05 Jul 2022
Powering Net Zero Climate Goals
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides the global community a plan of action to achieve the equilibrium of economic, social and environmental sustainability as envisioned by the United Nations. While India has taken a conscious lead in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the 2030 Agenda gives industry a significant role to play in efforts to achieve the SDGs. Ensuring an environmentally sustainable future is a key priority for businesses in India, given the rising challenges from a variety of environmental issues and its adverse consequences.
In the lead-up to 2030 Agenda, organizations across the world are committing to new targets to reach net zero by 2050 or sooner. Industrial energy efficiency is an indispensable pillar of sustainable production and Indian industry recognizes the potential contribution of resource and energy efficiency to economic growth & development. Experts believe that resource efficiency could reduce the use of natural resources globally by 28% and greenhouse gas emissions by up to 20% in 2050.
Energy efficiency, the “first fuel” (the fuel you do not have to use) is an essential tool for achieving ambitious climate goals. According to the International Energy Agency Sustainable Development Scenario, energy efficiency represents more than 40% of the emissions abatement needed by 2040. It can reduce the overall costs of mitigating carbon emissions while advancing social and economic development, enhancing energy security and quality of life and creating jobs.
Energy efficiency delivers several environmental benefits, including reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, both direct emissions from fossil fuel combustion or consumption and indirect emissions from electricity generation. Resource & energy efficiency is necessary for industry, especially in the manufacturing sector, to stay competitive, create value and reduce negative environmental impacts associated with the primary production of materials.
Organizations are already facing various challenges like rising fuel and energy prices, rising cost of resources, etc. It is necessary that energy & resource efficiency is made an integral part of climate policy. Globally, companies have adopted solutions like being energy and resource efficient in processes and operations, adopting cleaner production, lean manufacturing etc. Sustainable use of raw material, energy, chemicals, water, and other inputs is also necessary which is linked with circular economy and will lead to cost savings, quality improvement, productivity enhancement and improved organizational efficiency.
The path to expediting the adoption of energy efficiency measures involves innovative thinking and creative problem-solving techniques. The fastest way to generate a cascading affect within the industry is to build an ecosystem of free exchange of knowledge & ideas. The imperative is creating platforms where organisations can have their energy efficiency mechanisms analysed by experts and energy executives exposed to best practices successfully implemented by their contemporaries.
CII, through its Centre of Excellence for Competitiveness has been actively supporting businesses to enhance their resource efficiency through consultation services including, energy audit & energy performance analysis, GHG accounting & mitigation, developing net zero emission roadmap, training programs, workshops, technology conferences, competitions, and a lot more.
CII’s flagship initiative, Energy Circle Competition is a platform that showcases the leaders in energy efficiency, renewable energy adoption and climate action. Over the past five editions, the competition has cumulated a treasure trove of information and demonstrated more than twelve hundred case studies to Indian industry, providing vast opportunities for growth and development.
The 6th edition of CII National Energy Efficiency Circle Competition scheduled on 14 – 16 July 2022 will bring together top energy managers and sustainability professionals from across the country to compete and share best practices from their respective organisations under ten broad competition categories.
Please click on program circular for further details.