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India: Growth vs. Green - The Impossible Choice?
11 Sep
Summary
- India must pursue growth, clean air, and decarbonization simultaneously.
- Energy and materials are central to India's environmental and development goals.
- Internalizing environmental costs is crucial for sustainable economic decisions.
India's environmental strategy requires balancing three simultaneous objectives: expanding material production, improving air quality, and decarbonizing its economy. Air pollution is a local crisis, economic growth a national necessity, and climate change a global threat.
Materials like steel and cement are essential for India's development and urbanisation. Their production generates embodied smog and carbon. India must focus on cleaning these production methods rather than inhibiting development.
India's energy demand is rising, with coal still a significant source. Improving emissions intensity through advanced technology and investing in storage can help. Cement and steel production, though increasing, can lower their environmental footprint through substitutions and emission capture.
Aluminium production is energy-intensive, with its impact tied to clean electricity. Urbanisation efforts, such as expanding public transport and efficient building design, can reduce energy intensity and pollution.
Ultimately, internalizing environmental costs into economic decisions is key. This shift will redirect investment toward sustainable solutions, treating air, energy, and climate as interconnected economic systems. India must solve these issues together to redefine development in a carbon-constrained world.
