Sept. 2: A UN survey has appealed to developing nations to invest in low-emission and high growth strategies, at the same time noting that India had grown has the largest renewable energy industry.
The "World Economic and Social Survey 2009" conducted by the United Nations was released by Sunita Narain in the capital on Wednesday.
According to the survey, developing countries are facing vastly more daunting challenges than those confronting developed countries and are in a far more constrained environment.
"Economic growth remains a priority for them, not only to reduce poverty but also to bring about a gradual narrowing of the huge income differentials with wealthy countries. Therefore, there is little benefit in ad hoc incremental actions," the report says.
Calling for a big investment push to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help communities to cope with climate change, the report says the problem cannot be addressed by just emission cuts.
It says active participation of all countries will only come about if developing countries can maintain rapid economic growth.
"This will require satisfying the growing energy needs of developing countries. The energy generation capacity of developing countries is projected to double that of developed countries in the coming decades," the UN report says.
The survey also notes that India had the most developed renewable energy market in South Asia with an annual turnover of about $500 million, although it is just a fraction of the total potential.
"India produces 3,500 MW of power through renewable energy sources. This is just a fraction of the estimated total economic potential of 100,000 MW," the survey says.
