Energy Sustainability in India Needs Resource Efficiency Policies

Continuously depleting natural resources pose a great threat to the world as its population continues to rise. Starvation, lack of energy, and important requirements to sustain life throughout the world has made it obvious that current consumption and production patterns are unsustainable, especially for energy. Management of lifecycle of resources, from their extraction to consumption and eventually disposal of waste has to be efficient to create and maintain sustainability of life as we know it. Energy is one of the most important components that requires efficiency policies to maintain sustainability.

Although, worldwide changes are being seen that surface necessities and align with the requirements of sustainability, not always they lead to expected results. And since managing resources is a global commitment- countries failing to create, establish and follow the process result in limiting global environment improvement. Although the world is quickly accepting solar as the next mainstream energy source, the changes are depended on a country’s policies. Therefore, leading to significant slog in world wide green energy transition. The only way to remedy the situation is cross country collaboration and development of understanding between policy and businesses within a country.

solar energy

How Can Resource Efficiency Help?

Developing policies and business practices to have minimal impact on environment can also lead to adoption of resource efficient practices that can help in integrating circular economy methods. Recycling and responsible management system would allow countries to save millions and billions by reducing expenses and import requirement. Which can trigger countries to invest and spend more for solar energy adoption.

Government of India’s step towards solarizing the country is indeed an inspiring and decisive step to revolutionize energy generation and usage. The country has also announced plans of embedding resource efficiency and circular economy in initiatives and polices such as- Smart Cities, Swach Bharat, Zero Effect-Zero Defect Scheme, Ganga Rejuvenation Mission, Make in India etc, which will save resources and expenses.

solar power

How Is India Working Towards Resource Management?

NITI Aayog has joined hands with European Union delegation and released strategy on resource efficiency, which is supposed to help develop circular economy that will translate into sustainable development of the country through energy management. The strategy showcases action plans involving-

  • Manufacturing capacity development
  • Institutional development
  • Sharing of best practices
  • Development of an indicator monitoring framework
  • R&D and Technology Development
  • Waste-exchange platform

These processes will support sustainable public procurement, development of industrial clusters, and information sharing & awareness generation, saving money and leading to a better developed country.

However, to operationalize strategies for resource efficiency, India needs to create and follow sectoral policies in investment, education, innovation, trade, and skills development that can support resource efficiency development.

solar panels

Why Policies Are Needed?

Policies are needed to facilitate the resource efficiency processes within the management supply chain of businesses. Strategies cannot deliver result unless businesses develop resource management processes within their existing framework. In order to do that, businesses often need financial support to accept and adopt large scale efforts towards waste management and efficient resource handling. Lack of technological infrastructure also hinders businesses in following the strategies prescribed the Government. In such cases, policies facilitating support can help. It is also important to improve the economic analysis of efficient resource management.

The Way Forward

Evolving consumerism has urged rapid changes in product and service generation. India has done a marvellous job in energy generation and management by selecting solar energy. However, rethinking the resource management processes and effectively incorporating processes that will focus on resource usage, increasing exports, and reducing forex outflow is needed.