What is black carbon and why is it harmful for the environment?
Black carbon is the dark, sooty material emitted alongside other pollutants when biomass and fossil fuels are not fully combusted.
It contributes to global warming and poses severe risks.
Studies have found a direct link between exposure to black carbon and a higher risk of heart disease, birth complications, and premature death.
Most black carbon emissions in India arise from burning biomass, such as cow dung or straw, in traditional cookstoves.
According to a 2016 study, the residential sector contributes 47% of India’s total black carbon emissions.
Industries contribute a further 22%, diesel vehicles 17%, open burning 12%, and other sources 2%.
Decarbonisation efforts in the industry and transport sectors in the past decade have yielded reductions in black carbon emissions, but the residential sector remains a challenge.
Which sector in India is the biggest contributor of black carbon?
In India, the biggest contributor of black carbon emissions is the residential sector.
This sector accounts for roughly 47% of the total black carbon emissions according to a 2016 study.
Industries: Contribute around 22% of black carbon emissions
Diesel vehicles: Contribute around 17%
Open burning of agricultural waste: Around 12%
Other sources: Contribute the remaining 2%
It's important to note that the exact contribution can vary depending on the study and the specific methods used.
However, the residential sector consistently ranks as the biggest source of black carbon in India.
How has the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana helped in reducing the use of traditional cooking fuels?
In May 2016, the Government of India said the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana would provide free liquefied petroleum gas connections to households below the poverty line.
The primary objective was to make clean cooking fuel available to rural and poor households and
reduce their dependence on traditional cooking fuels.
The PMUY has established infrastructure to go with LPG connections, including free gas stoves, deposits for LPG cylinders, and a distribution network.
The programme has thus, been able to play a vital role in reducing black carbon emissions, as it offers a cleaner alternative to traditional fuel consumption.
The programme has provided connections to over 10 crore households as of January 2024.
However, in 2022-2023, 25% of all PMUY beneficiaries are 2.69 crore people.
Availed either zero LPG refill or only one LPG refill, according to RTI data.
Means they still relied entirely on traditional biomass for cooking.
The Hindu found in August 2023 that the average PMUY beneficiary household consumes only 3.5-4 LPG cylinders per year instead of the six or seven a regular non-PMUY household uses.
This means up to half of all the energy needs of a PMUY beneficiary household are still met by traditional fuels, which have high black carbon emissions.
A shortage of LPG and higher usage of traditional fuels also affect women and children disproportionately.
They are more prone to higher levels of indoor air pollution, causing many health issues and leading to premature deaths.
COMMENTS