GS Paper 3
Syllabus: Environment Conservation
Source: The Hindu, World Bank
Direction: Innovative solutions for Important reports can be good fodder for your answers
Context: A new World Bank report “Climate Investment Opportunities in India’s Cooling Sector”, has highlighted the need for using alternative and innovative cooling technologies.
Issues highlighted in the report:
- Vulnerability to heat waves: From 2030 onwards, more than 160 to 200 million people could be exposed to a lethal heat wave in India every year.
- Loss of job: Around 34 million Indians will face job losses due to heat stress-related productivity decline.
- High food wastage: Currently, around one-third of the food is lost. This could dramatically increase with increasing temperature.
Opportunities highlighted in the report:
- Need for new cooling solutions: By 2037, the demand for cooling is likely to be eight times more than current levels. This could open an investment opportunity of $1.6 trillion by 2040
- Need for a more energy-efficient pathway: With the demand for cooling shooting up, there is a need to shift to a more energy-efficient pathway to reduce CO2 levels.
Suggestions given in the report:
- Support New Delhi’s India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) 2019: See the infographic for the cooling action plan
- Can adopt climate-responsive cooling techniques: E.g. India’s affordable housing program for the poor, the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), can adopt techniques such as white-painted rooftops, efficient air movement, cooling breezes, evaporation and earth coupling as natural cooling solutions.
- Policy for district cooling (using chilled water): This could help reduce the consumption of 20-30% less power than the most efficient conventional cooling solutions.
- Investing in pre-cooling and refrigerated transport: To bring down food and pharmaceutical wastages during transportation
- Creating jobs in servicing, maintenance and disposal of equipment involved in refrigeration
Conclusion:
India’s cooling strategy can help save lives and livelihoods, reduce carbon emissions and simultaneously position India as a global hub for green cooling manufacturing. A sustainable roadmap for cooling has the potential to reduce 300 million tons of carbon dioxide annually by 2040.
Insta Curious:
Did you know that Refrigeration and cooling cause around 10% of global CO2 emissions?
Heat waves: A Heat Wave is a period of abnormally high temperatures, more than the normal maximum temperature. The heat wave is considered if the maximum temperature of a station reaches at least 40°C or more for Plains and at least 30°C or more for Hilly regions
Insta Links:
Mains Links
Q. List down the objectives of the India Cooling Action Plan. Explain how it is a bold response to addressing India’s future cooling needs while neutralizing its impacts. (250 words)