'ICT can reduce 10 p.c. of GHG emissions'

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Information and communication technology (ICT) solutions have the potential to reduce 10 per cent of the country's total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 — thereby leading to energy cost savings of around Rs.137,000 crore (Rs.1.37 trillion) per annum, a report released here on Tuesday said.

The report — titled "ICT Contribution to India's National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)" — found that the maximum potential of saving of carbon dioxide emission is from the construction (42 per cent), road transport (30 per cent) and power (16 per cent) sectors.

The NAPCC was released by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2008 outlining the nation's strategy to manage GHG emission.

The report by the Digital Energy Solutions Consortium India (DESC) and CII-ICT Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development explored potential GHG reduction opportunities via ICT solutions in three mitigation-related missions of NAPCC - National Mission on Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE), National Mission on Sustainable Habitat (NMSH) and National Solar Mission (NSM).

Of the 100 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emission reduction target of the NMEEE by 2015, ICT adoption in buildings, transport and the nine sectors under PAT (perform, achieve and trade) scheme could contribute about 31 million tonnes — approximately 30 per cent of the 2015 target, it found.

"Till date, no report in India has quantified the specific savings possible using ICT solutions. The report allows industries to quantify their potential energy as well as monetary savings by adopting ICT-based solutions," DESC chairman Rahul Bedi said.

The report listed high technology costs, inadequate energy benchmarks, weak regulatory norms on carbon emission standards and low research and development support as barriers to ICT adoption.

To overcome these hurdles, the report recommends actions like creating a platform for green jobs, undertaking steps to develop ICT adoptions, rationalisation of direct and indirect taxes, funds allocation, and encouraging research and development.

"Although ICT-based solutions can play a key role in India's transition to a high-energy efficiency, low-carbon emission economy, a conducive ecosystem for ICT adoption must first be developed," the report added.

India is the third largest emitter of GHG after China and the US.

Last year, India announced a goal of reducing the emissions intensity of its gross domestic product (GDP) by 20-25 per cent by 2020 compared to 2005 levels.