The state’s greenhouse gas emission is projected to increase 5.2 times from the present by 2070, when India targets to achieve net zero emission.
The finding has been projected in Bihar State Pollution Control Board’s (BSPCB’s) recently released draft report on ‘climate resilient and low-carbon development pathway’ for the state, prepared in association with the United Nations Environment Programme.
The Bihar State Pollution Control Board has now invited suggestions from the common mass as well as experts on the draft to make it effective for achieving India’s goal of net zero emission by 2070.
The draft report has been uploaded on the BSPCB’s website and suggestions can be sent though email or post at the board’s office address latest by April 12, according the member secretary, S Chandrashekhar.
The govt of Bihar had initiated the process to prepare the strategy for a climate resilient and low-carbon development pathway in February 2021.
The draft report states that Bihar’s contribution to national emissions is modest – about 3.3% of India’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2018, lower than its share of national population (8.8%), even as they had doubled between 2005 and 2013 from the previous figure.
The energy sector was the highest emitter of greenhouse gases with a contribution of 69% to the total in 2018, followed by agriculture, forest and other land use at 24%, waste management with 5% and industrial processing and product use at 2%.
Within the energy sector, emissions from power generation constituted about 59%, followed by industry, transport, buildings and agriculture-related energy emissions.
The report further states that if present trend continues, the state’s emissions are projected to increase 5.2 times between 2020 and 2070. The energy sector will continue to be the highest emitter, projected to contribute 93% of the total emissions.
Within the energy sector, power generation will account for 82%, followed by construction (6%), transport (5%) and industries (5%).
The dominance of the power sector in emissions is because of the continued dependence on coal for electricity generation.
Because of the proximity of coal mines in the neighbouring states and easy availability of surface water resources, coal is likely to remain the main source of electricity.
Bihar’s renewable energy potential is also low due to the state’s landlocked flat location with low wind speeds.
Under current market and income trends in Bihar, the report states, it is expected that there will be a significant increase in private vehicles (expected to touch 75 cars per 1,000 people by 2070 as compared to 4 in 2020) if substantive measures are not taken to provide public transport choices.
Since most emissions are from the power sector, Bihar will need to avoid opening new thermal power plants after 2030 to be consistent with India’s net zero 2070 target. Therefore, the state will need to secure long-term clean energy power purchase agreements with renewable energy-rich states.
In addition, the state will need to consider options like rooftop solar panels, floating solar, agri-photovoltaics and other decentralised forms of renewable energy proactively. At the same time, end-use sectors of industry, transport and real estate will need to be electrified so that emissions from them are reduced through use of renewable energy.
