Energy transition is a strategic necessity for countries that are dependent on fossil fuel sources. Several factors demand this shift. First, the over-dependence on fossil fuels is one of the major reasons for the increasing energy-related emissions. Second, for the countries that are relying on overseas supply of fossil fuels, increasing import bill is a major economic burden. Third, the conventional hydrocarbon fuels, especially oil and gas resources, have been facing the various geopolitical vulnerabilities. The challenges that affect its production, transportation and supply lead to price volatility in the market, which directly affect the import-dependent economies. Transitioning to a mix of cleaner sources is critically important not only to reduce overseas dependency but also to curb energy-related emissions and vulnerability to price fluctuations. While geopolitical, economic and security reasons often termed as the major factors that catalyse the energy transition, concerns about climate change remain to be the cardinal element that drive the process in today’s world. This article examines the role of India’s climate change agenda as it takes the central stage in the energy transition process.
Energy transition has been gaining significant policy attention in India, especially in the backdrop of the concerns about growing emissions from fossil fuels and the need for cleaner energy services. However, this has been one of the strategic dilemmas for the country. On the one hand, the increasing demand for fossil fuels is prompting critical policy actions to minimize the energy-related emissions and reduce the dependency on the same. On the other hand, the national economic targets that demand high growth have been pivotal in pushing the energy demand growth and have also been unable to shift away from the conventional energy mix. The global debates on shifting away from environmentally damaging energy sources have always paid greater focus on the coal sector. This is primarily due to the fact that coal-fuelled power generation sector has been responsible for the highest quantity of greenhouse gas emissions in many countries. Shifting away from coal sector can have significant adverse sociopolitical impacts. The workforce depending on the sector for mining and processing, as well as in the other allied sectors can be affected by the falling demand for coal. On the contrary, this article identifies that energy transition has not made any serious dent on the workforce or communities that are traditionally dependent on coal sector. Instead, the fall in employment witnessed is primarily due to the increasing mechanization taking place for the past few decades. The article discusses coal transition in the Indian context to present the arguments in this direction.
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