Global Warming and India's National Action Plan

 Climate Change and its impact on India:

The nation has prepared a wide India's National Action Plan to mitigate the menace of climate change. Climate change has become one of the major serious concerns for humanity. It is impacting both humans and ecosystems directly and indirectly.

National Action Plan on Climate Change [Credit-X]

It is affecting major natural resources like drinking water, food production, and human-related resources like manufacturing, sanitation, livelihood, and health security.

According to the 5th Assessment Report of IPCC in 2007 on vulnerability, “vulnerability to climate change broadly as the propensity to be adversely affected. Vulnerability encompasses a variety of concepts and elements including sensitivity to harm and lack of capacity to cope and adapt”. 

India's National Action Plan and Nation's Adaptation Policy:

According to Beernaet & Malone's report [2005], India is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. It has high physical exposure to climate-related disasters, like 65% drought-prone, 12% food-prone, and 8% cyclones.

NAPCC Adaptation [Credit-Slide Share]

It majorly depends on climate-sensitive sectors, like agriculture, forest, tourism, animal husbandry, and fisheries. The Government of India is serious about the climate change scenario.

Adaptation: 

The UNFCCC defines adaptation as” steps to protect countries and communities from the likely disruption and damage that will result from effects of climate change”. Simply, in the human system, adaptation states to moderate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities.

Stages of Adaptation Process:

The following are the adaptation steps that will remain the same at every administration level.

• Identifying the needs

• Identifying the options.

• Appraising the options.

• Planning and implementation.

• Monitoring and evaluation

India’s National Action Plan for Climate Change [NAPCC] :

India launched eight national missions to combat climate change under the National Action Plan on Climate Change [NAPCC] in 2008. These missions are solar energy, energy efficiency, sustainable habitat, water, forestry, agriculture, Himalayan ecosystem, and strategic knowledge.

National Action Plan on Climate Change [Credit-X]

The NAPCC serves as a critical blueprint for India's climate action efforts, demonstrating the country's dedication to mitigating climate change and building a sustainable future. These missions are as follows;

1). National Solar Mission: 

The National Solar Mission aims to promote developing and deploying solar energy technologies. 

National Solar Mission [Credit-X]

It harnesses India's abundant solar resources to increase the capacity for solar power generation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

2). National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency: 

This mission focuses on improving energy efficiency in various sectors, like industry, agriculture, and transportation. It seeks to reduce traditional energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions through innovative technologies and work.

3). National Water Mission:

India is one of the most vulnerable countries to water scarcity. The Ganga national river plan is one to mitigate the climate change on water resources.

National Water Mission [Credit-X]

It aims to enhance water use efficiency and promote sustainable water management practices.

4). National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture:

Agriculture is a crucial sector in India. The aim of this mission is to promote climate-resilient agricultural practices. Soil Health Card is one such initiative to enhance the capacity of farmers and mitigate climatic conditions.

5). National Mission on Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem:

This mission has been dedicated to addressing the unique challenges faced by the fragile Himalayan ecosystem. It focuses on conserving biodiversity, improving forest cover, and reducing vulnerability to climatic change disasters.

6). National Mission for a Green India:

One of the most critical missions. It aims at increasing forest and tree cover, restoring degraded ecosystems, and promoting biodiversity conservation. 

National Green Mission [Credit-X]

National-level tree plantation drive is an example of sequestering carbon and enhancing ecological resilience.

7). National Mission for Sustainable Habitat:

As India is moving towards rapid urbanization, this mission seeks to promote sustainable urban planning and development. It emphasizes energy-efficient building design, public transportation, and waste management.

8). National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change:

This mission aims to enhance climate-related research, capacity building, and the development of indigenous technologies. It strengthens India's ability to assess and respond to climate change impacts

In addition to these missions, the NAPCC also includes measures for promoting sustainable forestry practices and encouraging public-private partnerships to support climate action.

The NAPCC reflects India's commitment to a low-carbon development pathway and its determination to address the challenges of climate change while simultaneously pursuing economic growth and poverty reduction.

National Action Plan on Climate Change [Credit-X]

It aligns with international efforts to combat climate change, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Since its launch, India has made significant strides in implementing the NAPCC, with various policies, programs, and initiatives geared towards achieving its objectives.

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Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana and The ABCD of Solar Energy in India

Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana and The ABCD of Solar Energy in India [Credit-SYR]

In the last decade, Indian households have shown interest in green energy solutions that have led to increased awareness of solar rooftop panels. However, the country's progress on this front could not be counted as stellar, with only 7-8 lakh households currently powered by solar energy.

The announcement of Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana [PMSY] by PM Modi on January 22 might grace the installation of solar rooftop panels. The PMSY scheme will cover 10 million households and bring them under the solar energy umbrella.

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Reasons for Lacking of Rooftop Solar [RTS] Capacity:

According to sources, since 2016, Rooftop solar [RTS] capacity in India has grown to 2.7 gigawatts [GW]. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy [MNRE] rolled out the Second Phase of the Rooftop Solar Programme in 2019 to achieve 40 GW of solar power.

With the launch of Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana [PMSY], more people will adopt solar energy and could see an acceleration in the future. According to Vikas Agarwal, Co-founder and CBO of Credit Fair, The RTS adoption did not gain the desired momentum for two reasons.

Reasons for Lacking of Rooftop Solar [RTS] Capacity [Credit-SPS Ltd.]

One is the unawareness among people, and the second is the unavailability of easy RTS finance. With the launch of PMSY, we are hopeful that with government support, the RTS demand and adoption will increase in the coming years.

Mr. Vikas shared the details of his company 'Credit Fair,' a consumer lending fintech start-up that offers personal loans to set up RTS units at an interest rate of 8-10% and no-cost EMIs. 

The company has contributed to installing panels in more than 2000 households by the day. Currently, around 7-8 lakh houses have the RTS facility. After the launch of PMSY, as per the GOI and PM Modi's vision, we are determined to contribute 1 million of residential rooftop solar across the country in the next 5 years.

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Costs Per Unit to Install Rooftop Solar [RTS]:

Commonly called RTS panels are known as Photovoltaic panels. These panels are installed on the roofs of buildings and connected to the 'main' power supply unit. The RTS installation reduces reliance on grid-connected electricity and saves costs for consumers.

There are two major expenses for installing an RTS unit, the initial capital investment and the maintenance costs. The cost can range from Rs. 2.20 lakh to Rs. 3.5 lakh for a house with an average of 3-5 KW capacity.

Mr. Agrawal added that this cost can be managed through manageable EMIs of around Rs. 4000-5000 per month. It might be equivalent to their monthly electricity bills.

Costs Per Unit to Install Rooftop Solar [RTS] [Credit-Renew. India]

With easy financing through Credit Fair, the consumer can pay an easy EMI of around Rs. 5000/ month. We have tried to maintain EMI equal to their electricity bills, so there is no additional burden of EMI on them.

Navitas Solar, another RTS Firm, stated that the average electricity consumption per month for a 3 KW solar plant is 360 Units or kWH. A 3 kWh Solar Plant would require approximately 300 sq ft of shadow-free space for its installation.

Hence, total yearly savings from a 3 kW RTS panel would be Rs. 30,240. A 3 kW solar system generally costs around Rs. 1,22, 979 without the government subsidy. For a residential RTS, a 40% subsidy is provided by the government.

So with the govt-subsidy, the same RTS system will cost around Rs. 73,787. It also includes several other factors like increasing grid electricity tariff rates, availability of financial incentives, net metering, and ease of installation with EPC that affect the payback period. The payback period for the RTS system is 2-3 years.

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Other Benefits of RTS Energy System:

However, the payback period for the RTS system is 2-3 years. The whole process is made more financially sound via the Net Metering concept. In a Net Metering process, any surplus energy generated by the solar panels is redirected back into the grid.

The Net Metering System enhances the earning users' credits to offset future utility bills. It substantially reduces overall electricity bills by balancing the contributed and consumed procedures.

The government is also offering subsidies to ease the RTS installation cost. Homeowners and housing societies can receive Rs. 9000-18000 per kW for installing RTS up to 10 kW under the RTS Program Phase-2. 

Rooftop Solar System Capacity	Applicable Subsidy (₹)
Up to 3kW	18,000/kW
Above 3kW and up to 10kW	9,000/kW*
Above 10kW	1,17,000**
Note: *Rs.18,000/kW for the first 3 kW and Rs.9,000/kW for the rest of the capacity up to 10 kW. *-The subsidy amount is fixed for rooftop solar systems above 10kW capacity.

Many other institutions, like Digital Lender, are facilitating the RTS installation process by partnering with local installers and ensuring quick, easy loan disbursal.

Other Benefits of RTS Energy System [Credit-ABP News]

These RTS installation programs also have a significant environmental impact. It may curtail 13,000+ tons of carbon emissions, which is equivalent to planting over 5 lakh trees. They have also saved around Rs. 12 crore in yearly electricity costs, supporting the economy's parameters.

The government has set a target of 40 GW of annual solar power generation for the next 5 years. By 2030, the government will reach a 500 GW non-fossil fuel capacity.

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Discussion on Climate Change/ Global Warming at The World Level

Climate Change and Its Different Aspects:

The climate change is one of the very delicate issues. When we discuss ecosystem and environment-related issues, it is not only human beings but every species on earth that is entangled or associated with its ecosystem, like land, forest, or sea.

Climate Change [Credit-X]

Every living organism and non-living matter makes a whole life cycle called an ecosystem circle to survive. Unfortunately, today the changing climatic conditions are generating serious concerns worldwide.

Climate change is a global issue rather than country-specific:

Climate change has become a global issue and all countries need to handle it with serious effort. However, major economies/countries come across the table and are assured to tackle it. They have adopted some protocols and agreed on policy formation under the UN framework.

Climate Change [Credit-Thing Link]

Although all causes of climate change are yet to be perceived, some of them, especially those generated by human activities, have evolved. Let us bring a summary of all the essential points and necessary steps that have been taken so far.

Weather:

In general language, weather is a day-to-day phenomenon of the atmosphere. Heat and air are the two big factors for weather generation. Sun is the main deciding factor of the weather circle.

Direct sun rays heat the equatorial regions more rather than either pole. The equatorial regions cover vast water areas. Wind circles are the leading cause of the rotation of the earth. The rotation system of the planet, when combined with the heating phenomenon, generates weather.  

Climate:

Climate is a comparatively broader and more comprehensive term than weather. It includes many factors, like average temperature, percentage of precipitation, days of sunlight, and humidity.

According to experts, the climate is determined by large-scale patterns and forces. The first is the position of the planet-Earth from the sun [93 million miles] by which it gets the life-sustaining solar radiation.

The second is the tilting position to the earth on its axis. The third is the uneven distribution of sunlight. The fourth is the uneven temperature in the atmosphere. The fifth is the underlying sea currents. The sixth is the wind pattern. 

Climate Change:

Climate change, the term, states the shifting of climatic conditions that persist for a long-period, like decades or longer. According to experts, the reasons behind climate change may be natural internal processes or external forces.

They give examples of external forces, like modulations of the solar cycles, volcanic eruptions, persistent anthropogenic changes in the atmosphere, and land use.

Climate Change & Global Warming [Credit-Alamy]

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change [UNFCCC] defines climate change in its 2007 IPCC Report as ‘ a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and that is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable periods’.

Simply, it is changing patterns in weather, like temperature, for a longer period, whether due to natural phenomena or human activities.

Climate change is not a speculative concern, but it is based on the works of hundreds of scientists under the IPCC. The IPCC was endorsed by the UN in 1988 and was established by the UNEP and the WMO. 

Global Warming and Government of India's National Action Plan

Impacts of Global Warming:

Drastic changes have occurred in the last few decades, especially from 1970 onwards. Experts show the temperature pattern has risen in every decade since 1850. Climate change engulfs the globe, especially in coastal areas, developing as well as underdeveloped countries.

Global Warming [Credit-iroon.com]

The following are the dangerous global impacts on the planet Earth.

Global Warming:

One of the major impacts on Earth. Human activities are considered the biggest factors behind global warming, especially after the industrialization era.

Climate Change Scenario [Credit-X]

Greenhouse gases [GHGS] are the real cause that trap more heat in the lower atmosphere. According to reports, carbon dioxide has increased 31% in the atmosphere since pre-industrial times.    

Acid Rain:

Sulfuric acid, nitric acid, etc are key-factors for acid rain. These pollutants evolve from fossil fuels burning, like coal, oil, and natural gas. When these pollutants react with water and other chemicals in the air, they form acid rain, fog, or snow.

Ozone Layer Depletion:

Ozone is a result of the action of sunlight on oxygen. Ozonization is a very-slow formation process that occurs 20-50 km above the earth's surface. Although ozone is considered pollution at the ground level, it evolves as a vital form of life in the upper atmosphere. It protects the earth from the harmful UV radiation of the sun.

Some other factors are nuclear accidents and nuclear holocaust.

Climate Change & Global Warming [Credit-Quest]

As we discussed climate change and its different aspects, we concluded that India, with other countries, is among the most vulnerable countries. Some of our most sensitive areas are the Himalayan region, coastal areas, arid zones, and deltas of various rivers, etc.

The government of India has reached a plan with other international organizations to cope with the growing concern.

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India Taking Giant Strides To Become A Green Economy

India Taking Giant Strides To Become A Green Economy [Credit-X]

Economists and environmental experts admire that India is on the right track to a green economy. They believe India is cautious about becoming a green GDP [Gros Domestic Product].

According to Arunabha Ghosh, Founder & CEO of CEEW [Council on Energy, environment, and Water], green growth will continue to be a central pillar of India's overall development trajectory. He emphasized that it needs a consistent effort and outlined several new priorities in the FY 24 Budget.

Global Warming and India's National Action Plan

National Hydrogen Mission For Green Economy:

The government of India approved the National Green Hydrogen Mission in January 2023, aiming to make India a global hub for such technologies, production, utilization, and export. The NGH Mission will help in the long run to save India's exchequer, besides making it self-reliant in energy.

Launching the National Green Hydrgoen Mission is the biggest single-sector push on the green GDP agenda. The 19,744 crore allocation for green hydrogen can be used in parts as Viability Gap Funding [VGF]. 

VGF is generally used to create demand for green hydrogen via the SIGHT [ Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition] fund. Mr. Gosh says to promote the manufacturing of electrolyzers, allocation under the PLI scheme should focus on indigenization, especially of higher-value components.

 The Petroleum Minister of India Mr. H S Puri stated about India's demand outlook for energy. He said the consumption is growing at three times the global average and will account for 25% in the next decades or so.

National Hydrogen Mission for Green Economy [Credit-ET Energy World]

Mr. Puri Highlighted green hydrogen will succeed in countries where there is local demand, there is local production, and local consumption as well. India stands out in all these sectors.

The Cabinet Minister said,

"Despite challenges, India didn't undermine its commitment to sustainability and adding .......India committed to an ambitious five-part "Panchamrit" pledge at COP26, held in 2021."

Reaching 500FW of non-fossil electricity capacity, generating half of all energy requirements from renewables, to reducing emissions by 1 billion tonnes by 2030. India is also gaming to cut the emissions intensity of GDP by 45% and finally to net-zero emissions by 2070.

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India Taking Giant Strides to Set up Renewable Energy [RE] Infrastructure:

We are witnessing a growth in the development of renewable energy sources. It becomes essential to have grid stability for energy system resilience. It might be one of the reasons why the Budget has focused significantly on energy storage and grid infrastructure.

India Taking Giant Strides to Set up Renewable Energy [RE] Infrastructure [Credit-X]

Rs. 20,700 crore allocation in the Budget is for evacuating and integrating 13GW of renewables from Ladakh. It would spur investments in a region with high RE potential but historically low investment.

This Budget also promises VGF for battery energy storage systems for 4000 MWh. However, the detailed framework for pumped-hydro storage is awaiting, but it clearly indicates a dominant source for energy storage.

We can see a simultaneous fillip to mobile storage manufacturing, and the transition to electric vehicles has been provided. Government efforts to exempt customs duty for capital goods to produce lithium-ion batteries will reduce the final price of batteries and eventually make EVs more affordable.

Encouraging for scrapping of old government vehicles will create demand for EVs and will benefit and encourage domestic manufacturing if incentives are designed correctly. It will be a giant leap from the green economic perspective. 

The 50-year interest-free loan-to-state in FY 2023-24 can include scrapping old vehicles. This might be an opportunity to get electric buses for public transport.

 Discussion on Climate Change/ Global Warming at The World Level

Renewable Energy[RE] Infrastructure in the Rural Sector: 

The Budget has also promoted two more areas of RE worth noting. The first is the biogas. The promotion of a circular economy is now a budgetary priority. The government plans to develop 200 compressed biogas plants worth Rs. 10,000 crore under the GOBARdhan scheme.

The collection and distribution mechanism of biomass gas would encourage a circular economy in the agricultural waste and transport sectors. More resources could be added to promote recycling and for critical minerals.

Renewable Energy[RE] Infrastructure in the Rural Sector [Credit-ET Energy World]

The second push has been towards sustainable agriculture. With the ambition to make 10 million farmers adopt natural framing and to help them set up 10, 000 bio-resources centers to provide for regenerative farming facilities.

The PM Pranam scheme, additionally, could push farmers towards alternative fertilizers and the more judicious use of chemical ones. However, the Budget promises India a global hub for millet, so more efforts are needed for value addition and consumer uptake of millet-based products globally.

As per Mr. Gosh, the promises in the FY24 Budget will derive investment in new sectors. It would outline how India's transformative targets for a green economy could be achieved timely and strategically. 

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