Pune: “Climate Change is a reality, which is causing irreversible damage to the earth. The government, industries and the civil society will have to act together as stakeholders and take responsibility to fight climate change. We have to understand that carbon constraint is a binding constraint and we’ll have to take cognizance of it while preparing our development module,” said Dr Rajiv Kumar, Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog while addressing an online national conference on Energy, Environment and Economic Growth: Emerging Challenges organized by Pune International Centre (PIC) on Friday (January 22).
The two-day conference organized by the EECC Group of the PIC will also have collaboration of Climate Collective Pune, Ecological Society, Pune and Indian Network on Ethics and Climate Change (INECC), India.
Dr. Vijay Kelkar Vice-President, PIC and Prof Amitav Mallik, Trustee of PIC and the Convener of the Conference were present during the conference.
“Indian economic model is not based on insatiable demands but rather rational ones and our development schemes have to build balance between Energy, Environment and Economic Growth. We have to focus more on hydrogen economy as the demand for hydrogen in India will grow tremendously by 2030. ‘Green’ Hydrogen needs to be targeted in sectors where direct electrification is not possible and this includes the transport sector and industries including cement and steel,” said Kumar.
The conference aims to bring together scholars, experts, economists, environmentalists, businessmen and concerned citizens to address these pressing issues.
“We also have to switch to chemical-free, natural farming to increase the carbon content in the soil. It is a natural way for carbon sequestration. Natural agriculture can avoid excessive use of water, prevent farmer indebtedness and contribute to mitigating greenhouse gases,” he added.
Prof Amitav Mallik said, “The conference is first-of-its-kind attempt to find synergy between environment and economy so that both can thrive in the future despite many un-avoidable disruptions. Climate change is affecting economic progress and its revival is both a personal and social responsibility. Investing in renewable energy and eco-friendly projects today will reduce costs in the future. We have to create awareness for pro-active policies, which can energize pro-environment schemes.”
On Friday, the conference held two sessions on Interrelationship between Environment and Economics and Low Carbon Economy for Green Growth. Dr Ashok Khosla, Former Co-Chair UNEP-IRP, the Keynote Speaker for one of the sessions, talked on need for resource conservation and means to achieve it.
On Saturday, the sessions will be on Changing Energy Dynamics for India and Pathway to an Integrated Environmental Economic Policy. Accordingly, MP Vandana Chavan will express her views on ‘Climate Economic Challenges for India’.