Table of Contents
Introduction
The article discusses the disappointing results of the COP29 climate conference and the growing pressure on countries, especially India, to act faster to reduce carbon emissions.
It explains how India faces challenges in balancing economic growth and a shift to clean energy while meeting international expectations.
The article also highlights the costs, energy sources, and funding needed for India’s energy transition and the importance of planning carefully to support development and contribute to global climate efforts.
Article Explanation
The COP29 climate conference in Azerbaijan ended without achieving significant progress, even though the world urgently needs to act against global warming.
Different countries have set different timelines to reach net-zero emissions: developed nations by 2050, China by 2060, and India by 2070.
However, climate change continues to accelerate, and there is increasing pressure for countries to act faster. India is facing growing demands to speed up its energy transition and reduce emissions.
Two major developments are pushing for faster climate action. First, the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), starting in 2026, will place additional taxes on imports from countries with lower carbon standards.
This will force exporting nations to adopt stricter emission rules. Second, major economies are being urged to “peak” their emissions earlier. Peaking means emissions should stop increasing and then gradually decline.
While China plans to peak by 2030, and the U.S. and EU have already peaked, India is under pressure to follow suit soon, likely within the next decade.
India faces a tough challenge. It needs to grow its economy and provide more electricity for its people while switching to cleaner energy sources.
Right now, India’s electricity use is only about one-third of the global average. This means India needs to produce a lot more energy, but transitioning to clean energy takes time and money.
If India is forced to cap its emissions too soon, it could limit its ability to grow and meet future energy needs.
Choosing the right energy sources is crucial. Renewable energy, like solar and wind, is clean but has its challenges.
It requires a lot of land and expensive storage systems to ensure power is available all the time. Nuclear energy, on the other hand, is reliable, cheaper, and uses less land.
Studies show that focusing more on nuclear energy would cost $11.2 trillion by 2070 and use much less land compared to a renewable-heavy approach, which would cost $15.5 trillion and require twice the available surplus land in India.
However, nuclear energy currently makes up only 3% of India’s electricity, which means it needs to be scaled up significantly.
India’s demand for electricity is expected to grow quickly as sectors like transport and industry become more dependent on electricity.
By 2070, India may need 21,000 Terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity, a huge increase compared to the 6,200 TWh used in 2020.
Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and digital infrastructure will also increase energy needs.
For instance, data centers and AI tools require large amounts of energy, leading companies like Microsoft to turn to nuclear power for consistent and large-scale energy supply.
Funding this transition is another big challenge. Developed nations have promised $300 billion per year for climate action by 2035, far less than the $1.3 trillion requested by developing nations.
Most of this money will come as loans, which many developing countries cannot afford. Additionally, new carbon trading rules allow richer nations to buy carbon credits from poorer ones.
This means wealthy countries can keep emitting more while limiting the growth potential of countries selling these credits.
India needs to act quickly to ensure its energy needs are met while reducing emissions. Expanding clean energy production is essential for its growth and for securing its share of the global carbon budget.
To achieve this, India must increase public awareness of rising energy costs, gain political support, and find a balance between renewable and nuclear energy.
With global deadlines approaching, India must carefully plan its energy transition to support economic growth while contributing to the fight against climate change.
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