Authored article by Dr. Pawan Singh Dhapola, Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, Sharda University, Greater Noida
The modern era comes with a lot of challenges out of which the increasing environmental challenges have attracted a healthy attention. Therefore, it generates an urgency to battle with this climate change. The concepts of sustainability and achieving a net-zero footprint have emerged as a feasible strategy which ensures a cleaner and more sustainable energy future. The words like sustainability and net zero are being used globally. The word sustainability is associated with the word sustain which means securing resources for the future. Net zero, notifies the situation in which greenhouse gases going into the atmosphere are balanced by taking them out of the atmosphere.
Sustainability and net zero are like enlightening lights for people, businesses and countries. They escort us to change the way we approach things, making us more responsible and make us aware about the environment. Sustainability is all about fulfilling the requirements of the existing world without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It is a holistic approach that creates a balance between economic, social, and environmental dimensions. By adopting sustainable practices, societies may considerably minimize the impact on ecosystems, preserving biodiversity, and ensuring the balanced distribution of available resources. The urgency of cutting down this issue of climate change has given rise to the concept of net zero, a target which simply means balancing the amount of greenhouse gases emitted with an equivalent amount removed from the atmosphere.
Therefore, achieving net-zero emissions is very important to limit and balance the global temperature rise and mitigate the harsh effects of climate change. This goal requires a comprehensive reevaluation of energy systems, industrial processes, and daily practices. Moving forward in the above stated issue, India is trying to contribute as much as possible in this field. In the budget of 2023, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has laid maximum emphasis on the Government of India’s goal of reaching the status of net zero carbon emissions by 2070. Has given assurance. A paper presented at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos suggested that India, given its huge and growing energy needs, holds the key to achieving global climate change goals.
This year, the country’s population has almost exceeded that of China, India’s hunger for energy to move the economy forward is going to increase rapidly. Hence the transition from the current dependence on fossil fuels to green alternatives is an urgent imperative and there is an opportunity to leverage this move to catalyze new industries, create jobs on a large scale and add to the overall economic output. Due to this problem, India’s first net-positive-energy government office building, Atal Akshay Urja Bhawan in New Delhi, is covered with a 60,000-square-foot high roof. To accommodate solar panels that enable daylight.
This building, designed by Edifice Consultants, is where the MNRE is located. The country’s first net-zero-energy building under the central government – Indira Paryavaran Bhawan in New Delhi, allows 75% natural daylight to be used to reduce energy consumption. Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupendra Yadav announced in February, 2023 that the country is committed to reducing carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 and reaching net-zero by 2070. In conclusion, sustainability and net zero represent plays a crucial role in the journey towards a greener future which involves a collective effort, integrating sustainable practices into every aspect of society.
By embracing renewable energy, adopting circular economy principles, encouraging sustainable urban development, and promotes individual and corporate responsibility. Ultimately, creating a better future for our planet and leave a positive legacy for future generations, let’s work together to live in harmony with nature.
A very knowledgeable article.