Karnataka has several ‘project ready’ initiatives for accessing Global Climate Change Mitigation Incentive Fund, said BK Chandrashekar, former Chairman of Karnataka legislative Council and President of Bangalore Climate Change Initiative-Karnataka (BCCI-K).

He said preliminary work had been completed on several projects and they were ready to receive funds. As of now, $6 billion is available for funding under the Global Climate Change Mitigation Incentive Fund and from 2020 onwards, around $100 billion has been committed.

Karnataka’s strengths

On the issue of Karnataka’s strengths in mitigation efforts, he said, “The State has about 4 GW of renewable-based installed capacity. This is about 32 per cent of its total installed capacity, much higher than the 13 per cent share at national level.”

The State also has abundant wind and solar energy potential. “It produces around 14 GW wind and 10 GW solar energy. The State has announced solar capacity targets till 2021, and a wind energy policy is in the pipeline,” he said.

BCCI-K is consortium of research institutions, comprising scientists and researchers from Bengaluru-based institutions such as the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), University of Agricultural Sciences, ISEC Bangalore, IIT Delhi and London School of Economics – India Observatory, London.

Supporting Chandrashekar’s arguments, NH Ravindranath, professor at the Centre for Sustainable Technologies, IISc, said, “It is estimated that energy efficiency measures in the State can offset electricity generation requirement by 37 billion units by 2030, which is equal to the State’s total electricity consumption in 2010.

MB Rajegowda, Registrar, University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), said, “Studies prepared under BCCI-K have shown that all the major crops of Karnataka will be adversely affected by climate change, leading to concerns about sustained food production and food security.”