PM Modi emphasized India's role in combating climate change.
Effective climate action aligns with development goals and spurs economic growth.
Green Economy Paradigm:
The green economy paradigm offers a positive way to balance development and environmental concerns.
Examples like building solar parks and electric vehicle charging stations serve both developmental needs and climate goals.
Initiatives such as promoting millets contribute to climate resilience while enhancing agricultural income.
As Millets are resistant to climatic stress, pests and diseases, this makes them a sustainable food source for combating hunger in changing world climate.
Further, millets are not water or input-intensive, making them a sustainable strategy for addressing climate change and building resilient agri-food systems
The challenge is to apply the green economy concept to address diverse development needs.
This includes youth employment, income opportunities for women, and diversification of farmer incomes.
Initiatives in Rural Areas:
Several initiatives have brought cleantech solutions to rural India, impacting livelihoods.
Examples include solar dryers in Andhra Pradesh, biomass-powered cold storages in Maharashtra, and solar silk reeling machines in Odisha.
These solutions are improving income prospects for rural women and men.
The ongoing silent revolution in rural India needs a strategic boost.
The rural economy, comprising farmers and microenterprises, faces challenges like unreliable electricity and costly diesel usage.
Cleantech solutions powered by renewable energy can mitigate these challenges, reducing diesel imports and enhancing livelihoods.
Cleantech's Potential Impact:
Research from the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) suggests that 12 cleantech solutions could positively affect millions of livelihoods (16% of rural population).
A three-fold approach is necessary for scaling up from thousands to millions.
Cleantech solutions powered by renewable energy can mitigate these challenges, reducing diesel imports and enhancing livelihoods.
Cleantech's Potential Impact:
Research from the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) suggests that 12 cleantech solutions could positively affect millions of livelihoods (16% of rural population).
A three-fold approach is necessary for scaling up from thousands to millions.
Scaling Steps:
Leveraging Government Programs: Existing schemes like Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana, PM-FME, and Agriculture Infrastructure Fund can facilitate cleantech adoption.
Financing Cleantech Solutions: Building bankers' understanding of cleantech, mitigating risks, and crafting loan products aligned with user cash flows can attract large-scale financing.
Building Ecosystem Partnerships: Collaboration among technology innovators, manufacturers, distributors, financiers, and service providers is crucial.
An ecosystem approach ensures product access, after-sales service, and market connections.
India's Pursuit Of A Green Economy
Massive Ambitions for Clean and Green Future:
India's aspiration for a green future can be realized by prioritizing cleantech for livelihoods and rural jobs.
This approach aligns with India's broader goals for sustainable development.
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