The global energy landscape is constantly evolving, driven by the search for cleaner, more efficient, and sustainable power sources. Nuclear energy has long been a controversial topic in this quest, with proponents and critics passionately arguing for and against its adoption. Hence, it is crucial for everyone who cares about the climate crisis to understand the nuclear power debate and explore the benefits, drawbacks, and future prospects of this divisive energy source.
India has set for itself rather ambitious goals and targets on the global climate platform. The third largest emitter of carbon dioxide after China, and the US in 2020, India resolved to achieve the target of Net Zero at the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP 26), which translates to reduction in carbon emissions and not contributing to the amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere. India has further pledged to generate 50% of its electricity from non-fossil fuel sources, which amounts to around 500GW. This could lead to 45% reduction of emission intensity of the GDP (amount of GHG emissions for every unit of GDP) by 2030.
The electric vehicle (EV) revolution is surging forward as nations around the world aggressively strive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. With EVs being praised as a cleaner alternative to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, the demand for lithium-ion batteries, which power most EVs, has skyrocketed. However, the environmental and social impacts of lithium mining have often been overshadowed by the EV industry's green image.
Hydropower is one of the earliest renewable sources of energy, harnessing the power of water to spin turbines and produce electricity without producing greenhouse gas emissions or other pollutants. Hydropower has the potential to play a significant role in mitigating climate change, as renewable energy sources become increasingly important in reducing carbon emissions and slowing the effects of global warming.
As the human population and world economy grow, so does the energy demand. Today, the world is grappling with the daunting task of achieving a balance between energy demand and supply. However, the current energy infrastructure is neither sufficient nor sustainable. The use of non-renewable sources like coal and oil is one of the leading causes of climate change and is unsustainable, owing to its perishability. To protect the environment and address the growing energy demands at the same time, we must shift to a more sustainable energy distribution system. And that’s where the smart grids come in.
In recent years, there has been a growing focus on electric cars as a solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change. Governments around the world are offering incentives to encourage consumers to switch to electric cars, and the media is filled with stories about new electric car models and charging infrastructure.
Climate change is not a distant threat looming on the horizon! The more destructive storms, deluges, and droughts the world experiences, the more we have this sobering thought: the earth is running out of time to heal and protect itself. If India must do something significant, such as achieving net-zero emissions target by 2070, it has to ramp up efforts in adaptation and mitigation, starting from immediate crisis response to long-term planning.
India is aiming to achieve the net-zero target by 2070, which was recently emphasized during the COP27 conference held in Egypt. Indian Environment Minister Bhupendra Singh delivered the official statement at the COP27 summit, and highlighted that PM Modi announced India’s aim of achieving net zero emissions by 2070 at Glasgow, and that India is escalating its efforts towards achieving the same. “Within one year, India has submitted its Long-Term Low Emissions Growth Strategy indicating low carbon transition pathways in key economic sectors”, he added.
The ongoing climate crisis, affecting every region of the world, is increasing at the fastest rate humanity has ever witnessed before. Rising global temperatures, melting of polar ice caps, rising sea levels, and frequent climate-associated disasters such as floods, wildfires, and droughts have deterred the global economy. The IPCC AR6 report released in April 2022 highlighted the significance of climate technology that has the scope to minimize the risk of recurring impacts of climate change. In the current technological era, there is an urgent requirement for innovative technical strategies to boost climate change adaptation and mitigation. The report emphasized that by leveraging technical interventions, we can mitigate climate change.
India has its eyes on the target of reaching net-zero emissions by 2070. While it is mindful of the need for developing new technologies such as carbon capture, hydrogen use, etc. it is equally focused on increasing the share of renewable energy in its energy mix (various energy sources used to generate electricity). It aims at increasing renewable energy capacity from 157GW (as of March 2022) to 500GW by 2030, out of which 450 GW from solar and wind.
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Technology is a useful servant, but a dangerous master, it was rightly said. Electronic devices have grown into an inevitable part of our daily lives.