TAG: GS- 1: GEOGRAPHY & GS-3: ENVIRONMENT
CONTEXT: The recent closure of Britain’s last coal-fired power plant highlights its long energy transition, which is driven by economic, geopolitical, and environmental factors.
EXPLANATION:
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What are the lessons for India from Britain’s transformation:
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- Britain pursued a holistic approach, retraining workers in coal-dependent sectors for engineering, heavy machinery, and renewable energy employment.
- Redevelopment of coal-dependent regions, establishment of renewable energy projects, and repurposing of old infrastructure helped ease the transition.
- India must take a similar forward-thinking approach with its historically coal-dependent and impoverished regions.
- Fixing timelines for planting decommissioning, regional redevelopment, and workforce retraining will ensure an inclusive and just energy transition.
- India, heavily dependent on coal, faces a different trajectory in its transition to renewable energy.
- Lessons from the UK’s transition can help India achieve an equitable, inclusive transition.
What factors will speed up the UK’s transition from coal?
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- The discovery of natural gas in the North Sea (1965) and geopolitical factors like the Cold War led to the reduction of coal reliance.
- Rising costs, declining domestic coal reserves, and forced mine closures under Margaret Thatcher’s government in the 1980s accelerated the shift.
- The transition caused economic challenges, leading to poverty in regions dependent on coal industries.
The phasing out of coal in the UK is a milestone in the energy transition?
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- The closure of Britain’s last coal-fired power plant in Nottinghamshire symbolises a crucial step in the global shift toward renewable energy.
- Though celebrated, Britain’s coal phaseout faced challenges and is not easily replicable in developing nations.
- The transition did not start with the 2015 Paris pledge but can be traced back to the 1952 Great Smog of London, resulting in the 1956 Clean Air Act.
- Britain’s coal phaseout spans over 70 years, involving economic, geopolitical, and environmental factors.
India’s coal trajectory:
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- At the 2021 Glasgow COP, India and China sought to “phase down” rather than “phase out” coal.
- India pledged to reach net zero emissions by 2070 and meet 50% of its energy needs from renewables by 2050.
- As the third-largest carbon emitter, India produced 2.9 gigatons of emissions in 2023 compared to the U.K.’s 384 million metric tonnes, though India’s population is over 20 times larger.
- Per capita emissions in India were 2 tonnes, far lower than the global average and the U.K.’s 5.5 tonnes.
India’s dependence on coal and future projections:
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- India’s coal sector remains vital, with 60% of its energy coming from coal, amounting to 218 GW of installed capacity.
- India’s coal consumption is expected to peak between 2030 and 2035, with over 350 operational mines and 120 new ones planned.
- The coal sector provides direct employment to over 340,000 miners and supports millions through related industries.
- India’s per capita energy consumption remains much lower than Britain’s, underscoring the challenges in reducing reliance on coal.
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