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(GIST OF KURUKSHETRA) Mitigating Environmental Issues : February 2023

(GIST OF KURUKSHETRA) Mitigating Environmental Issues

Greenhouses gases are generated by burning fossil fuels for energy production which are responsible for global climate change posing great environmental threat.
Energy consumption accounts for 60 per cent of the total greenhouse gas emissions. As per World Energy Outlook 2021 of International Energy Agency (IEA), the current share of India in global primary energy consumption is 6.1 percent.
Over 80 percent of India’s energy needs are met by three fuels: coal, oil and solid biomass.
In the energy sectors (both for developing and developed countries) widespread use of renewable energy is important for achieving sustainability.
A transition to cleaner forms of energy has already begun in many countries, with the fast rate of technological innovation and cost reduction.
Renewable energy technologies could be deployed more rapidly if energy policies addressed both the subsidies and impacts of fossil fuels while facilitating more finance for renewable energy projects.

Long-Term Low-Carbon Development Strategy submitted by India under United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) focuses on the rational utilisation of national resources with due regard to energy security.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has two central sector schemes that address climate change.
India at the COP 26-UNFCCC presented ‘Panchamrit’ of India’s climate action.
The Union Cabinet has also given its approval to introduce the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme in High Efficiency Solar PV Modules for Enhancing India’s Manufacturing Capabilities and Enhancing Exports. It aims to reduce import dependence in the area of energy sector.
Green Energy Corridors is another programme implemented by MNRE in the country to promote renewable energy sources, to create an intra-state transmission system for renewable energy projects.
Central financial assistance is provided to set up transmission infrastructure for evacuation of Power from Renewable Energy projects.
Recently, Modhera, a village in Gujarat was declared as India’s first solar-powered village. Conversion to a clean.

The Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022 has been passed which focus on the use of non-fossil energy (biomass, ethanol, green hydrogen) to decarbonise Indian economy.
It will also allow carbon credit trading. These initiatives will help India achieve targets of the Paris Climate Agreement and significantly contribute towards reducing the pollution load and thereby mitigating environmental problems.
It will also have bearing on the targets set in the Global Biodiversity Framework under the COP-15 of Convention on Biological Diversity to protect the world’s biodiversity.

To build up solar PV manufacturing capacity of high efficiency modules.
To bring cuffing-edge technology to India for manufacturing high efficiency modules. Technologies which yield better module performance will be incentivised.
To promote setting up of integrated plants for better quality control and competitiveness.
To develop ecosystem for sourcing of local material in solar manufacturing.
Employment generation and technological self sufficiency.
To encourage sustainable manufacturing practices and adoption of circular economy approaches.

Renewable energy technologies need to be strengthened by education and training programs (knowledge awareness). Further, the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022 has been passed which focus on the use of non-fossil energy (biomass, ethanol, green hydrogen) to decarbonise Indian economy. It will also allow carbon credit trading.
These initiatives will help India achieve targets of Paris Climate Agreement and significantly contributes towards reducing the pollution load and thereby mitigating environmental problems. It will also have bearing on the targets set in Global Biodiversity Framework under the COP-15 of Convention on Biological Diversity to protect the world's biodiversity.