Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
progress towards green economy. For example,
the largest developing country in the world,
China is also acting positively to catch up with
the green economy wave. From 2006 to 2009,
China had cumulatively closed down 60.4 giga-
watts (GW) of small power plants and 82 million
tons (MT), 60 MT and 214 MT of ineffi cient
iron, steel and cement production facilities,
respectively (Cai et al.
2011
). Renewables con-
sumption in China had increased from 0.8 mil-
lion tons of oil equivalent (Mtoe) in 2002 to 25.4
Mtoe in 2012. In China, rapid development of
renewable energy has made great contributions to
emission reduction and job growth (Cai et al.
2011
). The authors estimated that with every per
cent increase in the share of solar PV generation
there will be a 0.68 % increase of total employ-
ment in China. Similarly, every 1 % increase in
share of biomass and wind will have 0.2 % and
0.05 % incremental impact on total employment,
respectively. It is desirable that government and
administrations at various levels should devise
policies and effi ciently implement them to pro-
mote the idea of green economy. de Oliveira et al.
(
2013
) suggest that reform and policy changes in
the city level are critical as cities are drivers of
the global economy because they are the centre
of knowledge and innovations (both technologi-
cal and institutional) essential for viability of
green economy. Good governance is another
essential component of proper functioning of
green economy. In order to develop and protect
green economy, administrations should keep
track of sustainable production, resource use
effi ciency, responsible and sustainable consump-
tion, internalisation of externalities and resource
conservation. Because of nonrenewable resource-
driven policies, many countries have incentivised
corporates, individuals and society at large to
deplete natural resources without hesitation.
Sustainable production and consumption has
been viewed as a loss-making proposition by
many stakeholders including the government.
Now, time has reached to reverse the trend and
promote sustainability. Governments, regulators
and administrators should create a level playing
fi eld for greener products by “phasing out anti-
quated subsidies, reforming policies and providing
new incentives, strengthening market infrastruc-
ture and market-based mechanisms, redirecting
public investment, and greening public procure-
ment” (UNEP
2011
). A quick transition to a
green economy is not only necessary but a must.
This can assist in overcoming the contribution
that population growth makes to the depletion of
scarce natural resources. The world's least devel-
oped countries (LDCs) are signifi cantly affected
by environmental degradation than most other
developing countries (UNCTAD
2010
), so early
transition to a green economy could prove benefi -
cial to them. In June 2012, world leaders envi-
sioned at the Rio + 20 conference to strive for
sustainable development. They reaffi rmed “inter-
national trade [as] an engine for development and
sustained economic growth”, and identifi ed the
green economy as “an important tool for
achieving sustainable development” (UNEP
2013
).
Developing countries like India should proac-
tively and purposefully strive for a green economy
driven by renewable energy.
2
Renewable Energy
Environment in India
2.1
Political/Legal Environment
The political and legal environment could signifi -
cantly impact the renewable energy market
development, especially in a country like India
where pricing of competing fuel is still to some
extent being controlled by the government. Any
decision related to pricing is not free from polit-
ical intervention. Such decisions may have seri-
ous implications for promotion of renewable
energy. For example, complete deregulation of
diesel may have greater impact on the opportu-
nities and threats for the renewable market in
the country. After partial deregulation of diesel
price, electricity generated from renewables
could compete with electricity produced from
diesel-based generators. Similarly, revision of
domestic gas price is due in 2014 and could
impact the growth of renewable energy production
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