India to be major CO2 emitter by '50
A new WEF report says India, China and Brazil would add maximum green house by '50, finds Chetan Chauhan.
A new reported released on Thursday at World Economic Forum at Davos had indicated that India, China and Brazil would be the world's biggest green house emitters by 2050 and had called for adopting renewable energy options to check the adverse impact of green house emissions on the climate.
India, China and Brazil would be the major contributors on two counts -- the booming economy and the rising population. By 2050, South Asia, including India, will have 25 per cent of the world's population. China will contribute about 16 per cent, though figures for Brazil are much less.
With population rising, the fossil fuel consumption will increase and the growing economy will lead to mammoth energy demands -- both contributing to CO2 emissions, the report state.
For the three countries, the report state, the energy needs would be primarily met through coal burning. It is estimated that coal reserves in the three countries will be consumed 20 per cent by 2030 and 40 per cent by 2050. That can lead to major environment hazards including water scarcity, lesser agriculture produce and health risks.
Asking the world leaders to wake up to the dangers of climate change, the report, Energy Revolution prepared by European Renewable Energy Council and Greenpeace International, predicted that the global temperature would rise by about 2 degrees in 2050 if the present trend of green house emissions continues.
The report states that if the government decides now the expected CO2 emissions can be reduced by half by 2050 by employing renewable energy sources to meet the energy demand of India, China and Brazil.
"Sun can provide 2,850 times more energy than we require. Each square meter of land with adequate sun can used to produce 1,700 MW of power every year," the report said, pointing that technologies are be adopted to tap solar energy. Similarly, the report provides many policy directions to tap other sources of renewable energy like bio-fuels.
India has reacted to the imminent danger to some extent. The ministry of Renewable and Non-Conventional Energy Sources has drafted a new bio-fuel policy for giving incentives for biofuels.
The policy is awaiting Cabinet approval. Also, schemes for exploiting wind energy have been implemented. The ministry of power is working on reducing emission levels and improving efficiency of coal based power plants.
Email Chetan Chauhan: chetan@hindustantimes.com
