Carbon emission intensity registers decline in India

The Pioneer , Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Correspondent : Moushumi Basu
India’s greenhouse emissions have increased by 41.66 per cent between 1994 and 2007 making it the fifth major emitter after the US, China, the European Union and Russia to contribute to global warming. But the country’s emissions intensity GDP declined by more than 30 per cent during the same period.

The findings were part of the most updated greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory, 2007 released by Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia on Tuesday. India has become the first developing country to come out with such detailed compilation of greenhouse gas emissions.

The workshop to mark the occasion of the release of GHG inventory was chaired by Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh and attended by over 82 scientists. The report has been prepared by the Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA).

Ramesh stressed on aggressive domestic action on climate change issues, which, however, should not be linked with international agreements or negotiations. He said the emissions inventory would be published in a two-year cycle. Going forward, INCCA’s next major publication, a “4X4” assessment of the impacts of climate change on four sectors (water resources, agriculture, forests and human health) in four critical regions of India (the Himalayan region, Northeast, Western Ghats and Coastal India) will be released in November 2010.

He also called for upgrading the quality of existing scientific publications in association with the Ministry of Science and Technology which can for instance whip up a global debate. “Why do we have to scout for academic reports on Himalayan Glaciology as far as the Ohio University?” he asked.

“More and more emphasis should be on measurement. The methodology to work out the emissions in 2007 shows a significant improvement from that of 1994,” said Ramesh, adding, “Two satellites would be launched in 2012 and 2013 for measuring emission of GHGs and forest covers respectively.”

He further emphasised on the importance for pitching global benchmarks which the country’s GHG emitting sectors would be exposed to and bringing them on comparison levels with some of the best practices of the world.

Meanwhile, as per the report, the country’s emissions of greenhouse gases — carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide — were 1221.76 million tonnes; 20.56 million tonnes; and 0.24 million tonnes respectively. Energy sector was the highest contributor of GHG emissions at 58 per cent followed by 22 per cent and 17 per cent and 3 per cent emissions respectively contributed by the industry, agriculture and waste sector.

The report further states that the trend of further decline of emissions intensity of the country’s GDP would continue, targeting to further reduce the emissions intensity of GDP by 20-25 per cent between 2005 and 2020 while pursuing the path of inclusive growth.

It called for systematic collection and archiving of data on a continuous basis, with the establishment of a National Inventory Management System. It is also important to involve additional institutions with varied research experience, to widen the pool of researchers and enable the integration of latest practices, the report said.

 
SOURCE : http://www.dailypioneer.com/255358/Carbon-emission-intensity-registers-decline-in-India.html
 


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