India's Emission Standards

Why in news?

A week after the budget speech which included the Centre’s commitment to promote clean energy, the government has developed cold feet over emission norms for thermal power plants.

What is the need for reduction of emission?

• Coal is a major culprit for climate change. It powers more than 80% of the electricity consumed in the country.
• The Paris agreement hinges on voluntary targets, or the Intended Nationally Determined Commitments (INDCs).
• India’s INDCs relies greatly renewable energy.
• But it will still require thermal power plants to generate 60% of its energy requirements in 2030.
• That makes reducing emissions from these coal-fired plants crucial to the country’s Paris commitments.
• In the run-up to the Paris climate change meet in 2015, the government stressed on reducing the share of this fossil fuel in the country’s energy mix and using it in a climate friendly manner especially reducing the emissions from thermal power stations.
• Over 140 such stations were assigned targets for improving energy efficiency.
• But now the government finds these standards too stringent.
• This raise questions about India’s commitment to its Paris targets.

Why the voluntary measures are implemented?

• The lack of coordination between different government agencies that has affected almost every environment-related initiative in the country has dogged the endeavour to reduce the climate footprints of thermal power plants.
• In 2015 the National Thermal Power Corporation opposed the emission norms for thermal plants were being discussed.
• The government set aside the objections of the biggest player in the sector and submitted its INDC document to the United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change.
• The environment ministry is also gave clearances to new plants without specifying the new standards, well after it had the norms in place.

What is the way ahead?

• The failure of thermal power plants to comply with the emission norms does not show the country’s preparedness in good light.
• Most thermal power plants in the country work at efficiencies below 33%.
• There are still three years before India has to comply with its Paris climate targets.
• While there has been much convincing talk on emission targets for these plants, the technological inputs required for the purpose have received very little attention.
• It is time the country braces for the challenge.

Source: The Indian Express