MERR5030 | Energy Resources Management in India and Affiliated Regulat

The plans developed by nations to ascertain that their emission of various greenhouse gases is mitigated often enshrined in Intended Nationally Determined Contributions. Scholars such as Thaker and Leiserowitz (2014) indicate that the INDC’s currently implemented cannot be expected to guarantee the limitation of global warming below 2°C. However, it should be anticipated that the temperatures currently prevalent on average are bound to indicate an increment. By 2100, temperatures would undergo a gradual rise which is expected to occur at a margin between 2.2°C to 3.4°C (Potoski 2017). The achievement of the target below 2°C can only be achieved where emissions are limited to not more than 30% of what the INDC’s are able to achieve currently.

Hence, nations are required to formulate individual plans geared towards the increment of their growth economically while combating carbon emissions. The outcome is commitments that countries are mandated to adhere to for the achievement of the INDC's objectives. India has devoted its efforts towards ensuring that it builds the capacity of its populace by putting in place frameworks that would be domestically functional (Energy Transitions Commission 2016). Moreover, the nation is also committed to developing an architecture which adheres to the standards set internationally that would facilitate the prompt diffusion of climate technology. In addition, it would facilitate R&D efforts which are not only joint but also collaborative where future technologies are involved.

The intensity of the emissions registered a decline that was approximated at 18% from 1990-2005. Initially, the country’s commitment indicated that it was to foster reductions between 20-25% by 2020 when compared to the levels recorded in 2005 (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2015). However, the plans developed by India in light of its new INDC’s indicate new targets that mandate improved efficiency owing to the application of different improved technologies.

India's economy has registered a reduction in its carbon intensity owing to its technologies that feature innovativeness.  Moreover, the expansive knowledge that is of a scientific nature continues to be availed to ensure that climate mitigation, as well as adaptation, is adequately addressed (Xu 2017). The outcome has been an increment in relation to renewable sources that can be relied on for the energy required.

An analysis of strategies for the implementation of energy policies by India to manage energy availability while meeting the INDC target

India has embarked on the adoption of various interventions in areas that are considered to be highly prioritized. India's policies are geared towards ascertaining that the technologies implemented with regards to the generation of thermal power are not only clean but also efficient. National guidelines are intended to ascertain that emissions arising from wastes are adequately reduced. Among the strategies resorted to including targeting individuals living in squalor who constitute 28.6% of India's population (Clayton et al. 2015). Apart from increasing energy efficiency, the endeavors are aimed at ascertaining that the Human Development Index is improved.

India’s commitment to achieving the INDC’s targets has resulted in the revision of the mission set nationally in light of the NAPCC (Venkateswarlu and Singh 2015).  Hence, scientific information that is new is incorporated as well as significant advances evident technologically.  The process has led to new missions in relation to wind and waste conversion for energy provision. Furthermore, India has been able to identify sectors which are energy consuming. The Energy Conservation Act (2001) stipulates efficiency provisions that are to be observed by the nation's operational sectors.

The incentives offered for improvements in the utilization of available energy relates to the Electricity Regulatory Commission’s tariffs. For example, the tariff offered for the utilization of solar power is at ?2.44. The rate is lower in comparison to other forms of power available in India.  In addition, buildings operating commercially in India are necessitated to comply with the Energy Conservation Building Code (2007). Companies that operate privately are also involved in the implementation of measures geared towards the achievement of their targets. Through the Companies Act which was enacted in 2013, 2% of the profits that enterprises acquire annually are mandated depending on their incomes. The funding which is estimated to be at INR 220 billion is to be directed at initiatives focusing on the environment. Increasing focus is being directed by India towards advocating for the reliance of alternative energy sources. 75% of the electricity that India generates is obtained from the utilization of available fossil fuels.

Technology Needs assessment

Technology offers a solution that is powerful to ensure that changes evident in climate are adequately addressed, and development is advanced. It provides an impetus that would help to ensure sustainability and growth based on innovation. Technology Needs Assessments to ensure that the decisions made by nations are founded on adequate information.

TNA’s the rationale and how this instrument can help the country of choice to assess technological requirements and fulfill the commitment that has been selected (Mal et al. 2018).

TNA’s are guided by development priorities which are often derived from specific problems that the nations involved would like to address. TNA’s offer the support necessary for the achievement of the targets set. In some cases, the assessments are based on some areas underscored by policy-makers responsible for a country’s welfare. The evaluations are geared towards offering the required support in relation to development that is sustainable while ascertaining that a nation’s capacity is adequately enhanced. Moreover, facilitation with regards to technologies that relate to climate change can be appropriately prioritized.

The development needs synonymous with a nation offer a yardstick for the identification of sectors that have immense potential for development as well as climatic benefits. Moreover, technologies can then be prioritized with respect to the sectors highlighted. The assessment also underscores the barriers to be anticipated for the technologies that are prioritized to be implemented (Rosencranz et al. 2018). Evaluations can then be made with regards to the eradication of the barriers. The implication is that enabling frameworks can be fostered to aid technology development as well as the transfers involved.

The objective that drives the operations evident in India relates to the achievement of low emissions where carbon is concerned. In addition, India's initiatives aimed at catering to the challenges that the nation might encounter in relation to development. Technology is among the methods that India can rely on to ascertain that its resilience is enhanced where climate change is involved (Burgess et al. 2014). Links that are crucial among stakeholders can also be developed to ascertain that investments which might be made in the future can be adequately supported. The assessments provide the basis for international programmes that offer technical support to have an approach that is regionally oriented.

The TNA would ensure that India’s development priorities align with the trends evident in the nation economically as well as socially. For example, industrialization grew by 11.18% in India from 2013 to 2018 (Kriegler et al. 2014). Apart from increased activities undertaken for commercial purposes, the TNA would also focus on India’s urbanization which is estimated to have grown by 30%. By 2030, urban populations are anticipated to be at 40%. Such provisions affect the technology selections that would be deemed to be suitable for a country’s implementation.

The evaluations conducted to ascertain that the resources which are locally available are optimized. For a country such as India, appropriate initiatives would be sourced particularly where decisions have been made facilitating a shift from industries deemed as energy intensive. In addition, TNA's align the capital costs to the purchasing power that is locally available. Trade-offs are also considered with respect to a reduction in performance and design features that might not be too elaborate.  For example, India is identified as a nation whose coal capacity is bound to register a 160GW increment. In addition, new power arising from coal is estimated at 280GW (Dubash et al. 2018). Hence, measures can be taken to ensure that the benefits attained with respect to the technologies implemented mitigate any negative implications that might be portended environmentally.

A highlight of the factors affecting energy availability

Energy availability in India is affected by the rate at which urbanization is occurring. Population expansions pave the way for an increase in energy demands. India's coal reserves are quite high. Moreover, the consumption of energy that is coal-related is estimated at 53% where commercial uses are analyzed. The reserves are also essential for domestic purposes in addition to the provision of public lighting. Poor quality of the reserves is among the factors that limit their availability (Urry 2015). The ash content in the coal is quite high whereas the calorific value is low. The processes through which coal can be obtained are not only expensive but also inefficient.

India experiences a shortfall in the power capacity of its thermal plant. The outcome is that the supply does not satisfy the demands of the individuals residing in the nation. Among the issues spurring the shortfall to include material supply by vendors which is non-sequential as well as delayed. Moreover, the country does not utilize 54,364 MW available in the nation's regions which are located to the North-East regardless of their potential in relation to the production of hydro-electric power (Kahan et al. 2015).

The challenges to meet the chosen INDC commitment

Technological developments are continuous which presents a challenge in projecting India’s requirements. Moreover, the stakeholders essential in technological implementation require extensive efforts geared towards capacity building. The resources necessary for such initiatives are not readily available in India. The salary budget that is estimated to be required from India’s government is 2.5% whereas some of the funds would have to be sourced from the sources which are internationally available (Banerjee et al. 2016). Technology and efforts geared towards research as well as development often require intensive capital. Hence, the nation is necessitated to ensure that all its funds that might be tied up are released.

The commitment to the utilization of technology to ascertain that climatic modifications that are perverse are averted is hindered by India’s extensive reliance on the finances which are available from other nations. Moreover, the country would be heavily reliant on technological transfers whose nature is international. India’s capacity can only be improved through consistent efforts to ensure that the Climate Technology Centre Network is able to develop action plans that are exceptional. Technological success would be attainable where carbon sinks continue to be created. Currently, India requires a 14% increment of its carbon sequestration (Joshi and Sharma 2016). The rate is determined as an average that is annually applicable.

The laws currently applicable in India would serve as an impediment to the initiatives central to the INDC. Moreover, the agreements made in Paris do not portend some consequences that are dire should their provisions not be adhered to.  The government presiding in India currently faces some challenges relating to the prevalence of poverty among its local populace. It is estimated that 30% of Indians live in abject poverty (Lee et al. 2015). Hence, the expenses portend for the utilization of some alternative sources that provide energy might be too high where they are intended to cover the costs of the technologies used.

Recommendations on the optimum approach to the successful implementation of the INDC

India can rely on numerous strategies that would ascertain its achievement of the INDC objectives. The nation must determine its technological strengths that can be leveraged on. Monitoring systems which are satellite-based are among the key provisions available in India. Moreover, the nation is often acclaimed for the development of technologies which are geospatial in nature. The provisions can be efficiently relied on to monitor the resources that require some restoration (Zehr 2016).  However, such resources must be examined thoroughly before individual actions can be taken. More options which are technologically effective for resource exploration must also be identified. Assets that are green in nature must be constantly monitored for the evaluation of their trends that might be spatial or even temporal.

The policies implemented by India regarding afforestation must be overhauled. The guidelines that are currently functional in relation to the restoration of respective habitats are not rigorous enough. Among the hazards prevalent in India is that land is hardly reclaimed after it is used for the acquisition of coal for the production of the energy that might be required. Policies that relate to objectives which are climate relate must indicate some convergence. Hence, goals must indicate some alignment for the achievement of similar ends. Moreover, information must be adequately shared as stipulated in many Indian documents relied on for administration purposes. Implementation efforts must also feature collaboration. Such improvements would increase the prospects that relate to the achievement of the targets indicated in India’s INDC.

India has established following rights that pertain to land legislation. Moreover, the systems which are used to govern property considered to be common are decentralized. However, their mandate bestowed on such arrangements is not adequately achieved (Crate and Nuttall 2016). Hence bodies formulated by individuals residing in different villages must also access the funds available in addition to the opportunities through which decisions can be made. The implication is that greater participation would be evident in ensuring that INDC’s targets are achievable owing to the holistic involvement of the communities involved.

Data must be readily availed to facilitate actions pertaining to the actual areas where the resources are located. The implication is that it would become possible to understand the rate at which carbon is likely to be sequestrated. The result is that the scales developed nationally would be made to align with models which are globally applicable.

Conclusion

India has a diverse array of naturally occurring resources. More specifically, reliance on coal as a source that can avail the energy required is bound to increase annually. Technology offers great prospects for combating the implications of climate change. However, initiatives are necessary for training to be offered to the locals. This would increase their involvement in ensuring the INDC objectives become achievable. Moreover, the government has a critical responsibility of availing the funds necessary for technological facilitations.

References

INDC (Intended Nationally determined contribution), 2015. India's intended nationally determined contribution: Working towards climate justice. UNFCCC submission.

Thaker, J. and Leiserowitz, A., 2014. Shifting discourses of climate change in India. Climatic Change, 123(2), pp.107-119.

Joshi, K.K. and Sharma, V., 2016. Climate change mitigation through whole tree planting: a case study in India. In Governance in South Asia (pp. 142-151). Routledge India.

Lee, T.M., Markowitz, E.M., Howe, P.D., Ko, C.Y. and Leiserowitz, A.A., 2015. Predictors of public climate change awareness and risk perception around the world. Nature climate change, 5(11), p.1014.

Burgess, R., Deschenes, O., Donaldson, D., and Greenstone, M., 2014. The different effects of weather and climate change: Evidence from mortality in India. Cambridge, United States: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Economics. Manuscript.

Dubash, N.K., Khosla, R., Kelkar, U. and Lele, S., 2018. India and Climate Change: Evolving Ideas and Increasing Policy Engagement. Annual Review of Environment and Resources, (0).

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2015. Climate change 2014: Mitigation of climate change (Vol. 3). Cambridge University Press.

Banerjee, S., Das, S., Mukherjee, A., Mukherjee, A. and Saikia, B., 2016. Adaptation strategies to combat climate change effect on rice and mustard in Eastern India. Mitigation and adaptation strategies for global change, 21(2), pp.249-261.

Kriegler, E., Weyant, J.P., Blanford, G.J., Krey, V., Clarke, L., Edmonds, J., Fawcett, A., Luderer, G., Riahi, K., Richels, R. and Rose, S.K., 2014. The role of technology for achieving climate policy objectives: overview of the EMF 27 study on global technology and climate policy strategies. Climatic change, 123(3-4), pp.353-367.

Mal, S., Singh, R.B., Huggel, C. and Grover, A., 2018. Introducing linkages between climate change, extreme events, and disaster risk reduction. In Climate Change, Extreme Events and Disaster Risk Reduction (pp. 1-14). Springer, Cham.

Rosencranz, A., Modi, P., Parab, S. and Vora, A., 2018. Climate Change and the Patent Regime: Are Patents the Answer?.

Xu, Y., 2017. Climate Change as a Flagship Opportunity for Domestic Governance.

Venkateswarlu, B. and Singh, A.K., 2015. Climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies in rainfed agriculture. In Climate change modeling, planning and policy for agriculture (pp. 1-11). Springer, New Delhi.

Urry, J., 2015. Climate change and society. In Why the social sciences matter (pp. 45-59). Palgrave Macmillan, London.

Clayton, S., Devine-Wright, P., Stern, P.C., Whitmarsh, L., Carrico, A., Steg, L., Swim, J. and Bonnes, M., 2015. Psychological research and global climate change. Nature Climate Change, 5(7), p.640.

Kahan, D.M., Jenkins-Smith, H., Tarantola, T., Silva, C.L. and Braman, D., 2015. Geoengineering and climate change polarization: testing a two-channel model of science communication. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 658(1), pp.192-222.

Potoski, M., 2017. Green clubs in building block climate change regimes. Climatic Change, 144(1), pp.53-63.

Zehr, S.C., 2016. Public representations of scientific uncertainty about global climate change. Public Understanding of Science.

Crate, S.A. and Nuttall, M. eds., 2016. Anthropology and climate change: from encounters to actions. Routledge.

Energy Transitions Commisions, April, 2016.PATHWAYS FROM PARIS: assessing the INDC opportunity