TERI flags the cost of environment degradation

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) said energy efficient measures can reduce energy consumption by 20-30 per cent in the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector.

Setting an agenda for the new government, TERI has prepared a note that addresses not only the way forward, but also deals with the critical aspect of the cost of developmental inaction. It has addressed key aspects pertaining to water, air pollution, waste, green infrastructure, transport, energy security, renewable and solar energy.

TERI Director-General RK Pachauri said: “Environmental issues are often presented within the framework of conflict between environment and development. Here is a price tag on the damage that poor environmental quality and degradation is imposing on human society, and how substantially lower cost action can avoid this burden.”

Focus He added that sectors largely within urban areas are included in the report, and a similar analysis is essential for rural environmental degradation.

“Undoubtedly, that would be a more complex challenge analytically, but given the large population in our villages, ignoring such analysis would be at the cost of ignoring the welfare of two-thirds of our population,” said Pachauri, who is also the chairperson of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

In a statement TERI said: “Within the industrial sector, the MSME segment is associated with low efficiencies due to several barriers such as use of obsolete technologies, non-availability of readymade technological solutions, low-level of awareness, non-availability of technology providers at local level, relatively high cost of technologies and poor access to finance.”

Problem It added that there is a possibility to reduce energy consumption by introducing energy efficiency measures in these sectors.

The TERI report reveals poor sanitation has cost the country ₹5,400 crore. It states that every day more than 1.3 lakh tonnes of waste is generated but only 25,884 tonnes is treated, and the rest ends up in landfills. Outdoor pollution has caused damage amounting to ₹1 lakh crore annually. On the other hand, the cost in terms of disability-adjusted-life-years for diarrhoea among children due to poor sanitation is estimated at ₹500 crore.

Solution The Institute has proposed a few quick solutions that can be easily implemented. The measures would bring down the costs of inaction and would improve the lives of millions in a sustainable manner.

To achieve tangible results in the first 100 days, the new Government would have to show results in the field of sustainable development, which broadly covers fundamental issues such as water, energy and food security, TERI has said. TERI has recommended development of ‘Water and Sanitation Safety Plans’ for Jal Boards. A high-level committee with representations from all the relevant ministries, boards, water and sanitation organisations and important stakeholders may be formed in order to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the water and sanitation safety plans, it said.

Recommendations With regard to air pollution, TERI has recommended improvement in fuel quality and advancement of vehicular emissions norms. The emission reduction that can be accrued through the introduction of BS-VI fuel quality and vehicular norms can result in the reduction of 1.27 lakh deathsby 2030, TERI has noted, and economic benefits ranging between ₹3.9 and ₹6.7 lakh crore cumulatively till the year 2030.

Benefits of implementation of these norms will soon outweigh the costs incurred on initial capital investments, Pachauri has said in the note.

Among other recommendations are setting up of a cabinet of secretaries to define policy and address issues in an integrated manner for energy security, launching of a wind mission and making renewable power the focus of the new power policy.

The report highlights the need to give special incentives to make manufacturing in the solar sector competitive.

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