Govt should not delay halting coal plant expansion

The Dollar Business Bureau

Mentioning that the International Energy Agency (IEA) reiterated its stand that coal-powered plants are the contributors to air pollution, Greenpeace India on Monday said the government should not postpone its plans for halting expansion of coal-powered plants.

“It is clear that India needs an aggressive shift to clean energy now. There should be no delay in implementing the thermal power plant emission standards and halting the expansion of coal-based power. This is the only way to keep our air quality within breathable limits and reduce premature deaths," said Sunil Dahiya, Campaigner, Climate and Energy, Greenpeace India.

Dahiya said that the government should immediately take steps to come in line with the three IEA recommendations - create a determined long-term target for air pollution reduction, set up a broad policy for clean air for energy sector that can include emission controls as well as clean energy, and to make sure effective checking and implementation of emission norms.

The report released by IEA on Monday highlighted 85 percent of the particulate matter (PM) and nearly all the sulphur oxides as well as nitrogen oxides are the result of fuel combustion.

The report further said that about 60 percent of global emissions of sulphur dioxide, related to combustion, originate from coal.

“Fuel combustion across the globe increases gradually in the current scenario in order to meet the one-third surge in world’s energy demand," it added.

“However, emissions of particulate matter globally are estimated to decline by 7 percent, nitrogen oxides by 10 per cent and sulphur dioxide by 20 percent, over the period till 2040,” it said.

“If India stays on its present method for providing energy, it is certain to have immediate and long-term impacts on our health, causing people to die every day,” Dahiya said.

He stated that it is required in these times to find comprehensive solutions, to reduce fossil dependence on fuel, and make way for renewable power.

“The only possible solution to tackle the increasing health crises, as a result of air pollution, is to devise a systematic, comprehensive and time-bound action plan for clean air," he added.