and wind energy significantly in rural areas for domestic, agricultural, and other
small-scale industrial purposes. India has also promoted afforestation on a large
scale since 1984, which helps fix atmospheric carbon to reduce the proportion of
carbon in the atmosphere.
The carrying capacity of India is quite low in comparison to other developed
world countries. Thus, obtaining food and other natural resource requirements of the
Indian people becomes a challenging task considering the environmental impact.
The availability of natural land resource per person in India is quite poor based on
carrying capacity, only about 0.5 hectares (ha). Municipal solid waste (MSW) has
contributed approximately 46% (1.7–1.9 billion tonnes) of total solid waste, produced mainly by urban settlement (Srivastava and Ramanathan 2012).
One report suggested solid waste and wastewater worldwide accounted for
approximately 1.5 Gt CO 2 equivalent in the year 2010 (MOEFCC 2014). Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the building sector have more than doubled since
1970, reaching 9.18 Gt CO 2 equivalents in 2010. In 2010, the building sector
accounted for approximately 32% of global final energy consumption and approximately 19% of energy-related GHG emissions (including electricity related), which
occurred because many modern buildings are highly energy intensive. A rough
assessment suggests that to produce 1 tonne of Portland cement roughly 1 tonne of
CO 2 is released to the atmosphere. In 2013, cement production accounted for 9.5%
of global CO 2 emissions. A study reported approximately 67% greenhouse gas
emitted by the energy sector including the cement industry, approximately 23%
greenhouse gas by agriculture activities, approximately 4% greenhouse gas by
landfill area, and about 6% greenhouse gas by other industries, in India in the year
2000 (MOEFCC 2015). The emitted GHG is classified as approximately 67.25%
CO 2 , approximately 26.73% CH 4 , approximately 5.34% N 2 O, approximately 0.34%
CHF 3 , approximately 0.02% SF 6 , and approximately 0.42% PFC.
As per the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), human-generated
GHG emission occurs as the result of population size, economic activities, lifestyle,
energy consumption, agriculture and land use, technology, and climate policy
(MOEFCC 2015). Further, vulnerability to climate change, GHGs, and the capacity
for adaptation and mitigation have been strongly influenced by livelihood, lifestyle,
behavior, and culture. These emissions can be substantially lowered through changes
in consumption patterns, adoption of energy-saving measures, dietary changes,
reduction in food wastes, and the reuse, reducing, and recycling of natural resources.
India has a history of low-carbon footprint because of the nature-loving attitudes of
the people. These national characteristics and the inclination of the people should be
encouraged through mass education and awareness, rather than being replaced by
more modern but unsustainable practices and technology (MOEFCC 2015).
1 New Challenges on Natural Resources and their Impact on Climate Change in the. . .
3
small-scale industrial purposes. India has also promoted afforestation on a large
scale since 1984, which helps fix atmospheric carbon to reduce the proportion of
carbon in the atmosphere.
The carrying capacity of India is quite low in comparison to other developed
world countries. Thus, obtaining food and other natural resource requirements of the
Indian people becomes a challenging task considering the environmental impact.
The availability of natural land resource per person in India is quite poor based on
carrying capacity, only about 0.5 hectares (ha). Municipal solid waste (MSW) has
contributed approximately 46% (1.7–1.9 billion tonnes) of total solid waste, produced mainly by urban settlement (Srivastava and Ramanathan 2012).
One report suggested solid waste and wastewater worldwide accounted for
approximately 1.5 Gt CO 2 equivalent in the year 2010 (MOEFCC 2014). Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the building sector have more than doubled since
1970, reaching 9.18 Gt CO 2 equivalents in 2010. In 2010, the building sector
accounted for approximately 32% of global final energy consumption and approximately 19% of energy-related GHG emissions (including electricity related), which
occurred because many modern buildings are highly energy intensive. A rough
assessment suggests that to produce 1 tonne of Portland cement roughly 1 tonne of
CO 2 is released to the atmosphere. In 2013, cement production accounted for 9.5%
of global CO 2 emissions. A study reported approximately 67% greenhouse gas
emitted by the energy sector including the cement industry, approximately 23%
greenhouse gas by agriculture activities, approximately 4% greenhouse gas by
landfill area, and about 6% greenhouse gas by other industries, in India in the year
2000 (MOEFCC 2015). The emitted GHG is classified as approximately 67.25%
CO 2 , approximately 26.73% CH 4 , approximately 5.34% N 2 O, approximately 0.34%
CHF 3 , approximately 0.02% SF 6 , and approximately 0.42% PFC.
As per the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), human-generated
GHG emission occurs as the result of population size, economic activities, lifestyle,
energy consumption, agriculture and land use, technology, and climate policy
(MOEFCC 2015). Further, vulnerability to climate change, GHGs, and the capacity
for adaptation and mitigation have been strongly influenced by livelihood, lifestyle,
behavior, and culture. These emissions can be substantially lowered through changes
in consumption patterns, adoption of energy-saving measures, dietary changes,
reduction in food wastes, and the reuse, reducing, and recycling of natural resources.
India has a history of low-carbon footprint because of the nature-loving attitudes of
the people. These national characteristics and the inclination of the people should be
encouraged through mass education and awareness, rather than being replaced by
more modern but unsustainable practices and technology (MOEFCC 2015).
1 New Challenges on Natural Resources and their Impact on Climate Change in the. . .
3