In contributing to increased awareness of climate change globally and India’s efforts to achieve net zero emissions by 2030, Rajashri Ramakrishnan of Clean India Journal tracks India’s progress towards realizing its commitments.
Goal setting is an annual exercise followed religiously by most organizations, with employees aligning their goals to those of their units or departments; and the Unit Heads, in turn, linking them to corporate goals. There is, however, one more step that conscious organizations take: aligning their corporate goals with those of the government. This is especially true in the area of net zero emissions, reduced carbon footprint, and the use of renewable energy sources.
India’s sustainability goals are based on the Panchamrit elements of climate change, which include increasing non-fossil fuel capacity by 500GW by 2030, sourcing 50% of energy requirements from renewable energy by 2030, reducing projected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes by 2030, decreasing the carbon intensity of the economy by 45% by 2030 (over 2005 levels), and achieving the net zero emissions target by 2070.
Panchamrita means the ‘five ambrosia’. It is a traditional method of mixing five natural foods — milk, ghee, curd, honey and jaggery. ‘Panchamrita’ is Prime Minister Modi’s promises at COP26.
How can Facilities Management contribute?
The building sector in India is experiencing unprecedented growth accounting for over 30% of India’s total electricity consumption. It is estimated that India is building 300,000sqft of commercial floor space every day and will witness one of the largest commercial and residential construction booms in the next two decades.
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has taken various policy and regulatory initiatives to enhance the energy efficiency of the building sector, such as the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC), the Energy Efficiency Financing Scheme (EEFS), the voluntary star rating program for commercial buildings, star ratings for energy-efficient homes, net zero energy buildings, and the Perform, Achieve, and Trade (PAT) scheme.
FM in the Building Sector: FM professionals can play a crucial role in implementing energy-saving initiatives within commercial and residential buildings. For instance, introducing efficient HVAC systems, retrofitting buildings for energy optimization, and implementing smart building technologies can significantly reduce energy consumption. Integrating renewable energy sources like solar panels and wind turbines into building operations can further align with India’s sustainability goals.
FM and Sustainability in Transport: The transport sector accounts for 18% of total energy consumption in India, translating to an estimated 94 million tonnes of oil equivalent (MTOE) energy. At present, this demand is being met mostly through imported crude oil. The sector also contributes an estimated 142 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, with 123 million tonnes contributed by the road transport segment.
Switching to sustainable transportation options, such as hybrid and electric vehicles, would benefit the environment and reduce India’s oil import dependency. FM in industries such as hospitality and tourism can contribute by transitioning to hybrid/electric vehicles in their fleet operations.
FM in Railways: Indian Railways aims to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030 by adopting energy-efficient technologies such as three-phase electric locomotives with regenerative features, head-on generation technology, LED lighting in buildings and coaches, and using star-rated appliances. Facilities management can contribute significantly by managing the implementation and maintenance of these energy-efficient systems.
Regulatory Support for FM: The government is promoting offshore wind and battery storage technologies to support capacity expansion. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has mandated Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) for the top 1,000 listed companies. This requires the disclosure of energy use, water consumption, emissions, waste, and biodiversity metrics, encouraging businesses to incorporate sustainability into their core strategies. FM professionals are crucial in ensuring that companies meet these regulatory requirements by managing energy use and resource consumption efficiently.
Challenges and the Path Forward
Challenges, of course, exist. Monetary resources, policies, the trade-off between environmental protection and development, financial and technological support from developed countries, inefficient power distribution infrastructure, insufficient R&D investment, and the increasing population are just a few obstacles India will need to overcome.
India must continue its journey toward sustainability, with FM professionals at the forefront of implementing solutions that align with national goals. The direction is clear: onward to a greener, more sustainable future.