By Nikhilanand Panigrahy
The foresight of Nobel laureate George Bernard Shaw is reflected in the quote, “Science has solved no problem without creating ten more.” For this reason, one might say that while science successfully remedies a difficult issue or crisis, it simultaneously creates a new crisis. This is like moving from the frying pan into the fire.
Still, we should not forget that scientific inventions are born out of human necessity but ignoring their adverse effects would be dangerous.
For example, global warming has emerged as a serious problem due to climate change. Its terrifying impact is reflected in severe heatwaves. To escape this unbearable heat, air conditioning units are seen in several homes.
According to a study, one-fifth of the total electricity worldwide is spent on electric fans and ACs to keep places cool. It’s predicted that by 2050, two-thirds of the world’s electricity demand will be in China, India, and Indonesia. The reason for this is the development of industries for economic improvement in these countries. This expansion leads to abundant carbon emissions.
If environmental pollution is not controlled, global warming will continue to rise. Therefore, serious discussions are ongoing among various countries at the international level to solve this problem.
According to scientists, the main cause of the current climate change is the increase in carbon dioxide levels in the environment. Behind this alarming crisis lies the use of fossil fuels like mineral oil and coal in various machines and vehicles.
The drastic consequences of climate change include rising sea levels, glacier melting, more intense heat in summer, excessive cold in winter, and excessive rainfall in the rainy season, even seasonal changes resulting in disturbances in the traditional seasonal cycle like summer heat in winter, droughts, floods, cyclones, sudden heavy rainstorms or cloudbursts. These environmental changes negatively affect living organisms, especially impacting biodiversity.
Therefore, in 2015, 196 countries signed the Paris Agreement and pledged to reduce the world’s rising temperature by two degrees Celsius. To achieve this goal, each country will reduce its current carbon emissions to zero within its territory. The name of this goal is ‘Carbon Neutrality’ or ‘Net-Zero Emissions’. India aims to achieve this objective by 2070.
The Paris Agreement is a tough challenge for every country. The real meaning of reducing carbon is to avoid industrial development as much as possible and to regulate the lifestyle of citizens.
We are becoming arrogant and proud due to science. We are trying to present ourselves as omnipotent by challenging God. We look down upon other living beings. But as a result, nature will not hesitate to take revenge.
A study by the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research published in the journal Science indicates that indiscriminate use of land, water, and forests, heavy industry, construction of buildings, and the establishment of uncontrolled infrastructure for tourism purposes lead to changes in land use, jeopardizing the balance of nature.
This does not mean that we should avoid industrialization. However, we must control these activities and our behavior so that the increase in carbon is reduced to zero. As a result, global warming will decrease by two degrees.
Achieving Net Zero Emissions seems difficult. The main reason behind this is our unhindered increase in electricity demand. When we realized that the use of petrol in vehicles causes air pollution, we tried to rely on thermal power generated from mineral resources like coal for the necessary electricity, which is a mistake because it increases the amount of carbon in the environment, taking global warming to a higher level. Therefore, efforts were made for alternative energy. The goal is clean energy.
The Central government entrusted IIM (Ahmedabad) with the task of preparing a report after studying how to achieve the Net Zero 70 target. From the recommendations of this group, it is known that without nuclear energy, India will not be able to reach its self-imposed Net-Zero target by 2070.
Besides the above nuclear power, assistance from other sources is required for Net Zero. From another statistic, it is known that the capacity for solar and wind power harvesting should be 7,700 GW during this period. Furthermore, infrastructure for green hydrogen will have to be developed. (Source: Observer Research Foundation, Raisina Debates, February 23, 2024).
The basis of all these statistics is our future projected electricity demand. However, it is difficult to say what kind of mechanical skills science will invent in the next forty-five years and how much electricity will be needed for them. Nevertheless, it is undeniable that our electricity requirement is likely to be much higher than current expectations. Of course, this is a sign of our progress. But to prevent this progress from turning into disaster, clean or pure energy is necessary.
The writer is a retired Director of Odisha Text Book Bureau.
Views are personal.