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Climate meet COP-29 –a sign of hope or despair? However, this can be done only to
a limited extent with no signifi cant
he forthcoming 29th Conference nated to get to zero impact on the overall demand for fossil
of Parties (COP 29) that is to emissions. The fi rst N.S. VENKATARAMAN fuels.
Ttake place from November 11-22, requisite to achieve Director
2024 at Azerbaijan does not seem to such drastic reduc- Nandini Consultancy Centre Target population growth to reduce
have created any euphoria. On the other tions is for the con- Chennai energy demand
hand, there is considerable scepticism sumption of fossil Email: nsvenkatchennai@gmail.com Possibly, another way of reducing
about the outcome of the event, conside- fuel such as coal and energy demand is to reduce the global
ring the outcome of the earlier 28 climate crude oil to be slashed and ultimately Can use of fossil fuel be entirely population level.
meets in different countries. stopped. This is not happening. eliminated?
It is now well recognized that the While a few countries such as South
Has anything changed? Ambitious targets going for a toss substitutes for fossil fuel for energy Korea, Japan, and Russia, concerned
The ground reality is that noth- Several countries have fi xed targets generation include renewable energy about their population levels falling
ing much has changed over the years to achieve zero emissions, with India from solar, wind and hydro; green and are taking steps to increase it
and global warming continues to take promising it would achieve zero emis- hydrogen; and biofuels. But the develop- by offering special incentives, there
place, causing severe and unexpected- sion by the year 2070, while China ment and production of these alternate are countries like India and many in
weather changes and several other has fi xed the deadline of 2050. energy sources are slow and nowhere Africa where the population is steadily
adverse impacts on the climate. near the levels required formatching the increasing. The net result is that the
While such ambitious targets have need. These are due to several condi- global population is still rising. are participating in the global climate climate meets have not discussed these
One cannot but get an impres- been fi xed, the ground reality is that tions: high cost of green hydrogen pro- meet, some are indulging in bloody aspects at all.
sion that the climate meets have these have not been followed by re- duced from water; limitations in wind, Since more population means more confl icts and wars such as the ongo-
become an annual ritual, marked by duction in the production and use of solar and hydro power due to seasonal energy demand and more fossil fuel ing Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas COP-29 sign of hope or despair?
loud claims,tall promises, particularly coal, crude oil, natural gas and reduc- factors; uneconomic capacity utilisation consumption, the COP-29 climate meet wars. Further, terrorist activities are The question is whether the forth-
in regard to demands by developing tion in the emissions of methane gas of renewable power assets; and less than should discuss this issue and fi x target also taking place frequently in diffe- coming COP-29 will be more forth-
countries for fi scal support from deve- from livestock. Neither are producers desired curtailment of methane gas for level of global population to be rent locations. All such wars and ter- right in discussing the issues in depth
loped countries to implement eco- of fossil fuels reducing production, nor emissions as livestock population can- reached and to be stabilised at that level. rorist activities involve use of missiles, and calling a spade a spade, instead
friendly measures. are consumers of fossil fuels reduc- not be reduced. While alternate energy dropping of bombs, shootings, drone of confi ning itself to cosmetic discus-
ing consumption. On the other hand, source is much needed and should be Impact of wars and confl icts attack etc., which cause emissions of sions. Based on the proceedings of the
It is well recognized that to protect consumption of fossil fuels like coal developed with utmost efforts, these Even as all countries are concerned huge quantity of toxic gases and severe past, there is justifi cation in viewing the
the global climate, emission of noxious have been steadily increasing. In such energy sources cannot signifi cantly about climate issues and almost all atmospheric pollution. It appears that forthcoming meet as sign of despair!
gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrous circumstances, one gets an impression reduce the demand for fossil fuels,
oxide, sulphur dioxide, methane, etc. that the tall promises have been made particularly since energy demand are Chemical Weekly | Import-Export Data
have to be curbed and ultimately elimi- in a vacuum. steadily increasing.
Market Surveys | Directories
Why not reduce energy demand?
One solution on which the climate Business Forums | Expositions
meets are not focusing is with regard
to the possibility of steady reduction The only organisation in India catering exclusively to the needs of the entire chemical industry
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advancements and development of non-
energy-intensive products and services.

194 Chemical Weekly November 19, 2024 Chemical Weekly November 19, 2024 195

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