landfill areas emitted approximately 3% (65,052.47 Gg CO 2 equivalent) in the year
2010. LULUCF (Land Use, Land Use Change, and Forestry) sectors acted as a net
sink that offset approximately 12% of the total greenhouse gas emissions.
To minimize the impact of greenhouse emitted during the combustion of fossil
fuels, the Indian government set a target for the production of renewable energy.
Available information suggests India will be able to produce approximately
175,000 MW electricity through renewable sources by the year 2022: solar energy
will contribute approximately 100,000 MW, wind energy approximately
60,000 MW, biomass energy approximately 10,000 MW, and other small hydropower loci approximately 5,000 MW. Afforestation and water conservation programs are promoted in the country through schemes such as the Mahatma Gandhi
National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) and the National
Afforestation Programme. The schemes launched such as the Green India Mission
(GIM), forest restoration, afforestation, agroforestry, and urban forestry have promoted reducing carbon load in the atmosphere. The production of paddy crops also
minimizes the production of methane. These agricultural lands have been utilized for
another crop with higher economic value.
The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) was launched by the
government in the year 2008 to address climate change concerns and to promote
sustainable development. The NAPCC promotes development activities while
addressing climate change. Eight National Missions form the core of the NAPCC,
representing multi-pronged, long-term, and integrated strategies for achieving the
goals in the context of climate change. Several of the programs described under
NAPCC have undertaken various schemes of the government of India, but in the
present context require a change in direction, enhancement of scope, and accelerated
implementation. Positive response toward the effort has been observed in a few
localities on a regional basis.
Future of India in the Twenty-First Century
The government of India has been promoting the production of energy through
renewable sources such as solar energy, wind energy, tidal energy, biomass energy,
and geothermal energy since the last century. An appreciable improvement in
renewable energy in India has been observed in the past few decades, but a major
improvement is still needed, considering other European countries (Fig. 1.2). The
Energy Conservation Act and National Electricity Policy came in 2001 and 2005,
respectively, for resolving the energy problems in India. The Energy Conservation
Act was enacted in 2001 with the objective of energy security through conservation
and efficient use of energy. Some of the major provisions of the act include Standard
and Labelling of Appliances, Energy Conservation Building Codes, setting up of the
Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), and Establishment of Energy Conservation
Fund. The National Electricity Policy of 2005 stipulates that progressively the share
of electricity from nonconventional sources needs to increase.
1 New Challenges on Natural Resources and their Impact on Climate Change in the. . .
11
2010. LULUCF (Land Use, Land Use Change, and Forestry) sectors acted as a net
sink that offset approximately 12% of the total greenhouse gas emissions.
To minimize the impact of greenhouse emitted during the combustion of fossil
fuels, the Indian government set a target for the production of renewable energy.
Available information suggests India will be able to produce approximately
175,000 MW electricity through renewable sources by the year 2022: solar energy
will contribute approximately 100,000 MW, wind energy approximately
60,000 MW, biomass energy approximately 10,000 MW, and other small hydropower loci approximately 5,000 MW. Afforestation and water conservation programs are promoted in the country through schemes such as the Mahatma Gandhi
National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) and the National
Afforestation Programme. The schemes launched such as the Green India Mission
(GIM), forest restoration, afforestation, agroforestry, and urban forestry have promoted reducing carbon load in the atmosphere. The production of paddy crops also
minimizes the production of methane. These agricultural lands have been utilized for
another crop with higher economic value.
The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) was launched by the
government in the year 2008 to address climate change concerns and to promote
sustainable development. The NAPCC promotes development activities while
addressing climate change. Eight National Missions form the core of the NAPCC,
representing multi-pronged, long-term, and integrated strategies for achieving the
goals in the context of climate change. Several of the programs described under
NAPCC have undertaken various schemes of the government of India, but in the
present context require a change in direction, enhancement of scope, and accelerated
implementation. Positive response toward the effort has been observed in a few
localities on a regional basis.
Future of India in the Twenty-First Century
The government of India has been promoting the production of energy through
renewable sources such as solar energy, wind energy, tidal energy, biomass energy,
and geothermal energy since the last century. An appreciable improvement in
renewable energy in India has been observed in the past few decades, but a major
improvement is still needed, considering other European countries (Fig. 1.2). The
Energy Conservation Act and National Electricity Policy came in 2001 and 2005,
respectively, for resolving the energy problems in India. The Energy Conservation
Act was enacted in 2001 with the objective of energy security through conservation
and efficient use of energy. Some of the major provisions of the act include Standard
and Labelling of Appliances, Energy Conservation Building Codes, setting up of the
Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), and Establishment of Energy Conservation
Fund. The National Electricity Policy of 2005 stipulates that progressively the share
of electricity from nonconventional sources needs to increase.
1 New Challenges on Natural Resources and their Impact on Climate Change in the. . .
11