Shift towards sustaimability

Since the urge to transition away from fossil fuels, including coal, has become inevitable due to environmental and economic factors, mainstreaming of the renewable energy sector becomes pertinent

- SUTIRTHA BHATTACHARYA DN PRASAD

This year, many parts T of the world have witnessed what climate change portends. In India, the summer sizzled with temperatures soaring to hitherto unseen levels. Dubai, a 24-hour functioning city, was without even any aircraft connectivity for three days because of destructive rains. Floods wreaked havoc in southern Brazil, which scientists diagnosed as an element of calamitous trend of climate change.

Climate change can no longer be ignored, and is a clear and present threat. Antonio Guterres, the Secretary General of United Nations, has cautioned: "We are on a highway to climate hell with our foot still on the accelerator." How to address the climate change issue? There are many answers, but an important one among them is to transition to cleaner and renewable energy sources, because use and means of energy plays a pivotal role in climate control of the Earth. At the same time, economic development today with the extant technological pathways is positively correlated with availability of energy. There is no gainsaying that the path forward has to be moderated with forms of energy compatible with environmental sustenance.

It was the 28th Climate Conference in Dubai which first came out with a clear statement on the need for reducing fossil fuels (coal, gas, oil etc.) as means of climate control.