India has to give a massive push to renewable energy to remain a low-carbon emitting country
There is good news for India on the environment front. It has retained its 10th position in the latest Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), a global index prepared by Germanwatch and New Climate Institute. The report is prepared under the aegis of COP. The index has the US on the 55th spot and China at 37th while Denmark topped the chart. However, no one quite qualified to rank as number one, two or three due to the stringent standards adopted by Germanwatch. Denmark technically is at the fourth spot and India at 10th but, actually, India happens to be the seventh least carbon-emitting nation. The countries are judged on four parameters — Greenhouse gas emission, use of renewable energy, innovative techniques for lowering emission and the policy decisions to lower carbon footprint. Indeed, it is an achievement that we have found a place in the top 10 despite the pandemic. It also validates our correct approach in the quest for development, which usually leads to more carbon emission. India performed on all parameters, except the “push for renewable energy” category. The country still has relatively low per capita emissions. However, we would have to be extra cautious to retain this ranking.
The United Nations Secretariat has adopted a new 10-year Climate Action Plan. It wants to achieve a 45 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by generating electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030. China, with high carbon emissions and very poor energy efficiency, remains among the highest carbon footprint countries. It is, however, doing pretty well on the renewable energy front while it is a grey area for India. Meanwhile, the US performance has improved after the Joe Biden administration made some headway in reducing carbon footprint. In last year’s CCPI, the US was at the bottom but this year it climbed six ranks, though it still remains very low. Though India at the moment is happily placed among the top 10, it would need to do a lot more to retain this spot in future. It has to give a massive push to renewable energy, which is currently lacking. Besides, the pressures of development and rising population may push its carbon emission, making it fall in the rankings. India’s good ranking comes due to its policy framework but it needs to be implemented in right earnest. For that, we would need a long-term plan and a concerted effort.