Mumbai:India committed to achieving the Millennium Development Goals in 2021. net zero by 2070It is difficult to see the contradiction between the ambitious goal and the actual steps taken on the ground. The government has not only reduced environmental laws that regulate erring units, but also created plans to divert forest land from non-forest users.
India also announced policy measures such the National Hydrogen MissionFor clean energy and global solar Green Gridsinitiative to transition away coal. The renewed pressure on climate action has led to an increase in the demand for Indian coal-free transition plans. ModifiedThe Forest (Conservation) Act of 1978, which allowed nonforest use of land for “strategic”, projects, was repealed. Protecting the environmentAndaman and Nicobar Islands. Palm oil cultivation by pushed palm oilIn north east India and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
This was all happening against the backdrop of two major climate changes: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) ReleasedIt Sixth Assessment Report (AR6)The first conference after 2013, which presented a grim outlook on how global warming will affect us in the near future. Countries from all over the globe met to discuss the matter. 26th Conference of Parties(COP26), November. They adopted the Glasgow Climate Pact to control global temperature rise.
As the year draws to a close we take a look back at India’s major climate, energy, and environment policies and actions for this year.
Renewable energy is receiving renewed attention
As successive governments have given priority to renewable energy, it has been one of India’s fastest-growing sectors over the past few years. reportedAugust 2021. One of the main reasons is the need for energy security. India has the largest number of conventional energy sources. Imported or poor quality.
India had set a target to reach 175 gigawatts (GW) of renewable power by 2022, and 450 GW by 2030 under the terms of the Paris Agreement2015 India was already in 2015 Capacity of more than 100 GWAccording to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. By October 2021 39%India’s installed power capacities were derived from non-fossil sources, as opposed to a target of 40%By 2022
Solar tariffs in India have also fallen significantly. This is because the government has been granting large projects through reverse auctions. In reverse auctions, buyers ask for goods and sellers bid for the price they are willing to buy. Global investorsYou can set up large projects at very low rates. Many Indian industrial and commercial establishments also find that RE power, particularly solar, is less expensive than sourcing power through a distributor (DISCOM), as we reported August 2021.
India is pushing large-scale clean-energy projects, mainly wind and solar, aggressively. ConflictsBecause rights of communities do not apply to common lands that are used for renewable projects, experts say they should be. Experts Please suggestAs India pushes clean energy projects such large solar parks, it could lead to more conflicts.
If India promotes rooftop solar energy, these conflicts could be lessened. We are seeing a slowdown in the sector due to the high cost of rooftop solar panels and the poor implementation of the subsidy schemes. reportedJuly 2021
India also raised the renewable energy targets at the COP26 500 GW by 2030From the earlier target of 450 GW. India, along the United Kingdom, launched ambitious renewables venture called Green Grids Initiative – One Sun One World One GridA global solar grid connecting 140 countries. Energy experts are in agreement with the initiative’s concept and appreciate its size, but they have doubts about its feasibility due to geopolitics and the high cost of subsea cables. reportedOctober 2021
In August 2021, the prime Minister also AnnouncementThe National Hydrogen Mission supports India’s energy transition goals. The use of renewable energy to produce green hydrogen from water and oxygen. India can decarbonize sectors like shipping and transportation, where it can also be used for fuel, and in manufacturing industries like steel or chemicals where it is used as a raw materials. It could also be used as a raw material. ReplaceHowever, fossil fuels can be used in power generation. They can also be used to store renewable energies but only if they are commercially viable and just as economically competitive as previously used fossil-based grey hydro. reportedSeptember 2021
About 70% India’s energy demandsTwo fossil fuels, oil (25%) and coal (44%) are required to meet the requirements. India, however, committed to achieving a COP26. net zero target by 2070India will be able to take advantage of this opportunity. Have toOver the next decade, it will significantly reduce its dependence on oil and coal.
However, India issued a series notifications giving polluting units “a licence to pollute”, according a Note of briefingCentre for Science and Environment. Through a NotificationThe timeline for compliance with emission norms in India for the majority of coal-based power stations was extended by the environment ministry from 2022 to 2025. This means that 72%For another two-three more years, coal-based power stations will continue to pollute.
In June 2021, the Central Electricity Authority was also called for ExtendThe deadline for plants to adopt emission norms established in 2015 is 2035. “Given the 2070 net-zero target, India will have plants to 2035 to adopt emission norms set in 2015.,” Shripad Dharmadhikary analyst at the research organization, said. Manthan Adhyayan Kendra.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued a report in April 2021. NotificationAn eco-friendly policy was established to ensure 100% utilisation of ash produced by coal- and-lignite-based thermal power stations. A fine was also introduced for non-compliance. The environment ministry has issued similar notifications in the last 20 years regarding the disposal of fly ash. But, over half of industries still have to comply. non-compliantWe dump most of the ash in the open in water bodies and unlined pits. reportedAugust 2021
Environment laws diluted
In October, the environment minister Proposed an amendment to the Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980, permitting non-forest activities–cultivation, construction, mining–in private forest land and state or Union government-notified forest land, where the owner can be any private or public sector entity. The proposed amendment is not consistent with the mandate to preserve forests by allowing for exemptions for several development projects. Environmentalists say.
Forests are one of the most beautiful places on earth. Critical elementsin the fight against global warming. Forests not only sustain terrestrial biodiversity, but also absorb carbon dioxide from the air. The Forest ActThis is the Indian apex law to prevent deforestation. It prohibits tree felling and other non forestry activities on forest land without permission from the Union or the state governments.
In March 2021, the central administration issued an ModificationThe dilution of Framework for Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), 2006By exempting from public hearing all projects whose environmental clearance had expired, and therefore having to apply afresh, According to the NotificationThe project’s prior environmental clearance was granted for a maximum time period of 10 years. In some cases, it was granted for five years. The process of completing projects that did not complete within the time allowed had to be re-evaluated, including a public hearing. The old amendment no longer required public hearing if at least 50% of the project was implemented. The 2006 notification has been subject to 15 revisions. ModificationsJusqu’à February 2020
In July 2021, new environmental ministerial regulations were issued. Standard operating procedures(SOPs), which are used to deal with industrial projects that operate without the need for environmental clearance. Environment Impact Notification (EIA), 2006. These provisions won’t act as a deterrent for violations of environment norms. They defeat the purpose and mandate of prior environmental clearances under the EIA 2006. IndiaSpend investigationIt was discovered in August.
MoEF&CC on November 1, issuedGazette notification seeking amendment to India’s Coastal Regulations (CRZ) Notification 2019, to exempt oil exploration and development activities, from the need for mandatory prior clearances.
Denotified andaman forests, push for palm oil
The government intends to build huge commercial, tourism, or shipping projects in the Andaman Islands. This would eliminate the protection that the archipelago’s ecologically and ethnologically significant archipelago has. reportedApril 2021
The MoEFCC was established in January. ModifiedNotification 2019 to the Island Coastal Regulation Zone to Move Great Nicobar From Group I of Islands with a 200-metre buffer to the high-tideline to Group II with a 100-metre buffer.
Andaman & Nicobar Islands 836 islandsWith a total area of approximately 8,249 km2India’s total area is 0.25%. Over 1.25% of India’s 8,249 sq km are covered by these. 80%6.751 km2 of the land is classified as forest land. IncludesThere are nine national parks, 96 wildlife refuges and one biosphere reserve.
The forest cover in Andaman and Nicobar Islands has increased marginally by 0.28% between 2011-2019, but they have lost their moderately dense forests by 71% (or 1,732 sq km) as of November 2021 Factchecker Study found.
The Union cabinet approved an expenditure of $ 2.2 billion in August 2021. Rs 11.040 croreWe are interested in a proposal for increasing palm oil production in India. Our ultimate goal is to have 1,000,000 hectares under palm cultivation. atmanirbhar‘Self-sufficient’ in oil. The scheme identified India’s northeast region as well as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, raising concerns among environmentalists. As shown in the report, palm oil poses a significant threat for the water table in certain areas where it is grown. Major palm oil producing countriesIn southeast Asia
Northern India saw another increase in air pollution. deterioration in air qualityWinter is upon us. Our Report This shows that India has fewer air quality monitoring stations per million people than countries with comparable standards.
We welcome your feedback. Please write to [email protected]. We reserve all rights to amend responses for grammar and language.
