Greenhouse Gas Emissions up – India

It is reported that India government has revised the country’s GHG emissions estimates and assured itself that the per capita emissions is in the range of 1.5 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, which is way below the emissions of developed countries like US. Based on the data of 2007, the Indian emissions continued to rise due to rapid industrialization and stood at 1.73 billion tonnes of CO2 of carbon dioxide. This is around 1/5th of the emissions from US. About 38% of the total emissions are from electricity generation, followed by fossil fuel consumption in transport sector.

The continuing industrialization and rapid rise in the usage of fossil fuel in transport sector, it will be difficult for the country to maintain the present emissions rate. It will keep rising. The per capita emissions in India will always remain lower due to the billion plus Indian population.

May be, Indian government should consider, taking into account the projected future developmental activities, accepting the emission cuts suggested by Climate Summit at Copenhagen. Wherever possible, only clear technology should be adopted.