The world today is laced with an impending environmental crises which is no longer in books. We are seeing the disastrous consequence as Tuvalu a country located midway between Australia and Hawaii which is 26 Sq kms is sinking as a consequence of climate change. Two of Tuvalu’s nine islands are on the verge of sinking under the sea and most of the island is merely 3 meters above the sea level and is predicted to sink by 2100. Rising sea level is just one aspect of climate change. As a country are we prepared to deal with the impending disaster. Do our policies help us to manage this impending disaster and how can we act now for a sustainable future.
Today, India emits about 3.5 billion tonnes of carbon equivalent GHG emissions per year, including agricultural emissions that are about 1 billion tonnes. Emission at this rate is a crime and Strict rules should be set for carbon emission so that:India has to adopt either a low carbon pathway that keeps emissions flat at 3 to 4 billion tonnes per year or An ambitious net zero pathway to reach net zero emissions by mid-century needs to implemented
The Time to Act is NOW Policies/law that need to be changed at the state level The next big change that is needed for India is to create a net zero pathway which will mean that we will be committing to a legally binding net zero target by a fixed year say 2040. If the laws are strictly incorporated and a target is passed by our Parliament, then this will necessitate each ministry and state government to define the annual carbon budgets needed to reach net zero by the end of the century. Once a target is set, the Central and state governments will have to quickly build the necessary state capacity for monitoring and compliance
Furthermore, India requires trillions of dollars in green investments to reach a net-zero target by mid-century ie 2050. Together, a legally binding net-zero target and supportive government policies on the next two decades, will lead to massive investments in green technologies and equipment. This, in turn, will thoroughly transform electricity generation, transportation, construction, real estate, agriculture, cement, steel, and many other industries—a largely private-sector transformation, driven by private-sector capital. Green technologies are more cost-effective than brown technologies now. Massive investments in these green technologies will naturally result in higher GDP growth, higher job creation, and lower energy imports, while reducing carbon emissions and air pollution.
To achieve this target India’s laws should be directed towards decarbonisation. It has been observed that decarbonisation pathways improve the GDP by one to four percent virtually every year. With decarbonisation, Job creation will also be five to eight percent higher every year .This policy will help in additionally reduce, India’s energy import bill to go down. The three main components that are essential for laws of the next 2 decades are based on creating a bright future for India is based on the following
Firstly, Implementing a Decarbonisation policy in the next couple of years. This would mean that over the next two decades hundreds of billions of dollars spent on fossil fuels will be substituted by renewable energy, green hydrogen, and biofuels.Deep decarbonisation in India, needs to be implemented immediately so that we can see the impact happening over the next two decades. Strict regulations are needed now and the government regulations should focus on the following: Our laws of the future should start implementing strategies from 2022 itself . All our Electricity generation system will have to be transformed toonly renewable sources. Thermal power plants today emit over 40 percent ofIndia’s carbon emissions and this needs to be completely stopped.In the next few decades, India will have to commit to building no new coal-fired plants and retire its existing fleet of thermal power plants. Additionally, along with the generation system, the transmission and distribution systems will have to be rapidly reengineered for large-scale storage and remote evacuation.
India may have to impose mandates starting now so that by the mid of the century, India can transform and establish new rules to impose mandates to transform petrol and diesel into zero-emission vehicles. India should have 100 percent electric or biofuels or green hydrogen vehicles . Our laws should be made to help manufacturers and keep them prepared so that they can plan accordingly.
Thirdly, A strict policy should be formed now in relation to reduction of using fossil fuels. Industrial and commercial usage of fossil fuel (in industries such as cement, steel, and fertiliser) will be progressively restricted through a carbon emissions trading system. Under such a system, every company say, above INR 250 crores in revenues will have to provide exhaustive climate disclosures and will be granted a carbon allowance. A global system for pricing and trading carbon emissions will have to be coupled with import duties, to ensure a level playing field for all countries.
Strict rules imposed today will ensure that our country is serious about climate change . Moreover, India’s global partners will also most likely provide full support through technology transfers, preferential market access, blended capital, and helping it avoid punitive carbon import duties. Therefore being proactive about improving the laws of our country can save our country from the fatal consequences that is borne by Tuvalu. A country where Climate-related illnesses have nearly collapsed the people. Changing weather patterns have increased influenza, fungal diseases, conjunctivitis, and dengue fever, and the daily temperatures are so high that people are at daily risk of dehydration, heatstroke and heat rashes.
Are we ready to face the fate of Tuvalu soon? If not let’s act now. It is an eye opener for our policy makers to make strict changes in our country now or else we too will see our country facing the same consequence, faced by the little country of Tuvalu.
