Governmental actions promoting environmental conservation in India
In the era of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India's push towards a Clean India, Green India has been nothing short of transformative.Environmental conservation is no longer just an aspect of cleanliness and waste management, but also a critical consideration for energy resources. Schemes like GOBARdhan, the 'Ek Ped Ma ke Naam' tree planting campaign, and the UJALA program for energy-efficient LED bulbs, have created a ripple effect that's improved waste management, sanitation, and contributed to the nation's sustainable development.
Under the Swachh Bharat Mission, GOBARdhan, launched in 2018, aims to convert farm waste into compost and biogas. Simultaneously, initiatives like banning plastic bags and promoting the use of energy-efficient appliances, have made a significant impact.
India has shown remarkable progress in meeting its energy goals, too. The COP21 target of achieving 40% installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources was met ten years ahead of the scheduled 2030 deadline. Renewable energy capacity has nearly tripled in the last decade, with solar energy capacity skyrocketing by 3,645%. India also boasts the world's largest solar park, Bhadla Solar Park, in Rajasthan, and rooftop solar schemes have brought solar power to over a million homes.
PM Narendra Modi recently launched the LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) initiative at COP26, urging global citizens to adopt environment-conscious practices. This includes measures like reducing plastic use and choosing energy-efficient appliances. Climate action, he stressed, needs to start at home.
Recently, the government announced plans to implement new AC temperature regulations. The temperature standardization for air conditioners will be set between 20°C to 28°C, aiming to improve energy efficiency, reduce electricity demand, and slash greenhouse gas emissions. This move is part of an ambitious plan to foster energy conservation and sustainable habits.
Similarly, preset speed governors in vehicles have been mandatory in India since 2015. These speed limits are designed to lower carbon emissions, with studies showing speed limits can reduce emissions by up to 25% in urban areas. Vehicles will cease functioning if the preset speed limit of 80 kmph is exceeded, promoting eco-friendly driving.
The latest Urban Green Policy, approved by the UP cabinet, aims to make Indian cities more sustainable. Key features include a Green City Monitoring System to evaluate and award Green star ratings to cities based on their environment-conscious initiatives, and promoting the creation of vertical gardens, rooftop gardens, and Miyawaki forests. This policy focuses on city, neighborhood, and building levels, with ongoing implementations in cities like Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kutch, Prayagraj, and plans for a coastal forest in Mumbai.
Other upcoming environmental goals include the National Clean Air Program, which aims to achieve national air quality standards in at least 60 cities by 2029, and the Green Aravali Project, a collaborative effort to reforest the Aravalli range spanning multiple states. This ambitious project aims to enhance green cover, biodiversity, and strengthen climate resilience in the region, while creating employment and income opportunities for local communities.
In essence, the Indian government's environmental initiatives reflect a bold vision for securing India's ecological future while fostering prosperity. These initiatives encapsulate a multi-faceted approach to building a sustainable, resilient ecological future for India, demonstrating that with political will and public participation, sustainable development can be more than a distant dream.
- The push towards a cleaner and greener India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi also includes a significant focus on renewable energy, as India has nearly tripled its renewable energy capacity in the last decade.
- TheLiFE initiative, launched by PM Narendra Modi, encourages global citizens to make lifestyle choices that support environmental science, such as reducing plastic use and choosing energy-efficient appliances, to combat climate-change.
- Financial considerations are not excluded from environmental initiatives as the government's ambitious plan to foster energy conservation and sustainable habits also aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and electricity demand, creating potential economic savings in the process.
- The Urban Green Policy, approved by the UP cabinet, strives to make Indian cities more sustainable, not only by introducing measures like green city monitoring systems and vertical gardens, but also by creating employment and income opportunities in initiatives like the National Clean Air Program and the Green Aravali Project.
