Looking into the future, achieving sustainable growth is conditional to weaving low carbon strategies into our growth strategies, said Arunish Chawla, officer on special duty, Planning Commission to the Union government.
Speaking at a workshop on ‘Growth in a carbon constrained world’, he said parts of the 12th plan emphasised on advanced coal technology, focussing on coal that is available domestically as well as using higher-efficiency technology such as super critical and ultra super critical coal technology. “All this is possible but as our expert group on Low Carbon Strategies for Inclusive Growth has found that it is not easy. We are trying to use detailed economic models and considering carbon technology options to achieve this.”
Conceding that low-carbon strategies do have considerable costs, he emphasised that the time had come to look past this. “This may mean taking away investments from other sectors and may impact real consumptions; but this can also be enabled from our compensation transfers from international resources,” Mr. Chawla said.
The workshop organised by Centre for Study of Science, Technology and Policy, saw experts from the energy sector, private alternate technology firms and academics deliberate on the need for a low carbon future, reducing fossil fuel dependency and several government missions that deal with wind and solar energy. J. Srinivasan, chairman of the Divecha Centre for Climate Change, IISc, said the Indian government, policy makers and health professionals have altogether ignored the long-term effects of rising air pollution in our cities. A. Ravindra, former Chief Secretary to the Karnataka government, spoke about the governance framework and the need for strict enforcement of policies.
New business modelsHarish Hande, managing director of SELCO, said that financing and technology are not the only barriers. “The differential interest rate should be restructured to help the low income group. Low carbon growth can be done with effective business models, for instance, the 5.5 per cent value added tax on kerosene must be removed.”
