International Energy Agency Report Released: Technology Roadmap: Low-Carbon Technology for the Indian Cement Industry

Recently, the International Energy Agency (IEA) "an autonomous organisation which works to ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy for its 28 member countries and beyond," released a new report titled, Technology Roadmap: Low-Carbon Technology for the Indian Cement Industry (2013). The 56-page report is available here; according to the abstract:

[t]he Indian cement industry is one of the most efficient in the world. Its efforts to reduce its carbon footprint by adopting the best available technologies and environmental practices are reflected in the achievement of reducing total CO₂ emissions to an industrial average of 0.719 tCO₂/t cement in 2010 from a substantially higher level of 1.12 tCO₂/t cement in 1996. However, because the manufacturing process relies on the burning of limestone, it still produced 137 MtCO₂ in 2010 – approximately 7% of India’s total man-made CO₂ emissions.

 

Yet opportunity for improvement exists, particularly in relation to five key levers that can contribute to emissions reductions: alternative fuel and raw materials; energy efficiency; clinker substitution; waste heat recovery and newer technologies. This roadmap sets out one pathway by which the Indian cement industry can reach its targets to improve energy efficiency and reduce CO₂ emissions by 2050, thereby laying the foundation for low-carbon growth in the years beyond.

 

The Technology Roadmap: Low-Carbon Technology for the Indian Cement Industry builds on the global IEA technology roadmap for the cement sector developed by the IEA and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s Cement Sustainability Initiative. It outlines a possible transition path for the Indian cement industry to reduce its direct CO₂ emissions intensity to 0.35 tCO₂/t cement and support the global goal of halving CO2 emissions by 2050.

2009 State of the Environment Report -- India Ministry of Environment and Forests

This State of the Environment Report (SoE) from the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India, for 2009 (latest) "serves as a baseline document and assists in logical and information-based decision-making. The SoE Report aims to provide policy guidelines and strategies for resource allocation for the coming decades, based on analysis of the state and trends of the environment and provide guidance for national environmental action planning.

from the Executive Summary:
"The State of the Environment Report for India covers the state and trends of the environment (land, air, water, biodiversity) and five key issues - (1) Climate Change, (2) Food Security, (3) Water Security, (4) Energy Security, and (5) Managing Urbanization.

Land degradation is taking place through natural and man-made processes, resulting in the loss of invaluable
nutrients and lower food grain production. Loss of biodiversity is great concern since many plant and animal species are being threatened. Air quality in cities is deteriorating due to vehicular growth and a sharp increase in air pollution related diseases. The issue of availability of water, which is going to be one of the
critical problems in the coming decades, needs to be addressed on priority basis. Generation of large quantity of hazardous waste from industries, along with the hospital waste has been affecting public health and environment. Climate change and energy security are major concerns which need to be addressed
strategically. The SoE Report of India on environmental issues has been prepared, following the PSIR (Pressure-State-Impact-Response) framework.

The report provides an insight on various priority issues for India related to the current status of environment and natural resources, the pressures behind environmental changes and the impact associated with these changes. The report also assesses the Government's current and proposed policy initiatives or
programmes as a response to check and monitor further degradation of environment and also suggests policy options."

Emerging Economies – How the developing world is starting a new era of climate change leadership -- WWF

This report, dated November 2010, by the World Wildlife Federation examines emissions trends and climate action plans for five of the world’s largest developing economies - Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa.

It finds that overall these key emerging economies are acting with greater determination, ambition and energy than several countries in the developed world. But emerging economies could also do more to stave off the worst potential impacts of climate change and the report outlines for each country what the next moves could be.