22 Mar 2010 12:03:06
Energy security concerns to drive CO2 reduction in India
The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in India will be driven by concerns over energy security, it has been claimed.
Kirit Parikh, head of the government panel responsible for developing the country's low-carbon strategy, explained that India is very short of oil and gas.
He told Reuters that there is therefore a great deal of pressure to move away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy sources.
Such a shift will be needed whether or not the Indian economy is concerned about climate change, as taking a "business-as-usual" approach could see the country face energy shortages, he stated.
"We need to find in the next 20, at most 30 years, an alternative to coal-based power plants," Mr Parikh remarked. "That will be required as a business-as-usual scenario."
The expert's comments come after the International Finance Corporation said it was investing $10 million (£6.7 million) in India's first commercially viable solar power project, which is being developed by Azure Power Private.
http://alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SGE62L02W.htm
