Energy consumption, GDP effectively delinked: India

There has been effective delinking of energy sector growth from economic growth, says UN Ambassador Nirupam Sen.

Detailing the steps taken by India towards sustainable development, its United Nations Ambassador Nirupam Sen told the Security Council that it has delivered a GDP growth of 8 per cent with only 3.7 per cent growth in its total primary energy consumption.

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There has been effective delinking of energy sector growth from economic growth, he said in a paper circulated among Council members as it debated the impact of climate change on the security on Tuesday.

The paper shows that India's current per-capita GHG (Greenhouse Gasses) emissions are only 23 per cent of global average, four per cent of the US, 12 per cent of EU and 15 per cent of Japan.

The paper said India, with 17 per cent of the population of the world, has only four per cent of global GHG emissions.
In all the major energy intensive sectors steel, aluminium, fertiliser, paper, cement levels of energy efficiency are at global levels.

Especially in the cement sector, the energy efficiency of Indian plants is among the world's highest, the paper said.

India's energy intensity of GDP has reduced from 0.30 kgoe per dollar GDP in PPP terms in 1972 to 0.17 kgoe per dollar GDP in PPP terms in 2003, this is marginally better than that of Germany.

The share of renewables in total primary energy is still at 34 per cent, the paper said.