Govt mulling policy to encourage industry for afforestation

The Environment Ministry is planning to introduce a policy to encourage the industry to participate in afforestation projects, a top Ministry today said even as he asked India Inc to seize opportunities and meet obligations to move towards a low-carbon economy.
Noting that energy efficiency is a key focus area of the government, Union Environment Secretary Ashok Lavasa said that more sectors are being included in the ambit of energy- efficient processes and targets are being "intensified".
Referring to the "historic" climate change agreement which was reached at the recently concluded Paris conference, he said that while there could be an argument that much more must be done, "the diplomacy, maturity and transparency" with which the countries approached the task was "commendable".

"Indian industry, which will play an important role in meeting the goals set by India's INDCs (Intended Nationally Determined Contributions), will need to meet obligations even as they capitalise on new business opportunities. It is equally a question of opportunities and obligations for the industry," Lavasa said at a CII Conference on 'Roadmap to a Low-Carbon Economy'.
Elaborating on the Industry's role in capitalising on the opportunities in the low carbon segment, he said that two government missions -- National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency and National Solar Mission -- have succeeded because of the great enthusiasm and commitment with which the industry participated in these.

"There are huge opportunities in renewables across generation, evacuation, storage, R&D as well as energy management systems to bring these at par with conventional fuels. The challenge lies in finding offgrid solutions and fully integrating renewables into India's fuel mix," he said.

Holding that energy efficiency is another key focus area of the government, Lavasa said that more sectors are being included in the ambit of energy-efficient processes and targets are intensified.
Terming the issue of waste management as an area of
increasing "concern" in rapidly urbanising India, Lavasa said that an aspect of moving towards a low-carbon economy is to approach energy conservation and recycling by looking at waste as a resource.

"We need to set systems to segregate waste at source. By creating practical processes and affordable technologies to convert kitchen waste into compost, not only a significant volume of urban waste can be recycled, but also an alternative will emerge to chemical fertilisers which have long-term health implications and degrade arable land. We need to create a bio-compost revolution in India," he said.
On the Paris Conference of Parties (CoP21), the environment secretary said that the challenge was to formulate an agreement which would allow the development process to continue while moving towards a low-carbon future as numerous nations still have very low human development indices and must fulfill the basic aspirations of their people just as urgently.

"Unprecedented commitment and determination by over 150 heads of states paved the way for an agreement that is balanced, ambitious and binding in its own way.
"While there could be an argument that much more must be done, the diplomacy, maturity and transparency with which the countries approached the task was commendable," he said.
He said that the success of the Paris Agreement is that it recognises the fundamental principle of 'Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR)' by acknowledging the responsibility of developed countries to provide finance and technology for climate change mitigation.
He reiterated that developed countries must take the lead with mitigation actions.