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1630888435-strategy-on-resource-efficiency

India faces significant challenges in resource depletion due to its large population and rapid industrial growth, necessitating a strategy focused on resource efficiency (RE) and the use of secondary raw materials (SRM). The Indian Resource Panel (InRP) has been established to advise on comprehensive RE strategies, which can yield economic, social, and environmental benefits. Recommendations include promoting eco-labeling, regulatory reforms, and institutional development to enhance resource efficiency across various sectors.

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33 views5 pages

1630888435-strategy-on-resource-efficiency

India faces significant challenges in resource depletion due to its large population and rapid industrial growth, necessitating a strategy focused on resource efficiency (RE) and the use of secondary raw materials (SRM). The Indian Resource Panel (InRP) has been established to advise on comprehensive RE strategies, which can yield economic, social, and environmental benefits. Recommendations include promoting eco-labeling, regulatory reforms, and institutional development to enhance resource efficiency across various sectors.

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msubhalaxmi303
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Strategy on Resource Efficiency

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Background
India’s large population, rapid urbanization and expanding industrial production have led to
exploitation of available limited natural resources with concerns regarding resource depletion
and future availability becoming more pronounced. Ensuring resource security requires
integrated, concerted and collaborative approach in order to fulfill the needs of a vast
and growing population. Enhancing resource efficiency (RE) and promoting the use of
secondary raw materials (SRM) is a pertinent strategy to address these challenges and
reduce dependence on primary resource.

Definition
Resource efficiency or resource productivity is the ratio between a given benefit or
result and the natural resource use required for it.
Resource efficiency is a strategy to achieve the maximum possible benefit with least
possible resource input.

Indian Resource Panel (InRP)


The Government of India has established the Indian Resource Panel (InRP) — an
advisory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
(MoEFCC) — through the support of Indo-German bilateral cooperation, to assess
resource-related issues facing India and advice the government on a comprehensive
strategy for RE.
The focus of the outputs from the InRP is on abiotic resources that are not used for
energy production (ores, industrial minerals, construction minerals) supplemented by
the material use of biotic resources for future.

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Selection of resources was done on the basis of following parameters:
Economic importance of the material based on its usage across different sectors
Environmental impact due to extraction and production
Embodied energy
Supply risks determined through:
Limited geological availability and criticality
High import dependency
Geopolitical constraints

Rationale for Resource Efficiency


1. Economic benefits

RE has the potential to improve resource availability that is critical to the growth of
industries.
RE/SRM can help to reduce price spikes due to supply constraints or disruptions.
Import dependency and cost of imports would decrease.
RE/SRM can improve competitiveness and profitability of industries, especially
material intensive manufacturing industries.
Give boost to our export market.
RE/SRM based approaches can lead to establishment of new industries, especially
in recycling, that can contribute significantly to economic growth.
RE/SRM based innovation in design and manufacturing has the potential to create
highly skilled jobs.
There is a potential to create new jobs in green product certification, eco-labeling,
and green marketing.
A strong governmental push for improving recycling economy-wide should result in the
upgradation of the informal sector and its integration with the formal sector.

2. Social benefits

Reduced extraction pressures due to adoption of RE strategies have the potential to


reduce conflict and displacement in mining areas, as well as improve health and
welfare of local communities.
RE can contribute to improved affordability of and access to resources critical for
poverty reduction and human development.
RE/SRM will lead to reduced waste generation which will contribute to cleaner cities
and rivers/water bodies through reduced disposal and associated pollution.

3. Environmental benefits

Reduced extraction pressures due to adoption of RE strategies will help to reduce


ecological degradation and pollution associated with mining.
RE and reuse of secondary resources has enormous potential to save energy.

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Reduced waste generation will not only reduce pollution associated with disposal but
also save related costs.

Global Context

Due to economic development and population growth, countries which are currently
importing scarce raw materials will have to pay higher prices or accept constraints
in supply of crucial raw materials.
At a global level, UNEP established the International Resource Panel (IRP) in 2007
as a central institution to provide independent scientific assessments on sustainable
use of natural resources and their environmental impacts and policy approaches to
promote decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation.

Indian Context
In India, extraction of primary raw materials increased by around 420% between 1970
and 2010 which is lower than the Asian average but higher than the world average.
Compared to extraction, India’s exports and imports are still small in terms of
quantity. However, both have grown significantly.
Biomass and non-metal minerals are the most important material groups in India
and domestic extraction is more important than trade.
India has experienced a remarkable growth of GDP, resource consumption and
resource productivity but still is lagging behind many other countries with comparable
economies which suggests that there is much scope for improvement.

Congruence of RS with Government Schemes and Priorities


Judicious use of resources is an important part of several SDGs i.e.
GOAL 2: Zero Hunger
GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
GOAL 13: Climate Action
GOAL 14: Life Below Water
GOAL 15: Life on Land
RE can help meet India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) commitments
under the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement.
National Housing and Habitat Policy, 2007 and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana
(PMAY), 2015 emphasize on developing appropriate ecological design standards for
building components, materials and construction methods.

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At the manufacturing stage, flagship programmes like “Make in India” that provide
special assistance to energy efficient, water efficient and pollution control technologies
through Technology Acquisition and Development Fund (TADF) can promote RE
and SRM approaches.
Reduced waste generation by RE will contribute towards fulfilling the goals of Swachh
Bharat.
MoEFCC is running an eco-labelling scheme.
There are policies existing to tackle all types of waste ranging from hazardous waste to
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste, plastic waste
and e-waste.

Indicators used to measure Resource Efficiency

Resource efficiency = GDP/Domestic Material Consumption


It also calculated as, RE = GDP/Material flow indicator (MFA)

Recommendations Regarding RE Strategy


1. Promotion:

Eco-labelling and standard certification of products.


Technology development to promote quality in manufacture and performance of
product
Strengthen awareness regarding green products
Improve availability of green products in the markets
Lowering costs of green products
Green public procurement
Industrial clusters development.

2. Regulation, Economic Instruments:

Viability Gap Funding (VGF) that can help businesses overcome the barriers and
become competitive over time by building scale and upgradation of technology.
Policy reforms across life cycle stages focussing on their design, emphasis,
integration or implementation.
Tax reforms can play an important role in steering the economy towards resource
efficient practices and circular economy. Value-added taxes should be levied on value-
added activities like mining, construction, and manufacturing.

3. Institutional Development:

Capacity development of key actors responsible for undertaking or overseeing


RE/SRM strategies, including ULBs, MSMEs, as well as the informal sector.
A dedicated institutional set up for development, assessment of RE measures should
be established.

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Baseline data collection and development of indicators.

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