iFOREST Study

Context: A report by environmental think-tank iForest highlights the multifaceted costs involved in this energy transition, focusing not only on replacing coal with green energy but also addressing non-energy costs such as worker support and land rehabilitation.

Key points from the study:

• Total cost estimate: India will require more than ₹84 lakh crore ($1 trillion) to phase out coal mining and thermal power plants.

• India will require more than ₹84 lakh crore ($1 trillion) to phase out coal mining and thermal power plants.

• Coal dependency: Currently, coal accounts for about 55% of India’s commercial energy needs. Coal-based thermal power plants produce over 70% of India’s electricity.

• Currently, coal accounts for about 55% of India’s commercial energy needs.

• Coal-based thermal power plants produce over 70% of India’s electricity.

• Coal mining and Thermal power plants: India will need to close coal mines producing 1,315 million tonnes per annum and phase out thermal power plants with a capacity of 237.2 gigawatts.

• India will need to close coal mines producing 1,315 million tonnes per annum and phase out thermal power plants with a capacity of 237.2 gigawatts.

• Green energy costs: Account for 52% of the transition costs, which include building green energy plants and upgrading the electricity grid.

• Account for 52% of the transition costs, which include building green energy plants and upgrading the electricity grid.

• Non-energy costs: Comprise 48% of total costs, including “just transition costs” to support the livelihoods of around 60 lakh workers dependent on the coal economy, land rehabilitation, and repurposing.

• Comprise 48% of total costs, including “just transition costs” to support the livelihoods of around 60 lakh workers dependent on the coal economy, land rehabilitation, and repurposing.

• Land rehabilitation: The study mentions the rehabilitation of 343,504 hectares of coal mining land and 124,789 hectares of land at thermal power plant sites for green repowering.

• The study mentions the rehabilitation of 343,504 hectares of coal mining land and 124,789 hectares of land at thermal power plant sites for green repowering.

Relevance in the UPSC Exam:

• Environment and Ecology (GS Paper III): Provides essential data on climate change, sustainable development, and India’s shift from coal dependency.

• Provides essential data on climate change, sustainable development, and India’s shift from coal dependency.

• Economics (GS Paper III): Highlights financial challenges in moving from fossil fuels to clean energy, focusing on job loss, economic diversification, and budgeting.

• Highlights financial challenges in moving from fossil fuels to clean energy, focusing on job loss, economic diversification, and budgeting.

• Governance and Social Justice (GS Paper II): Social impacts like worker rehabilitation and community support are central for inclusive growth and social justice.

• Social impacts like worker rehabilitation and community support are central for inclusive growth and social justice.

• Essay and Ethics (GS Paper IV): Examines ethical dimensions of balancing development with environmental sustainability through the “just transition” framework.

• Examines ethical dimensions of balancing development with environmental sustainability through the “just transition” framework.