The need to curb Black Carbon Emissions

The need to curb Black Carbon Emissions

GS-3: Environment Protection

(UPSC/State PSC)

Important for Prelims:

COP26 climate talks in Glasgow, India's renewable energy potential, Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), sources of black carbon emissions.

Important for Mains:

What is black carbon and why is it harmful to the environment? Which sector is the largest contributor of black carbon in India? How has Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana helped in reducing the use of traditional cooking fuel, Way forward.

27/03/2024

Context:

In November 2021, at the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow, India pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070, positioning itself as a leader in the race to carbon neutrality.

According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, India had installed renewable energy capacity of over 180 GW by 2023 and is expected to meet its target of 500 GW by 2030.

While carbon dioxide mitigation strategies will yield long-term benefits, they need to go hand in hand with efforts that provide short-term relief.

What is black carbon and why is it harmful to the environment? Which sector is the largest contributor of black carbon in India? How has Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana helped in reducing the use of traditional cooking fuel?

Why is black carbon relevant:

  • Black carbon is the black, sooty substance that is emitted along with other pollutants when biomass and fossil fuels are not completely combusted.

Sources of Black Carbon Emissions:

  • Most of the black carbon emissions in India come from burning biomass such as cow dung or straw in traditional cookstoves (Chulhas).
  • According to a 2016 study, the residential sector contributes 47% of India’s total black carbon emissions.
  • Industries contribute a further 22%, diesel vehicles 17%, open burning 12%, and other sources 2%.
  • Decarbonisation efforts in the industry and transport sectors in the past decade have yielded reductions in black carbon emissions, but the residential sector remains a challenge.

Dangers of Black Carbon Emissions:

  • It contributes to global warming and poses serious risks.
  • Studies have found a direct link between exposure to black carbon and a higher risk of heart disease, birth complications and premature death.

How helpful was Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)?

  • In May 2016, the Government of India said that the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) would provide free liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) connections to families below the poverty line.
  • The primary objective was to provide clean cooking fuel to rural and poor households and reduce their dependence on traditional cooking fuel.
  • PMUY has set up infrastructure for LPG connections, including free gas stoves, deposits for LPG cylinders and a distribution network.
  • Thus, this program has been able to play a significant role in reducing black carbon emissions, as it provides a cleaner alternative to conventional fuel consumption.
  • The program has provided connections to more than 10 crore households by January 2024.
  • However, according to RTI data, in 2022-2023, 25% of all PMUY beneficiaries – 2.69 crore people – availed either zero LPG refills or only one LPG refill, meaning they still had to pay for cooking. Completely dependent on conventional biomass.
  • Known sources found in August 2023 that the average PMUY beneficiary household regularly consumes only 3.5-4 LPG cylinders per year instead of six or seven for non-PMUY household use.
  • This means that half of all energy needs of a PMUY beneficiary household is still met by conventional fuels, which have high black carbon emissions.
  • LPG shortage and excessive use of traditional fuels also have adverse effects on women and children.
  • They are more at risk of high levels of indoor air pollution, which causes many health problems and premature deaths.

Role of government in curbing black carbon emissions:

  • The key to enhancing the quality of life in these areas lies primarily in ensuring access to clean cooking fuel. While there is promise of meeting energy needs in rural areas through renewable sources in the future, the immediate benefits for rural communities are expected to come from the use of LPG.
  • In October 2023, the government increased the LPG subsidy from ₹200 to ₹300. But with the rapid rise in LPG prices over the last five years, a 14.2 kg LPG cylinder still costs around ₹600 per cylinder even with the additional subsidy.
  • Most PMUY beneficiaries find the price too high, as cow dung, firewood, etc. are 'free' options. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a further price cut by ₹100 in March 2024, but the subsidy is expected to be temporary. The government has estimated that around ₹12,000 Crore will be spent on PMUY subsidies in 2024-2025, a figure that has been rising steadily every year since the inception of the scheme. Although it is the rightful duty of the government to make clean fuel affordable through subsidies, the problem of low refill rates will persist if availability issues are not addressed.

Way forward:

  • As India fulfills its responsibilities on the global stage towards long-term decarbonization, there is an urgent need for action by all carbon emitting countries of the world.
  • Prioritizing black carbon reduction through initiatives like the PMUY scheme can help India become a global leader in addressing regional health concerns and can help meet its sustainability development goal of providing affordable clean energy to all and contributing to global climate mitigation.
  • Recent estimates indicate that reducing residential emissions would prevent more than 6.1 lakh deaths per year from exposure to indoor air pollution.
  • Another major obstacle to the success of PMUY is the lack of last-mile connectivity in the LPG distribution network, resulting in remote rural areas being mostly dependent on biomass. One possible solution to this problem is local production of coal-bed methane (CBM) gas by composting biomass. CBM is a cleaner fuel with lower black-carbon emissions and investment.
  • Panchayats can take initiative to produce CBM gas locally at the village level, thereby ensuring that every rural household has access to clean cooking fuel.

Source: The Hindu

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Mains Question:

What is black carbon? Explain why it is harmful to the environment and the way forward in dealing with its threats.

Discuss the role of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana in curbing black carbon emissions.