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Sustainability Net Zero (UL)

The document discusses the interconnected concepts of sustainability and net zero emissions, emphasizing the need for urgent actions to mitigate climate change. It outlines the significance of achieving net zero by balancing greenhouse gas emissions and removals, while highlighting the role of renewable energy and technology in this transition. Additionally, it mentions global commitments, particularly from India, to reduce emissions and enhance renewable energy capacity by specific target years.

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12 views5 pages

Sustainability Net Zero (UL)

The document discusses the interconnected concepts of sustainability and net zero emissions, emphasizing the need for urgent actions to mitigate climate change. It outlines the significance of achieving net zero by balancing greenhouse gas emissions and removals, while highlighting the role of renewable energy and technology in this transition. Additionally, it mentions global commitments, particularly from India, to reduce emissions and enhance renewable energy capacity by specific target years.

Uploaded by

Suniti
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Date: October 05, 2022

Category: Energy
Sustainability & Net Zero
Sustainable Development – a goal; Net Zero – a step towards the goal
Sustainability is about meeting the needs of the present without
compromising ability of future generation to meet their needs. It focuses
on all issues related to burden on the planet such as resources, minerals,
water, and practices being adopted for utilisation, optimisation, and
efficient management of resources. It’s a comprehensive concept to
preserve the planet.
According to Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), net zero
emissions are reached when anthropogenic (human activities) emissions
of GreenHouse Gases (GHGs) to the atmosphere are balanced by
anthropogenic removals over a specified period. The balance between
amount of GHGs produced and that removed from the atmosphere is
known as net zero emission.
Both concepts i.e. sustainability and net zero relate and contribute to each
other and are thus inseparable. The former is focused on macro level
issues, later relates to action orientation towards emission mitigation. Net
zero relates to accounting and balancing of GHGs as CO 2 equivalent and
focuses on all processes related to control of heat and global warming.
Sustainability focuses on overall preservation efforts of planet through
energy efficiency, renewable energy, carbon sequestration, material
conservation, waste management and efficient utilisation & recycling of
water.
GreenHouse Gases are compound gases that trap heat or long wave
radiation in the atmosphere. Their presence makes earth surface warmer.
This heat trapping phenomenal is known as greenhouse effect. Since
industrial revolution, the accumulation of GHGs has accelerated this
greenhouse effect causing global warming and climate change. Some of
the common effects of GHGs are warmer oceans, melting snow & ice
sheets, higher rate of evaporation, changing conditions for plants and
animals, rising sea levels, more droughts, wildfires, and changing weather
pattern. The principle GHGs are CO 2, Methane, Nitrous Oxide, and
Fluorinated Gases. GHG emission can be traced to transportation,
industry, electricity, commercial and agriculture sectors. Organic waste,
wastewater treatment and refrigeration leaks also contributes such
emissions. The average lifetime in atmosphere and Global warming
potential (GWP) for these GHGs are given hereunder:

At organisation level, reporting of GHG emissions has been categorised


into 3 scopes as under:
 Scope I (emission from assets and activities that fall within
organisational boundary)
 Scope II (emissions on account of purchased electricity, steam,
heat)
 Scope III (emissions from activities of organisation, occurring from
sources not owned or controlled by the organisation.

Emission Conversion factors:

To achieve net zero emission in an industry, establishment, or a unit for a


specified
period, there would be need to calculate generation of emissions source
wise and remedial removals activity wise. Few key emission factors
having relevance to net zero objectives are given as above for ready
reference. In addition, it is estimated that a tree sequesters about 20 kg
CO2 emission per year with an estimated life of 30 years. 1000 units of
renewable energy saves 750 kg of CO 2 emissions, and about 4-acre land is
required to set up 1 MWp (mega watt peak) solar plant. This would
however depend upon irradiation level which is not the same across the
geographical locations.

Fuel Unit (CO2e) Emission factor


Air Travel Kg/pass-km 0.229

Rail Travel Kg/pass-km (D/E) 0.075 (34% of air)


Road travel kg/ kg of fuel
Diesel 3.19
Petrol 3.09 (5% lesser)
CNG 2.69 (20% lesser)
Electricity Grid 0.79
DG Set Diesel 3.19 (4 times of Grid)
kg/ kg of fuel
Cooking Fuel LPG 2.98
Grid Electricity 0.79 (35% of LPG)

Waste (Organic/ paper) kg per kg 0.289 (9% of Diesel)

As per net zero study report by International Energy Agency in Jun’ 21,
renewable energy (RE) will overtake coal by the year 2026 and Oil & Gas
by 2030 on a global average basis. By 2050, RE to account for 2/3 rd of
global energy and 90% of electricity generation. Duo of policy and
technology will play key role in achieving net zero by the year 2050. The
Assessment Report 6 (AR-6) of IPCC has confirmed increase of earth’s
global temperature by 1.1 deg.C over preindustrial era. As per AR-6,
impact of climate change is evident from pole to pole and its dire effects
can be avoided if aggressive action is taken now. Impact on bodies such
as ice sheets and oceans will continue to be felt for centuries or even
millennium.

During COP-26 (Conference of Parties-26th meeting) held at Glasgow UK,


India committed to achieve net zero emissions by 2070. During the
meeting India agreed to increase renewable energy capacity to 500 GW
by the year 2030 and reduce carbon intensity of GDP to less than 45% by
the same time. While US and UK have given a net zero target of 2050,
China agreed for 2060. Major corporates/ organisations in India have also
indicated their net zero targets such as – Indian Railways by 2030; RIL/
Adani/ EIL by 2035; BPC/ Amazon by 2040; IndianOil by 2046. Many more
countries and companies have announced or are in the process to commit
their net zero emissions.

World Economic Forum (WEF) has come out with a white paper on Mission
2070 focused on India’s green transformation. As per the paper, the
transition is an attractive, vital and mandatory component of overall
economic transformation. It may save lives, catalyse new industries,
could perhaps create 50m jobs and over $15 trillion economic opportunity
by 2070 ($1 trillion in current decade). Government, private sector,
investors, civil society organisations and individuals need to step forward
and accelerate next green revolution. Major sectors contributing to GHGs
are listed as energy, mobility, industry, buildings, and agriculture. There
are 4 key enablers to achieve this transformation such as green
innovation, green finance, carbon sequestration and climate adaptation.
India’s transformation will need technology, finance and leadership.

The subject matter is likely to come up again in next COP meeting (COP-
27) in Egypt in later part of the year. The meet could address major
concerns such as green finance for developing world, reaffirm Paris
agreement commitments, net zero commitment from remaining countries
and firm decision on coal phase out. Since COP-26 came immediately
after covid pandemic, incoming COP-27 is likely to have intense
deliberations and serious commitments on net zero emissions and other
sustainable measures.

Point of view

Undeniably, sustainability and net zero emissions are inseparable


concepts. and calls for urgent drastic actions to save the planet. Role of
technology and policy framework would be critical to create an eco-
system to support net zero scenario. While sustainability focuses on
macro level issues, net zero focuses on control of greenhouse gases and
resultant heating effect on the climate. During various international
conferences and studies, it is proved beyond the doubt that there is an
urgency of mitigative actions to arrest the alarming pattern of global
warming. The major contributors being electricity, fossil fuels and the way
we handle the resources, firm actions need to be taken in respect of
energy efficiency, adopting renewable energy, alternate fuels, carbon
sequestration, capture and storage, efficient management of resources.
Technology, policy intervention, green finance and leadership
commitment could go long way in saving the planet, besides bringing in
awareness and attitudinal correction among masses towards
sustainability.

Sources:
Official website of International Energy Agency, Ministry of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change, Minutes of COP Meetings, Sixth Assessment Report- IPCC

Citation: This Insight may be cited as [InfEneTy ‘Sustainability & Net Zero’ 05.10.2022]

Tags: Sustainable development; Sustainable energy; Net zero; Clean energy; Renewable
energy; Climate change; Environment; Sustainability

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