Transition to low carbon economy warrants policy changes

Ranchi: The Centre for Environment and Energy Development (CEED) on Wednesday organised a session here on the future of the economy and on the sustainability of livelihoods in a low-carbon economy.
Policy-makers cutting across party lines discussed possible alternatives to coal and fossil fuel reserves which are limited and are a major cause for pollution.
The CEED offered to provide a resource centre which will work as a common forum to facilitate research-based discussion and help the state government take informed decision in formulation of new policies and programs in this regard.
BJP MP Sanjay Seth said that the transition from a coal and fossil fuel-based economy to an alternative would require social justice so that the livelihood of lakhs of people centered around coal is not affected adversely. JMM MLA Lobin Hembram said that the depletion of resources has already started affecting the masses. “We are witnessing migration due to a lack of resources and ill-effects of pollution, which needs attention,” he said.
Congress and Ajsu Party agreed when Poriayhat MLA Pradeep Yadav stressed on involving the common people in the decision-making process. Ajsu Party’s Lambodar Mahto also agreed that it is the local residents who bear the brunt of a fossil fuel-based economy.
Stressing on the need to find an alternative ecosystem, the director of Centre for Excellence in Green Energy & Efficient Technology at Central University of Jharkhand, S K Samdarshi, said, “Loss of jobs in the eventual phase out of coal and other resources must be tackled by a clear identification of the alternative sectors and new skill development programs to capacitate people for the suitable employments.”
The CEO of CEED, Ramapati Kumar, said that there was an urgent need for bringing in enabling policy and financing framework with an implementation roadmap to ensure inclusive transition. “There has to be an inter-departmental and convergence approach since a transition is not confined only to energy and environment areas, which places the need of a multifaceted and inter-sectoral approach from key departments for effective planning and implementation,” he said adding that the resource centre is ready to extend help with research and experts’ guidance.