What is climate change?

Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-

induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale
shifts in weather patterns.
Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the
mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth’s
climate system and caused change on a global scale

 Climate Change is a periodic modification of Earth’s climate

brought about due to the changes in the atmosphere as well as
the interactions between the atmosphere and various other
geological, chemical, biological and geographical factors within
the Earth’s system.
 Climate change can make weather patterns less predictable.
These unforeseen weather patterns can make it difficult to
maintain and grow crops, making agriculture-dependent
countries like India vulnerable.
 It is also causing damaging weather events like more frequent
and intense hurricanes, floods, cyclones, flooding etc.
 Due to the rising temperature caused by climate change, the ice
in the polar regions is melting at an accelerated rate, causing
sea levels to rise. This is damaging the coastlines due to the
increased flooding and erosion.
 The cause of the current rapid climate change is due to human
activities and threatening the very survival of humankind.
 The largest driver of warming is the emission of gases that
create a greenhouse effect, of which more than 90% are carbon
dioxide (CO2) and methan
 Fossil fuel burning (coal, oil, and natural gas) for energy
consumption is the main source of these emissions, with
additional contributions from agriculture, deforestation, and
manufacturing.
 Temperature rise is accelerated or tempered by climate
feedbacks, such as loss of sunlight-reflecting snow and ice
cover, increased water vapour (a greenhouse gas itself), and
changes to land and ocean carbon sinks.
 Temperature rise on land is about twice the global average
increase, leading to desert expansion and more common heat
waves and wildfires.
  Temperature rise is also amplified in the Arctic, where it has
contributed to melting permafrost, glacial retreat and sea ice
loss.
 Warmer temperatures are increasing rates of evaporation,
causing more intense storms and weather extremes.
 Impacts on ecosystems include the relocation or extinction of
many species as their environment changes, most immediately
in coral reefs, mountains, and the Arctic.
 Climate change threatens people with food insecurity, water
scarcity, flooding, infectious diseases, extreme heat, economic
losses, and displacement.
 These human impacts have led the World Health Organization to
call climate change the greatest threat to global health in the
21st century.
 Even if efforts to minimise future warming are successful, some
effects will continue for centuries, including rising sea levels,
rising ocean temperatures, and ocean acidification.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has issued a

series of reports that project significant increases in these impacts as
warming continues to 1.5 °C (2.7 °F) and beyond. Additional warming also
increases the risk of triggering critical thresholds called tipping points.
Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, nations collectively agreed to keep
warming “well under 2.0 °C (3.6 °F)” through mitigation efforts. However,
with pledges made under the Agreement, global warming would still reach
about 2.8 °C (5.0 °F) by the end of the century.

 What causes global warming?

A: Global warming occurs when carbon dioxide (CO2) and

other air pollutants collect in the atmosphere and absorb
sunlight and solar radiation that have bounced off the
earth’s surface. Normally this radiation would escape into
space, but these pollutants, which can last for years to
centuries in the atmosphere, trap the heat and cause the
planet to get hotter. These heat-trapping pollutants—
specifically carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, water
vapor, and synthetic fluorinated gases—are known as
greenhouse gases, and their impact is called the greenhouse
effect.
Evidence For Rapid Climate Change In India
 Global Temperature Rise: The planet’s average surface temperature has
risen about 1.62 degrees Fahrenheit (0.9 degrees Celsius) since the late 19th
century, a change driven largely by increased carbon dioxide and other
human-made emissions into the atmosphere. Most of the warming occurred in
the past 35 years, with the five warmest years on record taking place since
2010.
 Warming Oceans: The oceans have absorbed much of this increased heat,
with the top 700 meters (about 2,300 feet) of ocean showing warming of more
than 0.4 degrees Fahrenheit since 1969.
 Shrinking Ice Sheets: The Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have
decreased in mass. Data from NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Climate
Experiment show Greenland lost an average of 286 billion tons of ice per year
between 1993 and 2016, while Antarctica lost about 127 billion tons of ice per
year during the same time period. The rate of Antarctica ice mass loss has
tripled in the last decade.
 Glacial Retreat: Glaciers are retreating almost everywhere around the world
— including in the Alps, Himalayas, Andes, Rockies, Alaska, and Africa.
 Decreased Snow Cover: Satellite observations reveal that the amount of
spring snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere has decreased over the past
five decades and that the snow is melting earlier.
 Sea Level Rise: Global sea level rose about 8 inches in the last century. The
rate in the last two decades, however, is nearly double that of the last century
and is accelerating slightly every year.
 Declining Arctic Sea Ice: Both the extent and thickness of Arctic sea ice has
declined rapidly over the last several decades.
 Extreme Events: The number of record high-temperature events in the
United States has been increasing, while the number of record low-
temperature events has been decreasing, since 1950. The U.S. has also
witnessed increasing numbers of intense rainfall events.
 Ocean Acidification: Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the
acidity of surface ocean waters has increased by about 30 percent. This
increase is the result of humans emitting more carbon dioxide into the
atmosphere and hence more being absorbed into the oceans. The amount of
carbon dioxide absorbed by the upper layer of the oceans is increasing by
about 2 billion tons per year.

Climate Fragility Risks in India

“A New Climate for Peace: Taking Action on Climate and Fragility
Risks”, an independent report commissioned by members of the G7,
identifies seven compound climate-fragility risks that pose serious threats
to the stability of states and societies in the decades ahead:

 Local resource competition: As the pressure on natural resources

increases, competition can lead to instability and even violent conflict in the
absence of effective dispute resolution.
 Livelihood insecurity and migration: Climate changes will increase the
human insecurity of people who depend on natural resources for their
 livelihoods, which could push them to migrate or turn to illegal sources of
income.
 Extreme weather events and disasters: Extreme weather events and
disasters will exacerbate fragility challenges and can increase people’s
vulnerability and grievances, especially in conflict-affected situations.
 Volatile food prices and provision: Climate change is highly likely to
disrupt food production in many regions, increasing prices and market
volatility, and heightening the risk of protests, rioting, and civil conflict.
 Transboundary water management: Transboundary waters are frequently
a source of tension; as demand grows and climate impacts affect availability
and quality, competition over water use will likely increase the pressure on
existing governance structures.
 Sea-level rise and coastal degradation: Rising sea levels will threaten the
viability of low-lying areas even before they are submerged, leading to social
disruption, displacement, and migration, while disagreements over maritime
boundaries and ocean resources may increase.
 Unintended effects of climate policies: As climate adaptation and
mitigation policies are more broadly implemented, the risks of unintended
negative effects—particularly in fragile contexts—will also increase.

 Factors that cause climate change

A) Natural Factors:
There are numerous natural factors that cause the Earth’s
climate to change. They affect the climate over a period of
thousands to millions of years.

o Continental Drift: The present-day continents were not

the same prior to 200 million years.They have formed
millions of years ago when the landmass began to drift
apart due to plate displacement.This movement had an
impact on climate change due to the change on the
landmass’s physical features and position and the change
in water bodies’ position like the change in the follow of
ocean currents and winds.The drifting of the landmass is
continued today. The Himalayan range is rising
approximately 1 millimetre every year as the Indian
landmass is moving towards the Asian landmass.
o Variation of the Earth’s orbit:The Earth’s orbit has an
impact on the sunlight’s seasonal distribution that is
reaching the Earth’s surface.A slight change in the Earth’s
orbit can lead to variation in distribution across the
world.There are very few changes to the average
sunshine. However, it causes a high impact on the
geographical and seasonal distribution.There are three
types of orbital variations – variations in Earth’s
eccentricity, variations in the tilt angle of the Earth’s axis
of rotation and precession of Earth’s axis.These together
can cause Milankovitch cycles, which have a huge impact
 on climate and are well-known for their connection to the
glacial and interglacial periods.The Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change finding showed that the
Milankovitch cycles had influenced the behaviour of ice
formation
o Plate tectonics:Due to the change in the temperature in
the core of the Earth, the mantle plumes and convection
currents forced the Earth’s Plates to adjust leading to the
rearrangement of the Earth Plate.This can influence the
global and local patterns of climate and atmosphere.The
oceans’ geometry is determined by the continents’
position. Therefore, the position of the continents
influences the pattern of the ocean.The location of the sea
also plays a crucial role in controlling the transfer of heat
and moisture across the globe and determines the global
climate.The recent example of the tectonic control on
ocean circulation is the formation of the Isthmus of
Panama about 5 million years ago, leading to the
prevention of direct mixing of the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans.
o Volcanic Activity:When a volcano erupts, it emits gases
and dust particles, causing a partial block of the Sunrays.
This can lead to the cooling of the weather.Though the
volcanic activities last only for a few days, the gases and
ashes released by it can last for a long period, leading to it
influencing climate patterns.Sulphur oxide emitted by the
volcanic activities can combine with water to form tiny
droplets of sulphuric acid. These droplets are so small that
many of them can stay in the air for several years.
o Ocean Currents:Ocean current is one of the major
components of the climate system.It is driven by
horizontal winds causing the movement of the water
against the sea surface.The temperature differences of the
water influence the climate of the region.

B) Anthropogenic Factors:
Scientists, since the beginning of the 20th century, have studied
the impact of climate change caused by human activities.
Global warming, the long-term rise in the average temperature
of the Earth’s climate system, is a major aspect of climate
change. It is mainly a human-caused increase in global surface
temperature. The anthropogenic factors causing climate change
are as follows:

o Greenhouse Gases:The greenhouse gases absorb heat

radiation from the sun. Following the initiation of the
Industrial Revolution, the emission of greenhouse gases
into the atmosphere has increased exponentially.This has
led to more absorption and retaining the heat in the
atmosphere. This resulted in an increase in Global
Temperature.The greenhouse gases mostly do not absorb
the solar radiation but absorb most of the infrared emitted
by the Earth’s surface.
 The main greenhouse gases include
 water vapour (the majority of the GHG in the
atmosphere but the impact is less)
 Carbon dioxide released due to natural and
anthropogenic factors spends more time in the
atmosphere, leading to an increase in its
impact. There has been a 30% increase in the
concentration of CO2 since the start of the
industrial revolution. Apart from the industrial
revolution, deforestation also contributes to the
increase in the CO
 Chlorofluorocarbons, used for industrial
purposes, especially in refrigerants and air
conditioning, is a man-made compound
regulated under the Montreal Protocol due to
their adverse effects on the Ozone layers.
 Methane is released due to decomposition of
organic matter. It is stronger than CO2 because
of its capacity to absorb more heat.
 Nitrous oxide is produced by the agricultural
sector, especially in the production and use of
organic fertilizers and while burning fossil
fuels.
o Change in the land use pattern: Half of the land-use
change is said to have happened during the industrial
 era.Most of the forests were replaced by agricultural
cropping and grazing of lands.The increased albedo
(reflectivity of an object in space) in the snow-covered
high altitude regions due to deforestation led to the
cooling of the planet’s surface. The lower the albedo, the
more of the Sun’s radiation gets absorbed by the planet
and the temperatures will rise. If the albedo is higher and
the Earth is more reflective, the more of the radiation is
returned to space, leading to the cooling of the planet.The
tropical deforestation changes the evapotranspiration
rates (the amount of water vapour put in the atmosphere
through evaporation and transpiration from trees), causes
desertification and affects soil moisture
characteristics.From the satellite imagery, it is seen that
the clearing of forest cover for agriculture and irrigated
farming in arid and semi-arid lands can increase solar
energy absorption and the amount of moisture evaporated
into the atmosphere.
o Atmospheric aerosols: Atmospheric aerosol
can: Scatter and absorb the solar and infrared radiation,
change microphysical and chemical properties of the
clouds, Solar radiation, when scattered, cools the planet.
On the other hand, when the aerosols absorb solar
radiation, it causes an increase in the temperature of the
air instead of allowing the sunlight to be absorbed by the
Earth’s surface. Aerosols can directly affect climate
change by absorbing or reflecting solar radiation. They can
also produce indirect effects by modifying the cloud’s
formation and properties.They can even be transported
thousands of kilometres away from its source through
wind and upper-level circulation in the atmosphere.
 There are two types of aerosols – Natural aerosols
and Anthropogenic aerosols.
 The sources of natural aerosols include
volcanic eruptions (produces sulphate aerosols)
and biogenic sources like planktons (can
produce dimethyl sulphide).
  The anthropogenic aerosols include: The
ammonia used for fertilizers or released by the
burning of plants and other organic materials
forms a major source for Nitrate aerosols.
Burning of coal and oil produces sulphur
dioxide that forms a major source of sulphate
aerosols. Burning of biomass can release a
combination of organic droplets and soot
particles.Industrial activities cause the release
of wide-ranging aerosols into the atmosphere.
Vehicle emissions can produce numerous
pollutants that are aerosol from the beginning
or becomes one due to chemical reactions in
the atmosphere. It is found that the
concentration of aerosols is about three times
higher in the Northern Hemisphere than in the
Southern Hemisphere, leading to the Northern
Hemisphere’s radiation concentration being
50% higher than that of the Southern
Hemisphere.

Impacts of Climate Change

A rise in atmospheric temperature:

 The greenhouse gases released due to human activities are

increasing the temperature of the Earth.
 The last 6 years topped the list of hottest years ever recorded.
 The increase in temperature is the major cause of the current
increase in heat-related deaths and illnesses, rise in sea levels
and an increase in the intensity of natural disasters.
 The 20th century saw an increase in the Earth’s average
temperature by 1°F. This is believed to be the fastest rise in a
thousand years.
 Research estimates predict that if the GHGs are not reduced,
the average surface temperature could increase to 3-5°F by the
end of this century.

Change in landscapes:

 Increasing temperature and changing climate and weather

patterns across the globe led to the shift of trees and plants
towards Polar Regions and mountains.
 As the vegetation tries to adapt to climate change by moving
towards colder regions, the animals that are dependent on them
will be forced to follow them for survival. While some survive,
many perish in the attempt.
 Other species like polar bears dependent on cold terrains will
not have any habitat due to the melting of ice, causing a risk to
their survival.
 Thus, the current hasty change in the landscape causes a
considerable risk to the survival of many species, including the
human population.

A risk to the ecosystem:

 An increase in the temperature across the globe is changing the

weather and vegetation patterns, causing the species to
migrate to cooler areas for survival.
  This poses a threat to the survival of numerous species. It is
projected that by 2050, one-fourth of the Earth’s species may
become extinct if the current trend continues.

Rising sea levels:

 An increase in the temperature of the Earth leads to a rise in

sea level due to the thermal expansion (a condition wherein the
warm water takes up more area than cooler water). The melting
of glaciers adds to this problem.
 The population living in under-lying areas, islands and coasts
are threatened by the rising sea levels.
 It erodes shorelines, damages properties and destroys
ecosystems like mangroves and wetlands that protect coasts
from storms.
 In the last 100 years, the sea level has risen to 4-8 inches and
will continue to rise between 4 and 36 inches in the next 100
years.

Ocean Acidification:

 The increase in the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere has

increased the CO2 absorption in the ocean. This makes the
ocean acidic.
 The increase in the acidification of the ocean can be harmful to
many marine species like plankton, molluscs, etc. The corals are
especially susceptible to this as they find it difficult to create
and maintain the skeletal structures needed for their survival.

Increase in the risk of natural and manmade disasters:

 The moisture from land and water is rapidly evaporating due to

the high atmospheric temperature.
 This causes drought. Those areas that are affected by drought
are highly susceptible to the negative effects of flooding.
  As this current condition, the droughts may become more
frequent and more severe. This may lead to distressing
consequences for agriculture, water security, and health.
 Countries in Asia and Africa are already facing this
phenomenon, with droughts becoming longer and more intense.
 The increased temperature is not only causing droughts but also
increasing the cases of forest fires across the globe.
 Climate change is also causing increased and intensified
hurricanes and tropical storms, causing a devastating impact on
human societies and the environment.
 The cause of this is the rise in the ocean temperature as warm
waters influence the energies of hurricanes and tropical storms
energies.
 The other factors that cause intensified hurricane and tropical
storms are rising sea levels, disappearing wetlands and
increased coastal development.

Health issues:

 The high temperature across the globe can pose health risks
and deaths.
 The increased heat waves caused by climate change have led to
the deaths of many globally.
 For instance, in 2003, the extreme heat waves led to the death
of more than 20,000 people in Europe and caused more than
1,500 deaths in India.
 Climate change increases the spreading of contagious diseases
as the long-term warm weather allows disease-carrying insects,
animals and microbes to survive longer.
 Disease and pests that were once confined to the tropics may
find it habitable in the colder regions that were previously
inhospitable.
 Currently, there is an increase in death due to extreme heat,
natural disasters and diseases due to climate change.
 The World Health Organisation estimates that between 2030
and 2050, climate change may cause approximately 250,000
additional deaths per year due to malnutrition, malaria,
diarrhoea and extreme heat.
Economic impacts:

 It is estimated that if action is not taken to address the carbon

emissions, climate change could cost about 5 to 20% of the
annual global GDP.
 In contrast, the cost to lessen the most damaging effects of
climate change is just 1% of the GDP.
 Climate change can alter shoreline habitats. This may lead to
the need for relocation of ports and near-shore infrastructures
and habitats, costing about millions of dollars.
 The increased hurricanes and other related natural disasters
can bring forth extreme economic losses caused by damaged
properties and infrastructures.
 Declining crop yields due to the lengthy droughts and high
temperatures can lead to a risk of starvation of thousands of
people.
 Coral reefs generate approximately $375 billion each year in
goods and services. Their very survival is currently under
threat.

Agriculture productivity and food security:

 The crop cultivation is dependent on solar radiation, favourable

temperature and precipitation.
 Hence, agriculture has always been dependent on climate
patterns.
 The current climate change
 has affected agricultural productivity, food supply and food
security.
 These effects are biophysical, ecological and economic.
 They resulted in:
 Climate and agricultural zones are moving towards poles
 There is a change in the agricultural production pattern due to
increased atmospheric temperature
 Agricultural productivity has increased due to the rise in CO2 in
the atmosphere.
 Unpredictable precipitation patterns
  The vulnerability of the landless and the poor has increased.

Climate Change affecting India

India was the fifth most affected country by climate change:

1. It was not shocking when Germanwatch, an environmental non-

profit think tank, reported in 2018, that India was the fifth most
affected country by climate change, globally.
2. In the last two years, the country has been hit by at least one extreme
climate event every month.
3. According to the World Risk Index 2020, India is the fourth-most-at-
risk country in South Asia, after Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
4. There is no doubt that climate change is real and its implications are
disastrous.
5. Historically, internal migration in India occurred due to factors like
ethnicity, kinship, work opportunities, or access to better healthcare and
education .
6. More recently, climate disasters also contribute
to displacement (involuntary and unplanned) and migration (voluntary
and planned) in India.
7. In 2018 alone, nearly 7 million Indians were either displaced or have
migrated due to climate-induced distress.

 One of the major areas that will be extremely vulnerable to

climate change in the future is South Asia.
 India especially will be vulnerable to climate change due to
its diverse terrain, rapid use of natural resources due to
 the current trend of precipitous urbanisation,
industrialisation and economic growth.
 Water and air quality are worsening each day due to
environmental pollution.
 Those that are especially susceptible to climate change are the
country’s coastal ecosystems, biodiversity and
agricultural productivity.
 The natural disasters’ increasing frequency and
intensity are causing negative effects to the already struggling
Indian economy.
 The adverse effects of such disasters range from poverty,
vulnerability to diseases, loss of income and livelihoods.
 According to the World Bank, an increase of 2°C in the world’s
average temperature in the next few decades will only
make India’s monsoon more unpredictable.
 The changing rain patterns in India are predicted to leave
many areas flooded and others without water scarcity.
 More than 60% of India’s agriculture is dependent on
rain and the majority of the population are dependent on the
agriculture sector for survival. This makes India more vulnerable
to climate change.
 It is estimated that by the 2050s, with a temperature increase
of 2-2.5°C, water in the river basins of Indus, Ganges and
Brahmaputra will be reduced. This may threaten the food
security of about 63 million people.
 Poor will be more vulnerable to climate change since many
of them are dependent on the rain-dependent agriculture.
 An increase of 2°C by the 2040s is going to affect crop
production and will reduce the crop output by 12%, requiring
more imports to meet the domestic demands.
 The melting glaciers and loss of snow can pose a risk to
reliable water resources in India.
 Main rivers like Ganges, Indus, and Brahmaputra mostly depend
on snow and glacial meltwater. This makes them vulnerable to
global warming.
 Climate change can further increase the risk of flooding of
low areas and threatens agriculture.
 Intensity of cyclone to increase
  Sea surge height may increase to 7.46 metres
 Sea level rise will be higher than global average
 Sunderbans and Darjeeling hill to have more rain
 The Indian Himalayan region:-
o The Himalayas, which represent about 16.2 per cent of the
total area of the country, are not only a key watershed of
India but also play a crucial role in the monsoon system.
Climate change impacts on the mountain range can affect
the entire sub-continent
o The mean temperature of the Himalayas has gone up by
0.6°C in the past 30 years; the frequency of warmer days
is also increasing
o The northeastern states of India, particularly parts of
Assam and Manipur, are vulnerable
o Flash flood due to glacial lake outbursts may lead to
landslides and affect large-scale food security
o Himalayan glaciers melting faster than others elsewhere in
the world
o Productivity of apple has decreased by 2-3% over the past
few years. This will go down further
o Projected increase in intensity of rainy days is 2-12% in
the Himalayan region

Climate Fragility Risks in India

“A New Climate for Peace: Taking Action on Climate and Fragility
Risks”, an independent report commissioned by members of the G7,
identifies seven compound climate-fragility risks that pose serious threats
to the stability of states and societies in the decades ahead:

 Local resource competition: As the pressure on natural resources

increases, competition can lead to instability and even violent conflict in the
absence of effective dispute resolution.
 Livelihood insecurity and migration: Climate changes will increase the
human insecurity of people who depend on natural resources for their
livelihoods, which could push them to migrate or turn to illegal sources of
income.
 Extreme weather events and disasters: Extreme weather events and
disasters will exacerbate fragility challenges and can increase people’s
vulnerability and grievances, especially in conflict-affected situations.
 Volatile food prices and provision: Climate change is highly likely to
disrupt food production in many regions, increasing prices and market
volatility, and heightening the risk of protests, rioting, and civil conflict.
  Transboundary water management: Transboundary waters are frequently
a source of tension; as demand grows and climate impacts affect availability
and quality, competition over water use will likely increase the pressure on
existing governance structures.
 Sea-level rise and coastal degradation: Rising sea levels will threaten the
viability of low-lying areas even before they are submerged, leading to social
disruption, displacement, and migration, while disagreements over maritime
boundaries and ocean resources may increase.
 Unintended effects of climate policies: As climate adaptation and
mitigation policies are more broadly implemented, the risks of unintended
negative effects—particularly in fragile contexts—will also increase.

India’s Efforts to Counter Climate Change

 India is the world’s third largest economy and fifth largest

greenhouse gas (GHG) emitter, accounting for about 5% of
global emissions. India’s emissions increased 65% between
1990 and 2005 and are projected to grow another 70% by 2020.
 By other measures, India’s emissions are low compared to those
of other major economies. India accounts for only 2% of
cumulative energy-related emissions since 1850. On a per
capita basis, India’s emissions are 70% below the world average
and 93% below those of the United States.
 India is also at the frontlines of facing the impacts of climate
change. Shifting rainfall patterns, recurring floods,
stronger cyclones and droughts or soil erosion are
exacerbating the challenge of poverty eradication and
necessitate the allocation of scarce national resources for
preventing loss of human life.
 Despite resource constraints, India is undertaking ambitious
actions to undertake adaptation and mitigation actions,
including thorough lowering of the energy intensity of our
economic growth, increasing energy efficiency across sectors
and making greater use of renewable.
 India has doubled the Clean Energy Cess on coal, which very
few countries have, and the Clean Energy Fund already has over
3 billion US dollars to be used for promoting clean technologies
India’s National Solar Mission is being scaled up five-fold from
20,000 megawatts to 100,000 megawatts.
 This will mean an additional investment of 100 billion dollars
and savings of about 165 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per
year.
 India is releasing 6 billion US dollars in one go for intensive
afforestation which will result in more carbon sinks.
 India has allocated about 200 million US dollars for
the ‘National Adaptation Fund’, setting-up of Ultra Mega
Solar Projects, Ultra-Modern Super Critical Coal Based
Thermal Power Technology, and the development of Solar
Parks on canals.
 Another initiative is “100 Smart Cities’ with integrated
policies for adaptation and mitigation to reduce the vulnerability
and exposure of urban areas to climate change and also to
improve their energy efficiency for which 1.2 billion US dollars
have been allocated. India has put in place stringent norms for
the cement industry.
 Our Action Plan for cleaning one of the longest rivers in the
world, River Ganga will bring multiple benefits of pollution
reduction and climate adaptation. We have also taken initiatives
for protecting coastal, Himalayan, and forest areas.
 India has initiated preparations to develop a National Air
Quality Index and have launched a National Air Quality
 Scheme. Setting-up of Ultra Mega Solar Projects in Tamil Nadu,
Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Ladakh to promote
renewable energy.

National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)

 As a part of the NAPCC, the Indian government had launched 8
missions in focused areas. They are:
o National Solar Mission
 The NAPCC aims to promote the development and
use of solar energy for power generation and other
uses with the ultimate objective of making solar
competitive with fossil-based energy options.
 The plan includes: specific goals for increasing use of
solar thermal technologies in urban areas, industry,
and commercial establishments; a goal of increasing
production of photovoltaic to 1000 MW/year; and a
goal of deploying at least 1000 MW of solar thermal
power generation.
 Other objectives include the establishment of a solar
research centre, increased international
 collaboration on technology development,
strengthening of domestic manufacturing capacity,
and increased government funding and international
support.
o National Mission for Enhanced Energy
Efficiency: Initiatives based on increasing the energy use
efficiency were expected to yield savings of 10,000 MW by
2012. Building on the Energy Conservation Act 2001, the
plan recommends:
 Mandating specific energy consumption decreases in
large energy-consuming industries, with a system for
companies to trade energy-savings certificates;
 Energy incentives, including reduced taxes on
energy-efficient appliances; and
 Financing for public-private partnerships to reduce
energy consumption through demand-side
management programs in the municipal, buildings
and agricultural sectors.
o National Mission on Sustainable Habitat: To promote
energy efficiency as a core component of urban planning,
the plan calls for:
 Extending the existing Energy Conservation Building
Code;
 A greater emphasis on urban waste management
and recycling, including power production from
waste;
 Strengthening the enforcement of automotive fuel
economy standards and using pricing measures to
encourage the purchase of efficient vehicles;
 Incentives for the use of public transportation.
o National Water Mission: With water scarcity projected
to worsen as a result of climate change, the plan sets a
goal of a 20% improvement in water use efficiency
through pricing and other measures.
o National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan
Ecosystem: The plan aims to conserve biodiversity, forest
cover, and other ecological values in the Himalayan
region, where glaciers that are a major source of India’s
 water supply are projected to recede as a result of global
warming.
o National Mission for a “Green India” Goals: Goals
include the afforestation of 6 million hectares of degraded
forest lands and expanding forest cover from 23% to 33%
of India’s territory.
o National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture: The
plan aims to support climate adaptation in agriculture
through the development of climate-resilient crops,
expansion of weather insurance mechanisms, and
agricultural practices.
o National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate
Change: To gain a better understanding of climate
science, impacts and challenges, the plan envisions a new
Climate Science Research Fund, improved climate
modelling, and increased international collaboration. It
also encourages private sector initiatives to develop
adaptation and mitigation technologies through venture
capital funds.

 International Solar Alliance (ISA)

 State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC): State
governments have drafted climate strategies aligned with the
eight National Missions under the NAPCC. The strategies focus
on issues ranging from climate mitigation, energy efficiency,
and resource conservation to climate adaptation.
 FAME Scheme for E-mobility: Union Government in April
2015 launched Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and
Electric vehicles (FAME) – India Scheme with an aim to boost
sales of eco-friendly vehicles in the country. It is a part of the
National Mission for Electric Mobility.
 Atal Mission for Rejuvenation & Urban Transformation
(AMRUT) for Smart Cities.
 Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana: The scheme provides LPG
connections to five crore below-poverty-line beneficiaries. The
connections are given in the name of women beneficiaries to
reduce their dependence on fossil fuels and conventional fuel
like cow dung for cooking food, thus reducing air pollution.
  UJALA scheme: The scheme was launched by the Prime
Minister Narendra Modi in January 2015 with a target of
replacing 77 crore incandescent lamps with LED bulbs. The
usage of LED bulbs will not only result in reducing electricity
bills but also help in environment protection.

India in the international forums on climate change:

 India is currently setting up voluntary targets in the

international forums to commit itself to the mission to
combat climate change. It is also playing a major role in
climate change mitigation.
 India’s proactive role in mitigating climate change is due to the
domestic compulsion of tackling issues like the need for poverty
eradication, food and nutritional security, universalization of
health and education, water security, sustainable energy,
employment.
 India is of the opinion that the developing countries’ need for
inclusive growth, sustainable development, poverty eradication
and universal access to energy must be made the fundamental
differentiation between them and the developed nations.
Currently, the Conventions recognise the historical emissions of
the developed nations as the basis for differentiation between
the developed and developing nations.

Efforts taken at the international level to combat climate change

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

 The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the UN

Environment Programme (UNEP) founded the IPCC to provide for
a mechanism to study the effects of global warming at a
governmental level.
 IPCC is a UN body that assesses the science related to climate
change.
 It provides the policymakers with regular scientific assessments
on climate change, its implications and potential future risks
while also providing adaptation and mitigation options.
  It complements UNFCCC and vice versa.

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

(UNFCCC):

 It came to force on 21st March 1994.

 The 195 countries that have ratified it are called the Parties to
the Convention.
 The UNFCC is a Rio Convention, one of the three adopted at the
Rio Earth Summit in 1992. The others include the UN
Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Convention to
Combat Desertification.
 The Joint Liaison Group was established to ensure cooperation
among the three Conventions.
 Currently, it also consists of the Ramsar Convention on
Wetlands.
 The ultimate aim of the Convention is to stabilize the
greenhouse gas concentration “at a level that would prevent
dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system”.
 It also aims to achieve the said level within a specific period so
that the ecosystem is allowed to adapt naturally to climate
change while also ensuring food security and sustainable
economic development.
 Following its establishment, the COP1 (first Conference of
Parties) was held in Berlin, COP2 was held in Geneva and the
COP3 was held in Kyoto to adopt the “Kyoto Protocol” that
ensures the implementation of the UNFCCC’s objective.

Kyoto Protocol:

 Kyoto Protocols was adopted in Kyoto, Japan on 11th December

1997 and came to force on 16th February 2005
 Its signatories are committed towards the achievement of
emission reduction targets.
 COP 7 held in Morocco in 2001 saw the adoption of the detailed
rules for the implementation of the protocol. These are referred
to as “Marrakesh Accords”.
  This protocol holds the developed countries accountable for the
current high levels of GHG emissions into the atmosphere due
to their role in the industrial revolution.
 Kyoto Mechanism, also known as Flexible Mechanism, is defined
under the Kyoto Protocol to lower the overall cost of achieving
the emission targets. It includes Emission Trading, the Clean
Development Mechanism and Joint Implementation.
 In December 2012, the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol
was adopted. The changes made include:
 New commitments were made by Annex I Parties (developed
nations and Economies in Transition) to be implemented
between the period of 1st January 2013 and 31st December
2020.
 A revised list of GHG that is to be reported by the Parties during
the second commitment period
 Amendments were made to update several articles of the Kyoto
Protocol to be on par with the second commitment period.
 The Kyoto Protocol is a significant step towards the reduction of
global emission regime that will allow the stabilisation of GHG
emissions.

Paris Agreement:

 Signed in 2016, it is considered to be the world’s first

comprehensive climate agreement.
 It aims to:
 Keep the global temperature well below 2°C above pre
industrial times and endeavour to limit them even more to
1.5°C.
 Strengthen the nations’ ability to combat the adverse impacts
of climate change.
 The Paris Accord calls for a reduction of the GHGs emitted due
to human activities equal to that of the trees, soil and oceans so
that they can be absorbed naturally.
 As per the Agreement, each country’s contribution towards
cutting emission must be reviewed every 5 years.
  It also states that rich countries must help the poorer nations by
providing them with “Climate finances” to make them shift
towards renewable energy usage.
 The agreement is binding in some elements like reporting
requirements. Other elements of the agreement are non-binding
like the emission targets of the individual nations.
 The Paris Agreement necessitates all Parties to put forth their
best efforts through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
and to strengthen these efforts in the future.
 This also includes the need for regular reporting emissions and
implementation by the parties.
 India’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC)
includes the reduction in the intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35%
by 2030 from 2005 level. Additionally, it has pledged to
increase the share of non-fossil fuel-based electricity by 40% by
2030. It has also agreed to enhance its forest cover, which will
absorb 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 by 2030.

REDD+

 Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation

(REDD+) is a mechanism developed by Parties of the UNFCCC.
 It creates financial value for the carbon stored in forests to offer
incentives for the developing nations to reduce emissions from
forested lands and invest in low-carbon paths.
 The developing nations will receive results-based payments for
results-based actions.
 The REDD+ goes beyond simply deforestation and forest
degradation by including the role of conservation, sustainable
management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon
stocks.
 It is estimated that the financial flows for the GHG emission
reduction from REDD+ could reach up to $30 billion per year.
 This improved North-South flow of funds can ensure a
significant reduction of carbon emissions and the promotion of
inclusive development. It could also improve biodiversity
conservation and secure vital ecosystem services.
  Forests are a vital carbon sink and thus, it is vital to increase its
resilience to climate change.

Responses: mitigation and adaptation

 Climate change impacts can be mitigated by reducing

greenhouse gas emissions and by enhancing sinks that absorb
greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
 In order to limit global warming to less than 1.5 °C with a high
likelihood of success, global greenhouse gas emissions needs to
be net-zero by 2050, or by 2070 with a 2 °C target .
 This requires far-reaching, systemic changes on an
unprecedented scale in energy, land, cities, transport, buildings,
and industry.
 Scenarios that limit global warming to 1.5 °C often describe
reaching net negative emissions at some point.
 To make progress towards a goal of limiting warming to 2 °C,
the United Nations Environment Programme estimates that,
within the next decade, countries need to triple the amount of
reductions they have committed to in their current Paris
Agreements; an even greater level of reduction is required to
meet the 1.5 °C goal.
 Although there is no single pathway to limit global warming to
1.5 or 2.0 °C (2.7 or 3.6 °F), most scenarios and strategies see a
major increase in the use of renewable energy in combination
with increased energy efficiency measures to generate the
needed greenhouse gas reductions.
 To reduce pressures on ecosystems and enhance their carbon
sequestration capabilities, changes would also be necessary in
agriculture and forestry, such as restoring natural ecosystems
by reforestation.
 Other approaches to mitigating climate change entail a higher
level of risk. Scenarios that limit global warming to 1.5 °C
typically project the large-scale use of carbon dioxide removal
methods over the 21st century.

The Way Forward

  Wealthy nations like the U.S., and those of the EU argued that
emissions from developing countries are consistently rising and
they need to commit to more serious emission cuts. A
consensus needs to be developed at the earliest.
 The immediate up-scaling of ambition in the second
Commitment period of Kyoto Protocol and its early ratification
by all Kyoto Protocol parties would be a step in the right
direction.
 Concerning mitigation, distinction enshrined in the Convention
between Annex I (Developed) and nonAnnex I (developing)
Parties must be maintained in accordance with the principles of
Equity, CBDR and other provisions of the UN Conventions.
 The ‘developing versus developed country’ schism needs to be
diluted at the earliest and Developed Countries should avoid
watering down the CBDR principle envisaged in earlier
agreements.

RENEWABLE ENERGY
What Is Renewable Energy?

 Renewable energy, often referred to as clean energy, comes

from natural sources or processes that are constantly
replenished. For example, sunlight or wind keep shining and
blowing, even if their availability depends on time and weather.

INDIA’S ENERGY MIX

Types of Renewable Energy Sources
The most common renewable power technologies include:
Wind
This takes advantage of wind motion to generate electricity. Wind motion
is brought about by the heat from the sun, and rotation of the earth,
mainly via the Coriolis Effect.
Solar
It taps heat from the sun to produce energy for the generation of
electricity, heating, lighting homes and commercial buildings.
Hydropower
Utilizes moving water to produce electricity. Moving water creates high
energy that can be harnessed and turned into power.
Biomass
Organic matter that constitutes plants is referred to as biomass, which
can be utilized to generate electricity, chemicals or fuels to power
vehicles.
Ocean
Takes advantage of rising and falling of tides to generate electricity
Geothermal
Leverages heat from underneath the earth to generate electricity.

Key Points
  Dedicated Project Development Cells have been established
to facilitate investors ensuring ‘Ease of Doing Business’.
 India’s renewable power capacity is the fourth largest in the
world and is growing at the fastest speed among all major
countries.
o India is a big market and a lot of countries are attracted
towards it in terms of One Sun, One World, One Grid
and International Solar Alliance.
 The renewable energy capacity in India is currently 136 Giga
Watts, which is about 36% of its total capacity.

o Target for capacity increase is 450GW by 2030, increasing

25GW every year as we move forward.
 Per capita consumption of energy in India is quite low as
compared globally.
 Power sector, being primarily dependent on fossil fuels, is one
of prime sources of air pollution.

Why Renewable Energy

 Sustainable: Energy generated from renewable sources will be

cleaner and greener and more sustainable.
 Employment opportunities: Inclusion of a newer technology
simply means more employment opportunities for the working
population of the country.
 Market assurance: From the economy point of view,
renewable sources provide the market and revenue assurance
which no other resources can provide.
 Power supply: Providing 24*7 power supply to 100% of the
households, sustainable form of transports are some of the
goals that can only be achieved through sustainable power that
comes from renewables.

Government Initiatives

 As part of its commitment to create awareness about energy

efficiency as a resource and also to develop an action plan for
energy conservation initiatives, Bureau of Energy Efficiency
 (BEE) and Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE), had
released the ‘State Energy Efficiency Preparedness
Index’, which assesses state policies and programmes aimed at
improving energy efficiency across various sectors.
 The National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency
(NMEEE) is one of the eight national missions under the
National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).

 NMEEE has the following schemes:

o Perform Achieve and Trade Scheme (PAT)
o Market Transformation for Energy Efficiency (MTEE)
o Energy Efficiency Financing Platform (EEFP)
o Framework for Energy Efficient Economic Development
(FEED)
 Other government initiatives include:
o DeenDayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGKY)
o Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS)
o UDAY
o Soubhagya
o Power for All 24*7
o Ujala
 Other technological innovations and initiatives
o Electric vehicles –No Licence required for charging stations
o Smart Metering- Procurement of 50 lakh smart meters
done
o Energy efficiency- Energy Star labeling program
o Energy Conservation Building Code for energy efficient
buildings launched in June 2017
 Vidyut Pravah – The Mobile/Web App provides real-time
information of current demand met, shortages if any, surplus
power available and the prices in Power Exchange.
 UJALA (Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All) – App
provides real-time updates on the LED distribution happening
across the country.
 UrjaMitra – monitoring of power availability and sending power
cut information through SMS.
 MERIT–information pertaining to marginal variable cost and
source wise purchase of electricity.
  URJA (Urban Jyoti Abhiyaan) – It is an informative App for
Urban Distribution Sector. It captures Consumer-centric
parameters from the IT systems created under IPDS.
 TARANG (Transmission App for real-time monitoring &
Growth) – It is an IT Web/mobile-based platform to provide the
status of both inter and intrastate Transmission Projects in the
country. This platform also shows the prospective interstate as
well as intrastate Transmission Projects.
 DEEP e-bidding (Discovery of Efficient Electricity Price)
– The portal will provide a common e-bidding platform with e-
reverse auction facility to facilitate nation-wide power
procurement through a wider network so as to bring uniformity
and transparency in the process of power procurement.
 Ash Track- linking fly ash users and power plants for better ash
utilization.

CHALLENGES IN THE RENEWABLE ENERGY SECTOR FOR

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Despite the progress India has made in developing the renewable
energy sector, the country still faces barriers. Offtaker risk, lack of
infrastructure, lack of financial intermediaries, and limited understanding
from investors are the four main challenges to overcome.
Offtaker risk. This refers to the risk that the buyer may not fulfill the
contractual obligations or will delay or make incomplete payments.
Offtakers are primarily state-owned public-sector distribution companies.
Given the poor financial health of India’s distribution companies, there is a
risk of lagged or incomplete payments. In 2015 the total outstanding debt
of distribution companies was approximately $64 billion.
Offtaker risk increases the overall risk of the renewable energy projects.
To address this issue, the government has implemented Ujwal DISCOM
Assurance Yojana, which aims at reducing operational inefficiencies and
improving the financial performance of distribution companies. The
program mandates to take over 75% of distribution company debt and
turn it into state-guaranteed bonds.
Lack of infrastructure. Inefficiencies from the lack of infrastructure to
generate and distribute electricity are a key barrier to foreign investment.
Moreover, the time taken to obtain permits for building and operating the
transmission evacuation infrastructure is very long. These delays increase
project construction time, which postpones the commissioning of new
projects and ultimately revenues and profits.
Lack of financial intermediaries. Another barrier for Indian institutional
investors is a shortage of financial intermediaries in the renewable energy
sector. These actors are needed to provide proper information about
investment opportunities.
Limited understanding. Renewables lie outside traditional investments,
and potential investors are often wary because of their limited
understanding of the sector. Domestic institutional investors typically
invest in less risky securities and prefer more liquid assets with good
credit ratings, which are not available in renewable energy projects.

PATHWAYS FORWARD
According to a report by the Climate Policy Initiative, total investment
needed for India to meet its renewable energy targets by 2022 is $189.15
billion, 27% of which is required to be invested in wind, 37% for utility-
scale solar projects, 32% for solar rooftop projects, and 4% for biomass
and small hydropower projects. Several pathways are available for India to
overcome the four challenges outlined above and meet these investment
needs. These include foreign direct investment (FDI), domestic
investment, and financial incentives.
FDI. According to data from the Department for Promotion of Industry and
Internal Trade, cumulative FDI inflows in the power sector from 2000 to
2020 were around $15 billion, which is around 3% of total FDI inflows.
The government allowed 100% of FDI under the automatic route to the
power sector in 2012, easing the approval process.
This included investment in the generation and transmission of electricity
through hydroelectric dams, fossil fuel–based thermal power plants,
renewable energy generation and distribution, distribution of electricity to
households, industrial commercial users, and power trading. There has
been an increase in penetration of nonconventional sources of energy in
the Indian market, which have seen rising FDI participation.
Domestic investment. As a result of economic reforms and liberalization
policies across sectors implemented since the early 1990s, both the
private and public sectors have shown a sharp growth in investments,
especially in the power sector.
The potential investments that are available for renewable projects
amount to $411 billion, double the required investment target.
Despite large government investments, India’s energy sector relies on the
private sector more than ever as public-sector resources are more
directed toward public health and sustaining livelihoods.
Therefore, to attract private investment, the government has encouraged
the participation of nonfinancial banking companies, launched a new
investment fund, initiated the rationalization of tariffs, released subsidies,
and improved the bankability of power purchase agreements.
Financial incentives. Alternative debt vehicles such as “green” asset-
backed securities could be potential financial instruments for encouraging
investment in sustainable energy infrastructure.
By pooling renewable energy assets from different companies and
geographies at various points in their operational lifecycles, banks and
other financial institutions can hedge the risks associated with individual
renewable energy projects.
Green investment banks are government-funded entities that “crowd in”
private investment in low-carbon assets, provide debt for projects with
existing capital reserves, and raise funds through the issuance of bonds
and creation of asset-backed securities.
Governments can issue green bonds through private or public banks, the
World Bank, or regional development banks to attract both domestic and
international investors, which expands the investor base and incentivizes
private players interested in cleaner energy.
Indian green bonds are very much in demand overseas. With many
countries aiming for a green recovery from the recession caused by the
Covid-19 pandemic, central banks may induce liquidity in the markets,
including through issuing green bonds.

What are Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)

Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), also known as green energy
certificates or tradable renewable certificates are proof that
energy has been generated from renewable sources such as solar
or wind power. Each REC represents the environmental benefits of
1MWh of renewable energy generation. When you purchase RECs,
renewable energy is generated on your behalf.
Significance:

 It is a market based mechanism which will help the states meet

their regulatory requirements (such as Renewable Purchase
Obligations (RPOs)) by overcoming the geographical constraints
on existing renewable potential in different states.
 RECs unbundle the electricity component (commodity) from the
green/environmental attributes of the power generated from
renewable sources. Both the components can then be traded
separately.
 Thus, RECs help in incentivizing the production of renewable
energy over and above the RPO state limit as tradable
certificates are not constrained by the geographical limitations
of commodity electricity.

Need for removal of GST:

RECs are being charged GST, while bundled power (RECs plus electricity,
irrespective of source) or even just electricity are devoid of the same.

 Cost of electricity generation from renewable energy

sources is classified as cost of electricity
generation (equivalent to conventional energy sources) and
the cost of environmental attributes. REC is the environmental
attribute of the electricity derived from RE.
 As per regulations, RPO compliance through REC is at par with
sourcing electricity directly from RE. Therefore, GST
applicable on the sale of RECs negatively affects its
parity with similar electricity sale alternatives, be it
conventional or renewable.
 Moreover discoms, the major buyer of RECs (around 50-60 per
cent), do not get GST credit; and the increase in their cost of
RPO compliance will translate to increased tariff for the end
consumer.
What is green hydrogen?
Hydrogen when produced by electrolysis using renewable energy is known
as Green Hydrogen which has no carbon footprint.

 The hydrogen that is in use today is produced using fossil fuels,

which is the primary source.
 Organic materials such as fossil fuels and biomass are used for
releasing hydrogen through chemical processes.

Significance of Green Hydrogen:

1. Green hydrogen energy is vital for India to meet its Nationally

Determined Contribution (INDC) Targets and ensure regional and
national energy security, access and availability.
2. Green Hydrogen can act as an energy storage option, which would be
essential to meet intermittencies (of renewable energy) in the future.
3. In terms of mobility, for long distance mobilisations for either urban
freight movement within cities and states or for passengers, Green
Hydrogen can be used in railways, large ships, buses or trucks, etc.

Applications of green hydrogen:

1. Green Chemicals like ammonia and methanol can directly be utilized in

existing applications like fertilizers, mobility, power, chemicals, shipping
etc.
2. Green Hydrogen blending up to 10% may be adopted in CGD networks to
gain widespread acceptance.

Benefits:

 It is a clean-burning molecule, which can decarbonize a range of

sectors including iron and steel, chemicals, and transportation.
 Renewable energy that cannot be stored or used by the grid can
be channelled to produce hydrogen.

What are the steps the Indian government has taken in the
production of green hydrogen?

1. During the budget speech in February 2021, Finance Minister Nirmala

Sitharaman announced the launch of the Hydrogen Energy Mission to
produce hydrogen from renewable sources.
2. In the same month, state-owned Indian Oil Corporation signed an
agreement with Greenstat Norway for setting up a Centre of
Excellence on Hydrogen (CoE-H). It will promote R&D projects for the
 production of green and blue hydrogen between Norwegian and Indian
R&D institutions/universities.
3. Recently, India and the US have set up a task force under the aegis
of the Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP) to mobilise
finance and speed up green energy development.

India’s Key Focus for Next Five Years

  The Twin Challenge: India has a twin challenge of providing
more energy as well as cleaner energy to the masses in India.
o It should focus on getting into the manufacturing of the
solar panels under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiative as
the demand is to create jobs as well as supply
decentralised energy to all the households in India.
o Look and develop the entire supply chain of all the
components beside the manufacturing sector.
 Methanol and Biomass: Looking for other alternatives such as
methanol based economy and biomass.
o Bio-CNG vehicles with 20% blending in petrol is also a
target the government has been chasing.
o Conversion of energy from Biomass is a considerable
option as it will clean the cities as well as reduce our
energy dependence.
 Fuels produced from biomass have a high calorific
value and are cleaner than traditional biomass.
o Hydrogen based FCV: Hydrogen in technology is likely
to change the landscape of renewables, shifting
towards Hydrogen Based Fuel Cells Vehicles (FCV) is
another area of focus.
o Grid Integration: It is the practice of developing efficient
ways to deliver variable renewable energy (RE) to the grid.
 Identifying the demands which are in tune with the
characteristics of the renewables, focussing on
characteristics of renewables mainly solar and wind
and considering their variability as strength rather
than weakness.

Challenges with Renewable Energy

 Integration with the Main Grid: Integrating the renewables

with the main grid is the area India needs to work upon.
o To accelerate the uptake of renewables, storage and
battery solutions is needed in large quantities.
 Cost factor: Renewable resources are slightly more expensive
than conventional sources.
 24*7 Power Supply: Sustainable, round-the-clock power
supply along with the storage system is a big challenge ahead.
  Agricultural Sector: Much power is consumed in the
agricultural sector. The challenge is to provide sufficient power
and energy to every household and to the agricultural sector as
well.

Way Forward

 Identification of areas: Renewable resources specially wind

cannot be set up everywhere, they require specific location.
o Identification of these specific locations, integrating them
with the main grid and distribution of powers; A
combination of these three is what will take India forward.
 Exploration: More storage solutions need to be explored.
 Agriculture subsidy: Agricultural subsidy should be rectified
in order to ensure that only the required amount of energy is
consumed.
 Hydrogen fuel cell based vehicles and Electric
vehicles: These are the most suitable options when it comes to
shifting towards renewable sources of energy, that’s where we
need to work upon.