12 billion Euros needed for transition to greener technology: Research
NEW DELHI: India would need to spend 12 billion Euros for transition to greener technologies from hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) between 2015 and 2050, said a research.
The research by Delhi-based Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) said the economy wide cost for transition for the North American countries and some other nations would be around 34 billion Euros.
The higher cost for transition has emerged as a major concern among nations ahead of negotiations for the next Montreal Protocol meeting scheduled between October 8 and 14 at Kigali, Rwanda.
“There are different estimates as to what it will cost to make the switch. But we must emphasise in Kigali that the commitment of donor countries has to be absolute and this assurance is necessary to fulfill any commitments India makes,” said R R Rashmi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests.
He further said that the debate is not on what needs to be done, but on how to do it.
“We have to make sure all parties are comfortable. A fine balance has to be achieved between national interests and environmental concerns,” he added.
Ahead of the Kigali meeting, environment ministry also held a discussion with the stakeholders across industry groups on the challenges faced by India in phasing down HFCs.
Experts who participated in the meeting also suggested that India should assert that funding from the multilateral fund for research and development of low global warming potential alternatives, and for capacity building of the servicing sector should be disbursed to developing countries as soon as possible, so that this technological transition can be achieved without any delay.
International experts highlighted that early funding is available for countries to choose energy-efficient alternatives and move for an earlier phase-out.
Representatives from the industry voiced various challenges they face like patent issues, cost of moving to alternatives, lack of research on performance of refrigerants in high ambient temperature regions, and competitiveness of the industrial sector.