of making India a Low Carbon Economy. Predicted to be one of the worst climate change affected regions in the near future, India has already gotten on its toes with the various Indian states putting together their Action Plans on tackling climate change and by taking the lead in calling for global cooperation on green technology.
And the Government is also ensuring that the implementation of these targets be built into a strategy for the Twelfth Five Year Plan, consistent with the national objectives of poverty alleviation, sustainable development and inclusive growth. The objective of setting up the Expert Group is to put together all existing case studies on low carbon growth pouring in from across the country. Once this is done, a coherent view of potential options will be taken to evolve a mutually consistent strategy for a low carbon development.
Along with this policy development measure, other recent initiatives taken up by the Government include setting up of the Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA), a Himalayan Glaciers Monitoring Programme, a National Policy on biofuels, converting 30 urban centers into “solar cities”, intensification of Forest Management, etc. There is also a plan to launch a micro-satellite to monitor GHG emissions and study aerosol and soot particles this year. The country recently also made public its GHG Emission Pathways until 2030 under different assumptions showing India will remain a minor per capita emitter at least until 2030. The Government already has a Solar Mission in pace, leading up to an installed capacity of 20,000 MW by the year 2022. The mission has a very focused R&D program addressing India-specific challenges in promoting solar energy.
With a history as old as mankind itself, the Indian sub-continent has seen many a civilizations rise and fall. Climate change poses a threat to the very existence of the human species on the Planet. We saw world leaders realize the urgency but still not ready to act in Copenhagen. With the ball now in every country’s court, India’s certainly taken the first step in the right direction by exploring and compiling the various climate change mitigation measures that exist locally. How far will this be able to work will be decided not just by its implementation but also by similar global measures that should hopefully echo from other countries as well.
Image Source: Krishna Kumar et al, 2009
Absolutely. I would also add that India needs international help to make all these measures a reality. The Indian government has recently announced they might have to reduce their ambition regarding the solar mission because of a lack of money! http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/global-warming/-Solar-mission-goal-may-be-scaled-down-80-percent-/articleshow/5426454.cms
The European Union, who has recently acknowledged the importance of India in climate, is the best placed to help! Europe’s got technologies and experience.