Decarbonisation conference marks collaboration & commitment for low carbon future
A state level conference ‘Facilitating Decarbonisation in Jharkhand’ was jointly organised by the Task Force- Sustainable Just Transition, Government of Jharkhand and its technical partner Centre for Environment and Energy Development (CEED) today. The key objective of the conference was to discuss the challenges of reducing carbon emissions and outline the decarbonisation pathways for Jharkhand. The conference convened key stakeholders from government departments and agencies, industries, business associations and technology firms from the state and beyond who pledged support and provided strategic input for creating sustainable pathways towards reducing cross-sector emissions.
While elaborating the intent and context of the conference, Shri A.K. Rastogi (IFS, Retd.), Chairman, Task Force- Sustainable Just Transition (Government of Jharkhand) said, “Jharkhand is known for its robust industrial base and presence of large industries and MSMEs. Developing a comprehensive cross-sectoral decarbonization framework for the state is one of the key thematic areas for the task force. We had conducted several consultation sessions with diverse stakeholders in previous months, and one overarching theme that came across was accelerating the decarbonisation journey in the state. Hence, this conference marks a crucial step towards sharing knowledge and best practices, building partnerships and accelerating convergence of actions for a resilient and low-carbon future.”
Jharkhand has several energy-intensive industrial activities that lead to a considerable amount of GHG emissions. The study report suggests that the state contributes about 4% of total GHG emission in the country while per capita emission is more than national average. A critical challenge is the dominance of fossil fuels in the state’s energy mix. The presence of hard-to-abate industries (e.g. steel, sponge iron, cement, and ammonia production) place the need of augmenting the decarbonisation process to meet net-zero goals.
During the technical sessions, Shri Bhor Singh Yadav (IAS), Director at Department of Industries (Government of Jharkhand) emphasised that the department is supportive of creating an environment conducive to sustainable Industries practices through incentives, capacitation and hand-holding support for steering toward a low-carbon industrial ecosystem.
Shri Arava Rajkamal (IAS), Director-Mines, Department of Mines and Geology (Government of Jharkhand) laid emphasis on incorporating novel technologies such as automation, data analytics, and AI for efficient mineral explorations and industrial operations in reducing energy consumption, and improving overall sustainability.
A strong emphasis on a multi-stakeholder approach resonated throughout the conference. Shri Ramapati Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, CEED, emphasized that ‘Decarbonization process requires a collective effort. A convergence approach, with partnerships and collaborations between state agencies, industries and business players and research think-tanks, is fundamental. Decarbonization is not just about meeting emission targets; it’s about forging a sustainable and climate resilient future for the state.’
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Amit Bhatt, Managing Director, International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) emphasise the need for accelerating the shift towards green hydrogen based fleet and electric vehicles, investing in robust charging infrastructure, and collaborating with industries and technology firms to make clean transportation efficient and the environment more sustainable.’
The technical sessions of the conference served as a knowledge-sharing, fostering collaborations that extend beyond geographical boundaries. The discussions put forth several key issues e.g. clean energy transition, sustainable mobility, green hydrogen hub, compliance of Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) and sustainability reporting, harnessing carbon capture & utilisation technology, green jobs, circular economy, nature-based climate solutions and supported capacitation & creating pilot studies for industries and MSMEs to advancing sustainable climate solutions in cross sectoral manner.
The notable speakers and panelists who shared insights and perspectives during the conference were, Dr DK Saxena (IFS), APCCF, Jharkhand; Shri Pradip Kumar, Joint Transport Commissioner, Department of Transport (Jharkhand); Shri Ajit Dhanraj Kothari-Chief (Sustainability and Decarbonisation Projects, E&P); Tata Steel, Shri Prasanta Bose-Vice President, Head -Technical, Sustainability & Production Planning, Hindalco Industries Ltd.; Dr. Manish Kumar, Director (R&D), Centre for Environment & Energy Development (CEED); Ms Shweta Khoshy, Project Analyst, UNDP India, Shri Abhishek Biswas-Director, Orica India; and Shri Aditya Malhotra, Vice President, Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce & Industries (FJCCI) etc.