Campaigning for a future free from climate change, Greenpeace activists beam a message on the Ennor Coal Power plant in Tamil Nadu. Burning coal emits large volumes of carbon dioxide, further leading to climate change, the affects of which are likely to hit India hard. Greenpeace is promoting clean, renewable energy solutions as the alternative to coal.
Srinivas Krishnaswamy, Greenpeace Campaigner said "Even the most
efficient coal-fired power station emits more carbon dioxide than
those using other fuels. Renewable energy sources can generate the
required amount of electricity while not increasing carbon dioxide
emissions and contributing to global warming. The future of
millions of Indians, especially the poor, our coastal cities and
the economy as a whole is being endangered by the irresponsible act
of burning coal while climate friendly options exist".
The latest Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change concluded in February this year that continuing
business-as-usual practices is likely to increase global average
temperatures between 1.1°C and 6.4° C above 1980-1999 levels by
2095. The Stern report on the "Economics of Climate Change"
published last year estimated the GDP loss to India from climate
change to be as high as 9-13 percent by 2100 compared to what could
have been achieved in a world without climate change. In addition
to this loss in GDP, huge sums of money are spent on natural
calamity relief in India; a bulk of these natural calamities is now
being attributed to climate change.
The coastal region along the Indian Ocean is the most densely
populated in the world, according to the United Nations World
Resources Index. The impacts of global warming in the form of
floods, sea level rise and increase in vector borne diseases, which
have already been witnessed in other locations in India are likely
to this region, which includes Chennai and other coastal regions of
Tamil Nadu hard in the future.
The state of Tamil Nadu meets 36% of its energy requirements
from renewable sources, making it the leader in renewable energy
uptake in India. In addition, the potential for further energy
uptake from renewable sources is also high, with the potential for
wind energy alone in the region of 4500 MW. Srinivas further added
"With extensive options for further renewable energy uptake
available, and with the state having already demonstrated
leadership in tapping energy from clean and green sources, the
state should reduce its dependence on coal.
Greenpeace wants subsidies to the coal industry to be phased
out. Greenpeace demands that 30% of the energy generated in India
by the year 2030 should come from renewable sources and that this
should increase to a 60% by the year 2050. Further, all energy
efficiency measures should be implemented before new coal power
plants are started. A declaration that India will undertake
voluntary emission reductions and that the government will make
public its implementation plans for such initiatives is also
required immediately.
For further information, contact
In Chennai:
Vinuta Gopal – Campaigner, Greenpeace India
+91-9845535418; 
Jayashree Nandi- Greenpeace India Communications
+91-9986563536; 
In Bangalore
K Srinivas – Climate and Energy Campaigner, Greenpeace India
+91-9845112130; 
Ruchira Talukdar – Greenpeace India Communications
+91-9900264127; 
Notes to Editor
More about impacts of climate change in India-
The impacts of global warming in the form of severe droughts, floods and heatwaves, unusual rainfall patterns, sea level rise and increase in vector borne diseases have already been witnessed in India. In July 2005, the strongest ever rainfall recorded in India shut down the financial hub of Mumbai. While Barmer in Rajasthan experienced floods, the northeast region of the country experienced a mere 20-30 per cent of rainfall. In the Sunderbans, two islands have already disappeared and others are vulnerable; wildlife experts say rising sea levels and coastal erosion caused by global warming are steadily shrinking the mangroves in the region. Dengue fever surfaced in New Delhi in March this year, well before the onset of Monsoon.
About the Energy Scenario in Tami Nadu:
The Total Electricity Generating capacity for the state currently stands at 10,098 MW of which 3200 MW comes Wind Energy, 314 MW from Co-Generation Plants and roughly 78 MW from Bio-Mass. The total installed generating capacity from Thermal Power plants accounts to 2970 MW.