India is the 3rd largest carbon dioxide emitter in the world, second to China and the US. It is also highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change (Timperly, 2019).
Coal is the primary source that fuels its electricity production. AS India’s population and the economy grow, so is their electricity demand and, thus, fossil fuel consumption. Â However, Indian’s are aware of the threats of climate change according to two surveys done in 2015 and 2017. This awareness is perhaps the reason why renewable energy, particularly solar, is gaining popularity in India as an alternate or supplemental source of energy demands (Timperly, 2019).
Given a chance, Indian’s are capable of preventing and adapting to the consequences of climate change.  Earth Care Awards recognized these climate actions from various sectors. The Centre for Environment Education compiled them as case studies.
The case studies in the report are composed of three climate adaptation and mitigation initiatives –
- (i) community-led climate adaptation like using salt-tolerant rice for areas with high-salinity, use of mangroves for coastal protection and capture carbon, and use of solar energy.
- (ii) GHG Mitigation in the Industry. Included here is a cement manufacturing, and an IT company that sought to reduce its energy consumption and emissions.
- Lastly, an (iii) innovative rainwater harvesting system that can supplement the much-needed water resource by capturing and storing surface runoffs back into their borewells.
India’s cement industry is one of the most energy-intensive industry in the world. A cement factory in Kymore, Madhya Pradesh is recognised for its efforts to reduce the use of coal and emissions using biomass as an alternative fuel to heat the kiln to produce the cement.
The factory improved its energy efficiency by replacing and updating equipment which has resulted in a significant reduction of its energy consumption.
These climate adaptation case studies demonstrate India’s efforts to cope with climate change. The case studies presented here are encouraging and show that vulnerable communities and high-emitting industries can take climate actions to reduce the impacts of climate change and cut back on their emissions.
To read the case study report, click on the link below:
Source citations:
Timperly, J. (2019, March 14). The Carbon Brief Profile: India. Carbon Brief. Retrieved from https://www.carbonbrief.org/the-carbon-brief-profile-india
Coping with Climate Change Case Studies and Experiences. (2014) Centre for Environment Education. Pdf. Retrieved from https://www.academia.edu/7198810/Coping_with_Climate_Change_-_Case_studies_on_Climate_Change_Mitigation_and_Adaptation
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