Fossil fuel dependent India to join Gates’ initiative for clean energy

India is a prominent player in the conference for multiple reasons. Firstly India is the third largest emitter of green house gases amounting for roughly 5% of the global total. Secondly India, has been very vocal in its demand for due compensation from the developed world to offset the cost of implementing green technologies. 

India’s concerns are very valid considering that energy in various forms are vital for sustaining economic development of the country. India is heavily dependent on coal for electricity generation. Thermal power plants account for 70% of the power generating capacity while clean technologies ( nuclear and hydro) account for a total of 16%. Wind and Solar powered energy are yet to make a significant impact though they have been growing fast. What is worrying for many is that the thermal plant capacity has been growing at over 7 % Cumulative Average Rate of Growth (CARG) while hydro and nuclear energies have seen just about 3% growth. India’s priority is growth and development and would clearly not like emission cuts to affect its growth. 

This is why Bill Gates’ proposal to set up a fund for research is a huge step in the right direction, as far as India is concerned. He has noted that the cost of clean energy today is more than astronomical’ and has stressed the need for finding new sources of clean energy. 

The true significance of this move rests on the common consensus that even if all the agreed cuts are put in place global temperatures will continue to rise and by 2060 we would have a rise of 3 to 5 degree C from the reference temperatures. 

The COP 21 ( 21st Conference Of Parties) set to open on Monday is a grand effort to tackle climate change. 147 heads of state are expected to participate and over 40000 officials are expected to attend. 

Spread over 12 days this great effort attempts to arrive at a binding agreement that the earlier pledges on emission cuts would be implemented.