In a major revelation, “India Spend” India’s first data journalism initiative, has said that a recent, on the basis of an analysis of latest study released by top MNC British Petroleum (BP), that India has becoming the world’s “fastest-growing major polluter”. Prepared on the basis of analysis of a plethora of data in the study, analyst Sajai Jose has said, in 2014 India’s “carbon dioxide emissions growth accounting for the largest share of global emissions growth”.
Jose’s report says, “India’s CO2 emissions from energy use had increased by 8.1% during the year, making it the world’s fastest-growing major polluter”, adding, this was the “single-most significant trend” revealed in the latest edition of BP’s comprehensive Statistical Review of World Energy.
“India’s contribution amounted to 28 per cent, or almost a third of global emissions growth in 2014”, the report says, adding, “Number alone does not convey the magnitude of the larger shift it reflects.”
To prove its point, the report says, the countries whose CO2 emissions increased in 2014 together added an extra 572 million tonnes (MT) of CO2 to the atmosphere, and of this “India’s share was by far the largest at 157 MT of CO2, substantially ahead of China (85 MT) and US (53 MT), the world’s leading polluter for decades.”
It further says, “India’s share of emissions growth (157 MT of CO2) was not only the largest volumetric contribution in its own history, but for the first time made it the world’s biggest contributor to emissions growth”, adding, “While every other major polluter saw emissions growth decline considerably, some even managed to cut emissions significantly over 2013 levels. The European Union (EU), for instance, cut more emissions (211 MT of CO2) in 2014 than India added.”
According to the report, “The additional CO2 India added to the atmosphere in 2014 (157 MT) was greater than that added by the US (155 MT) in 2013.” This happened despite the fact that “the US’ economy is ten times as big as India’s and consumes nearly four times as much energy.”
Ironically, the report says, “India’s GDP growth, which has driven up energy consumption to a historic high point, is also driving growth in its emissions”, adding, “On the other hand, economic growth has slowed globally, leading to a steady decline in global energy consumption in recent years, reaching its nadir in 2014 at just 0.9% (the slowest rate of growth since the late 1990s).”
The reasons why there was setback for India, says the report, is, “globally-significant emission cuts by the EU, a major Chinese push in renewables, and the virtual collapse of highly-polluting industries like coal, steel and cement in China as its infrastructure boom plateaus.”
Pointing out that “it is in coal consumption that India most diverges from the rest of the world”, the report says, “When most major countries have minimal or declining coal consumption, India’s coal consumption has grown by 11%, the world’s largest volumetric increase for the year.”
It report comments, “India’s greater reliance on coal is also what accounts for the Indian exception when it comes to the relationship between emissions growth and energy consumption. While emissions growth in every major country trailed consumption growth, Indian emissions growth (8.1%) alone outpaced consumption growth (7.1%), pointing to the greater carbon content in its fuel mix.”
Referring to the Modi government’s “push” to renewable-energy programmes, the report says, “However, coal remains at the heart of Indian energy policy, with 455 of 1,199 new coal-based thermal power plants proposed worldwide set to come up in India.”
Ironically, the report says, “India’s GDP growth, which has driven up energy consumption to a historic high point, is also driving growth in its emissions”, adding, “On the other hand, economic growth has slowed globally, leading to a steady decline in global energy consumption in recent years, reaching its nadir in 2014 at just 0.9% (the slowest rate of growth since the late 1990s).”
The reasons why there was setback for India, says the report, is, “globally-significant emission cuts by the EU, a major Chinese push in renewables, and the virtual collapse of highly-polluting industries like coal, steel and cement in China as its infrastructure boom plateaus.”
Pointing out that “it is in coal consumption that India most diverges from the rest of the world”, the report says, “When most major countries have minimal or declining coal consumption, India’s coal consumption has grown by 11%, the world’s largest volumetric increase for the year.”
It report comments, “India’s greater reliance on coal is also what accounts for the Indian exception when it comes to the relationship between emissions growth and energy consumption. While emissions growth in every major country trailed consumption growth, Indian emissions growth (8.1%) alone outpaced consumption growth (7.1%), pointing to the greater carbon content in its fuel mix.”
Referring to the Modi government’s “push” to renewable-energy programmes, the report says, “However, coal remains at the heart of Indian energy policy, with 455 of 1,199 new coal-based thermal power plants proposed worldwide set to come up in India.”
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