Greenpeace lauds govt NAP on climate; wants energy efficiency rais

New Delhi, Jul 2 (UNI) Welcoming the National Action Plan on Climate Change, world environment watchdog Greenpeace today said it was heartening to see the 'shift' in Indian government's stand on climate change while adding that energy efficiency was the key to success.

Lauding the vision and foresight reflected in the plan's 'Solar Mission and the Renewable Energy' aspect, Greenpeace India Policy Advisor Srinivas said the lack of similar ambition in the 'Energy Efficiency Mission' was a big disappointment.

''The principles on which the plan was based shows a clear shift in the government's stand from 'growth will be our answer to climate change' to a position of 'growth objectives would be met through a low carbon, 'ecologically sustainable' path 'sensitive to climate change'.'' The Solar Mission and Renewable Energy programmes show the government's intention to capitalise on the solar potential in the country. And with the indicated target of 15 per cent Renewable Energy by 2020, compares with 49 GW that Greenpeace called for in its 'energy evolution scenario' for the country, which was a considerable enhancement of renewable energy in India's energy mix, and a great shift from its projections in the 11th and 12th Five Year Plans, he said.

''However, the key to developing a low carbon pathway is dependent on how much coal we can reduce in our energy mix. This can be achieved only if, in addition to expanding renewables we also achieve clear 'savings' or 'efficiency targets'.'' Cautioning that the Energy Efficiency Mission was silent on attaining a 15 per cent electricity generation efficiency by 2020, the Greenpeace man said 10,000 MW of savings from energy efficiency by 2012 as envisaged in the plan was not at all ambitious.

Demanding that the final Efficiency Mission should have clear shift to mandatory norms, while keeping the financial incentives in place to make the shift possible, he said, ''The efficiency plan is that it looks to focus on voluntary efforts and market mechanisms, which simply will not achieve the kind of targets which should be met.'' It would be a win-win situation for India and it is difficult to understand why more emphasis was not being placed on mandatory efficiency standards, Mr Srinivas added.

UNI AN ARB RK2004