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Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
6. India has made considerable progress in its efforts towards decoupling economic growth from greenhouse gas emissions. Do you think India should commit to net zero emissions by 2050? Critically examine. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Live Mint
Why the question:
The coal crisis has forced the Indian government to ramp up domestic production and imports of coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel, while the world focuses on net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Key Demand of the question:
To examine if India is in the position to commit to net zero emissions by 2050 given its developmental concerns.
Directive word:
Critically examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we have to look into the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a fair judgment.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by stating some of the initiatives of the government to promote clean energy. But on the contrast according to data from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) non-renewable fossil fuels account for 70% of the current (2020) generation capacity and also the major source of carbon emissions.
Body:
First, mention some reasons why India should go for net zero approach such as increasing impact of climate change such as floods, droughts and international pressure etc.
Next, mention the various challenges such as technological, managerial and regulatory capacity to manage major transformation to clean sources of energy production, the major constraint of finance, high-cost, high-risk, long-gestation investments etc
Conclusion:
Conclude by stating that clean energy sources are the only option for a sustained energy production in the long run and must be given aggressive policy impetus.
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