MINISTER OF STATE FOR PLANNING, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES
(DR. ASHWANI KUMAR)
(a) to (f): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (f) OF LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 238 BY SHRI SHIVKUMAR UDASI, ON LOW
CARBON STRATEGY FOR INCLUSIVE GROWTH, DUE FOR ANSWER ON
17.08.2011
(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. The Planning Commission has constituted an Expert Group for
drawing up a Low Carbon Strategy for Inclusive Growth on 7th January, 2010. The
Terms of Reference of the Expert Group were to review the existing studies on low
carbon growth/low carbon pathways, conduct further analyses as required, to assess
various low carbon options for the Indian economy and present a report outlining the
roadmap for the country’s Low Carbon Growth.
(c) to (f): The Expert Group has submitted its Interim Report to the Planning
Commission in May, 2011.
2. The Interim Report provides a menu of options that can reduce India’s emission
intensity through 2020 and some policy measures including options. The main sectors
examined in the report are power, transport, industry, buildings and forestry.
3. In the power sector, reducing electricity demand by use of more efficient
appliances, introduction of more fuel efficient power plants and changes in the mix of
power plants are considered. In the transport sector, promoting goods transport by
railways, mass transport for passenger movement, facilitating non-motorized transport
and increasing fuel efficiency of vehicles are suggested.
4. Among industries, the possibilities of reducing emissions through change in
technology in the steel, cement, oil and gas sectors are considered. The scope for
reducing energy needs of commercial buildings is assessed. In the forestry sector, the
Green India Mission is briefly outlined.
5. The report indicates that with Determined Efforts, we can bring down India’s
emission intensity by 23 to 25 percent and with Aggressive Efforts, we can bring it down
by as much as 33 to 35 percent over the 2005 levels, while sustaining an average real
GDP growth rate of 8-9 percent over the next decade.
6. The interim report has not worked out the costs associated with these measures
and the feedback effect these measures would have in a macro-framework.
7. The report under the heading “Supply options and Emissions (2007)†discusses
Thermal, Hydro and Renewable sources viz., wind, biomass and solar. It states that solar
is one of the critical technology options for India’s long term energy security.
8. The suggestions made in the Interim Report have been included in the Approach
Paper to the 12th Five Year Plan.
