Decarbonizing India's Industrial Sector: A Roadmap to Net-Zero Emissions by 2070
Key Ideas
- The study outlines steps for India's industrial sector to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070, emphasizing energy efficiency, material recycling, and clean technologies like hydrogen and carbon capture.
- Key industries like steel, cement, and textiles are addressed in the research which explores four future scenarios to understand the impact of varied policies and technologies on emissions reduction.
- Improving energy and material efficiency are highlighted as immediate priorities, along with the need for financial support, technology transfers, and policies that balance economic growth with environmental protection.
- India could potentially reduce industrial emissions by 63% by 2050 with the right measures, requiring significant investments in cleaner technologies and systems like carbon capture, amounting to around $1.7 trillion by 2050.
A recent study by researchers from the Indian Institute of Management, IIM Lucknow, and Ahmedabad University focuses on decarbonizing India's industrial sector to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070. The study, published in Applied Energy, emphasizes the importance of transformative changes in the industrial domain to align with the nation's ambitious emissions target.
The research delves into the critical role of India's industrial sector in the economy while acknowledging its substantial contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. Despite initiatives like 'Make in India' driving growth, the sector's heavy reliance on fossil fuels poses a challenge to decarbonization efforts.
The study concentrates on key industries like steel, cement, and textiles, examining four potential future scenarios to assess how different policies and technologies could impact industrial growth, environmental sustainability, and necessary investments.
Professor Dipti Gupta highlights the significance of transitioning the manufacturing sector while minimizing negative environmental impacts to pave the way for a low-carbon pathway for India. The study underscores the essential actions of improving energy and material efficiency, alongside the need for financial backing, technology transfers, and policies that ensure a balance between economic progress and environmental conservation.
The researchers propose that India could substantially cut industrial emissions by 63% by 2050 through the adoption of advanced technologies, necessitating significant investments in cleaner electricity, enhanced material recycling, and carbon capture technologies.
The study stresses the importance of international support, technological advancements like hydrogen systems and carbon capture, and the implementation of robust policies to drive sustainable industrial growth in India.