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Description
Climate-Colab Contest 2011
Proposal
Country : India
Executive Summary
Despite a massive population, India’s carbon footprint is relatively low compared to more developed countries. For example in 2007, India’s overall per capita emissions totalled 1.4 tonnes, a fraction of Sweden at 5.4, the United Kingdom at 8.9, Japan at 9.8, and the United States at 18.9 [1]. This surprising status is due to two primary factors: the low energy consumption rate of the poor, and the lack of access to electricity or petrofuels for citizens nationwide. In 2005, an estimated 456 million people were living on $1.25 a day, while 400 million of those were unconnected to the grid [2].
Since the Indian economy continues to grow at a staggering 8.5 - 9.0 % annually, energy requirements will increase proportionately... and so will carbon emissions, if India’s current policies remain unchanged.
Our team will identify the key energy sectors responsible for India’s current negative trending. With this data, we will then propose specific ways industry can both reduce GHG emissions and satisfy growth requirements. A special emphasis will be placed on empowering the rural poor.
Team
Anna Agarwal …..... Doctoral candidate, Civil And Environmental Engineering, MIT
Udaya Bhaskar …....Postdoctoral Associate, Center for Atsmophere, Oceans, and Climate MIT
Priya Jadhav ….......Doctoral candidate, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT
Vaishali Joglekar …..Clinical Pharmacist, Harvard University
Outcomes and objectives
The overall approach to reach our goals can be categorized in the following points:
- Improvement in energy efficiency of power generation and other industries. The Indian government plays a large role in power generation and also in some other large like steel. It can directly take the required actions for efficiency improvement. Private industry can be directed in the form of policy and other efficiency and polluting standards. More comprehensive standards for energy efficiency of products.
- The rise of consumer culture around the world is also extending to India. A social and cultural paradigm which curbs wasteful usage could then effect the supply side (industry).
- Mitigate the negative effects on biodiversity by industry, by offsetting deforestation.
- Small scale solutions can fit into local systems without disturbing the environment in major ways. For example water-harvesting instead of large dams. Other energy solutions like heating water using solar energy, biogas plants in villages using organic wastes, small scale wind-turbines etc. These solutions are very important for the rural poor because they do not need large scale investments.
Approach
The chart below shows the CO2e emissions categorized by some sectors which are the major contributors. The columns are for the baseline year 2005, the projected emissions for 2030, and the target emissions for 2030 the we propose can be achieved by implementing our plan. The growth of each of these sectors from 2005 to 2030 is also given. The 2007 emissions are also given since the data was available for 2007, and the 2005 figures were extrapolated from the 2007 figures.
1.0 Projected Carbon Dioxide Emissions from 2005 to 2030
|
2005a Emisson Levels (million tonnes) |
2007b Emission Levels (million tonnes) |
2005 Sector Size |
2030 Sector Size |
2030 Projected Emissions |
2030 Target emissions |
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Cement |
69 |
80 |
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Iron and Steel |
154 |
180 |
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Pulp and paper |
26 |
30 |
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Fertilizer |
43 |
50 |
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Refining |
51 |
60 |
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Aluminum |
40 |
34 |
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Transport |
130 |
111 |
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Residential Property |
175 |
150 |
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Commercial Property |
105 |
90 |
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Agriculture |
290 |
249c |
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(Electricity) |
(1075) |
(921)d |
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a. The numbers in the 2005 column are generated by a linear extrapolation from the 2007 column by using a total of 1.4 tonnes per capita emission for 2007 and 1.2 for 2005.
b. All the figures in this column are from reference [2] , except for Agriculture
c. Agriculture – we discussed 18% of the total emission in our last discussion, don’t know the source. I generated it by multiplying 1.4 tonnes per capita and 1.15 billion (population) and taking 18% of that.
d. The figure for Electricity is all supply besides what is included in the explicitly mentioned sectors
Based on the above factors, we project an emissions reduction of (xyz)% by the year 2030.
In order for India to maintain a high ability to supply energy for future generations, a consistent effort to wean the nation off fossil fuels will need to become official policy rather than media rhetoric. Our team will propose unique, data-driven, and incentive-oriented suggestions seeking to accomplish three outcomes. First, GHG emissions will be a shared goal amongst all participants in energy-creation. Secondly, new partners with demonstrated ability to influence public thinking will be utlilized to assist the transformation. Third, we will suggest personalized and incentive-oriented programs for rural players who can become energy stake-holders .
Why: Rationale
Explanation for why these actions and outcomes are desirable.
How: Feasibility
Explanation of how the proposed actions will be achieved. Teams are encouraged, but not required, to include such issues as:
- Overall regional/national policy framework
- Changes in social practices or individual behavior
- Role of political mobilization, education, or changes in values
- Financing mechanisms
- Role of new energy technologies
Vision of the Future
Creative depictions what life will be like later in the century if the proposal were to be adopted, using such media as videos, images, or narratives.
References
1. “Millenium Development Goal Indicators”, United Nations Statistics Division, http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/Data.aspx
2. “India: Options for low-carbon development - Synopsis of a study by the World Bank for the government of India” , Energy Sector Management Assistance Program, http://www.esmap.org/esmap/node/833
3. “List of countries by carbon dioxide emissions per capita”, Wikipedia,
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