As per India’s 3rd National Convention submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2023, India is facing major consequences due to climate change. Climate change in India is having a wide-ranging impact, from floods and droughts to frequent heatwaves and melting glaciers.
Climate change challenges are seen across sectors such as agriculture, forests, biodiversity, water resources, health, and infrastructure.
This is important to note because renewable energy is one of the biggest solutions to climate change. In this blog, we will look at how climate change is impacting India and what the government is doing to combat climate change.
As per UNICEF, in 2019 India was the 7th most-affected country globally due to extreme weather events caused by climate change. This was true both in terms of fatalities, which was 2,267, and financial damage, which was 66,182 million US$ PPP. The UNICEF says that extreme weather events caused by climate change have left 17 out of 20 people in India vulnerable to catastrophes such as floods, droughts, and cyclones.
Between 1901 and 2018, the average temperature in India has increased by 0.7°C. UNICEF’s 2021 report “The Climate Crisis Is a Child Rights Crisis: Introducing the Children’s Climate Risk Index” ranked India 26th among 163 countries for the risk children face from climate change. It means that children in India are among the maximum “at-risk” countries for climate change. UNICEF estimates that 1/4th of Indian children are facing high to extremely high water vulnerability.
Further, a Lancet study from 2018 says that air pollution claimed 1.24 million lives in 2018. Thus, air pollution accounted for 12.5% of total deaths in 2018.
The statistics discussed show that India is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. From the rise in temperature to abruptly changing rainfall patterns, the face of climate change is multidimensional. Its impact ranges from reduced work hours to increased natural disasters.
Any discussion on anthropogenic climate change has to inevitably focus on the role of human beings in accelerating it. As per the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), “Since systematic scientific assessments began in the 1970s, the influence of human activity on the warming of the climate system has evolved from theory to established fact.”
One of the major causes of climate change is the increase in CO2, methane, and nitrous oxide in the atmosphere. The IPCC’s 6th Assessment Report said that human actions during the industrial era are primarily responsible for the increase in these gases in the atmosphere.
As per another report, since 1750 industrial activities have raised CO2 levels in the atmosphere by about 50%.
During the last 100 years, the burning of fossil fuels has raised the level of atmospheric CO2. This is because carbon is an important component of fossil fuels. Burning them releases carbon which combines with oxygen to produce CO2. Moreover, other activities such as clearing land for agriculture and rearing livestock animals lead to the release of greenhouse gases such as methane into the atmosphere.
Here is why renewable energy is important in helping India in combatting climate change:
Unlike fossil fuels, harnessing renewable sources of energy such as sunlight and wind does not emit any greenhouse gases. Since they are clean sources of power, their usage will help in reducing the impact of climate change.
Sources of renewable energy such as sunlight, wind, and hydropower are abundantly available. Though the cost of setting up the infrastructure for producing renewable energy is significant, once the power generation begins, with time the cost eventually comes down. This makes renewable energy a viable alternative to fossil fuels.
Air pollution is one of the major problems in Indian cities. The burning of fossil fuels is one of the major causes of air pollution. By using renewable energy, the degradation of air quality and reducing climate change risk.
At the Glasgow Climate Summit in 2021, PM Modi announced the Panchamrit as follows:
These are the policy targets which the Government of India has set for itself. Accordingly, here are the key climate change initiatives the government has launched to boost renewable energy and combat climate change:
Green Energy Corridors: It aims to create transmission infrastructure to send renewable energy from where it is generated to the grid and where it will be ultimately consumed.
To combat climate change in India, industry leaders need to believe in the philosophy of “collaboration over competition”. They can share knowledge, experiences, and technology to increase the pace at which renewable energy is being used in the country.
There are several challenges to renewable energy adoption such as insufficient power infrastructure and lack of market development. Thus, instead of competition, industry leaders need to align their vision to help India achieve its global climate change commitments.
is counted among the industry leaders in Renewable Energy. As an Independent Power Producer (IPP), we have executed several long-term which have helped businesses transition to renewable energy including notable clients such as Flipkart, Kajaria, Dabur, and Inox Air Products.
India faces several climate change challenges. From the scarcity of water to the rise in temperature, climate change is impacting life in multiple ways. If remedial measures are not taken on time, India will see more natural disasters in the future.
The economic cost of climate change in India is significant. To tackle it, stakeholders such as the government, C&I players, small businesses, and the entire citizenry must come together to embrace renewable energy. Ultimately, a collective effort is required for climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Increased and unpredictable rainfall, loss of work hours, severe droughts, and cyclones in coastal areas are some of India’s major climate change risks.
Achievement of net zero by 2070 and meeting 50% of energy requirements from renewable energy are some of India’s major climate change targets.
Some of the important schemes for promoting government schemes include PM Surya Ghar subsidy and the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
Human industrial activities have led to greenhouse gas emissions which have led to climate change.
