3 Review(s)

India’s energy system has evolved around domestic coal, sizable imports of oil and LNG, moderate contribution of hydro power, declining and yet sizable use of traditional biomass as cooking fuel by rural households and growing attention to modern renewable, nuclear and energy efficient technologies. India’s per-capita GHG emissions are below the global average and far below those in the developed countries. Notwithstanding the inherited fossil based energy system and high economic growth expectations, India voluntarily committed to reduce GHG emissions intensity of the economy by 20-25 per cent from 2005 to 2020. This book details inventory of energy and emissions at national and sector levels. It maps firm and locale level energy use and emissions and their impacts such as on the urban air pollution. The future energy and emissions trends are analyzed following scenarios analysis using integrated assessment modelling framework that aligns India’s national development goals with global climate change actions. The analysis shows that the global 2˚C temperature stabilization target shall require fundamental transformation of India’s energy system, both on demand and supply sides. Such energy-economy transformation would be far from what could be envisaged under a business-as-usual future. It will require sizable up-front investments in infrastructures, efficient devices, low energy intensity materials, low carbon energy and supply technologies, altering consumer behavior, while India is making transition to medium income and ultimately high income society during the current century. The book demonstrates the necessity and validity of following a long-term development-centric perspective; even while delineating near-term energy and emissions policies, programs and targets such as those needed to delineate the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs). The book, while illustrating the best practice modeling, scenarios development and policy assessment for India, provides insights into the mode and means of navigating the energy and emissions policy landscape for India. The complexity of the policymaking notwithstanding, the book is intended to demystify the methods and means for delineating the policies. The book, we hope demonstrates the need to use best practice methodologies for national assessments and also the existence of the scientific capacity in the country to carry out such assessments.