Sustainable heating can cut CO2 by 30% in Himalayan region

NAGPUR: Sustainable solutions for heating homes and other living spaces in the Indian Himalayan region can reduce emission of carbon dioxide by 30% by 2030, reveals the latest report by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) India and The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri).
Titled the ‘Sustainable Space Heating Solutions in the Himalayan Region’, the report highlights that 71.4% of emissions due to space heating in the Indian Himalayan Region are contributed by Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir.
Stating that the Indian Himalayas were one of the most ecologically fragile regions in the world, the report mentions, “Given its cold climatic conditions and unavailability of regular source of power, and limited financial capacity of local communities, people in the region often resort to fuel wood to provide thermal comfort in their built environment. The traditional space heating mechanisms not only contribute to the increasing emissions of the region but also lead to degradation of natural resources, and adversely impact health of people residing in these areas.”
The report highlights the possibility of a reduction of CO2 emissions from space heating in Himalayas from the projected 17.8 million tonnes (MT) by 2030 under a business as usual (BAU) scenario to 12.3 MT through the use of efficient technologies. “Currently, the emissions from space heating for the year 2020 stand at approximately 15.9 MT of CO2, for the entire Himalayan region, equivalent to annual emissions generated from about 27 units of 200MW thermal power plants,” the report added.
According to the report, about 78 per cent of the total emissions in the Indian Himalayan Region are from space heating in residential dwellings in rural areas of the region, with 71.4% attributed to the northern states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir.
“The development and deployment of innovative solutions thus have a tremendous potential to not only reduce rising emissions but also decrease indoor air pollution and its associated health hazards. However, limited financial capacities of households and lack of awareness have been identified as the primary barrier to a slower than required transition from traditional fuelwood based heating to more efficient and clean energy-based sustainable space heating technologies despite their availability,” the report added.
Sejal Worah, programme director of WWF India, said, “The Himalayas are a very heterogeneous region and the space heating solutions have to be designed to be responsive to both community needs and the ecological fragility of the region. Sustainable space heating systems can greatly improve the comfort and well-being of people, reduce impact on natural resources, and address the global issue of climate change from increasing emissions.”