The results of a pioneering study on the economic case for Kolkata to grow faster on a more energy efficient and lower carbon development path was presented today.
Based on collaborative research between Jadavpur University and the University of Leeds, supported by the Centre for Low carbon Futures, the study considers the economic case for all sectors relevant for the city’s economic growth with lower energy bill and carbon footprints.
The study:
- Evaluates the implications of a continuation of ‘business as usual’ activities through to 2025 for Kolkata’s energy use, energy bills and carbon emissions. It finds that 10% of city’s income is currently spent on energy, and that if current trends continue the city’s energy bills and carbon footprint will increase substantially in the coming years.
- Identifies a wide range of energy efficiency options, renewable energy and other low carbon measures that could be applied in different sectors in Kolkata, and provides a detailed evaluation of their cost and carbon effectiveness. It finds that there are very significant, economically attractive, opportunities to improve the energy efficiency of households, commercial buildings, industry and transport in the city. It also finds that there is great scope to up-grade the electricity supply system to cut carbon emissions.
- Assesses the case for investment in the widespread deployment of energy efficient, low carbon measures across different sectors in the city. It concludes that there is a very significant opportunity for Kolkata to secure massive investments that could cut its energy bills and enable its low carbon development into the future. And it concludes that such improvements could be financed both through commercially profitable investments and with development assistance.
Speaking on the occasion, the British Deputy High Commissioner to Eastern India, Mr. Scott Furssedonn-Wood said: ‘The UK and Kolkata share a positive vision of a low carbon future, strong cooperation on sustainable urban regeneration and a better, healthier way of life. We share a desire to build climate-friendly societies that we will need to survive through the next century and beyond.’
‘It is indeed very encouraging to see UK and Bengal share experience, learn from each other, create collaborations and innovations in this critical area where substantive steps can be taken to build a greener, cleaner and a more vibrant Kolkata.’
Commenting on the significance of the research, Professor Joyashree Roy who led the research in Jadavpur University said : ‘when the world is trying to prepare green growth projects for attracting new investments Kolkata is well ahead of others with the release of this report as the numbers can be used by investors, financial institutions, policy makers, government to compete for investment grade finance. The future readiness can come through investment now, so this report provides necessary knowledge for that which is based on wide scale expert consultation and rigorous analysis.’
Professor Andy Gouldson, who developed the approach and led the team at the University of Leeds in the UK said: ‘Kolkata is a very dynamic city—at current rates of growth, half of the city that will exist in 2025 has yet o be developed or built. If current trends in energy use continue, the future Kolkata could be much more expensive to run and have a very substantial carbon footprint. But this study shows that with some investment now, Kolkata could switch onto a different development path with substantially reduced energy bills and carbon footprint. If done in the right way, this could benefit everyone in the city.’
Dr. Joyashree Roy is currently the Professor of Economics a Jadavpur University, Kolkata. She initiated and also coordinates the Global Change Programme (www.juglobalchangeprogram.org) which focuses on climate change research and beyond. She is in 2007 Noble Peace Prize winning panel-IPCC (Intergovernmental panel on climate change). She is co-sharer of Prince Sultan Bin Aziz Prize for water. She has been involved in preparation of Stern Review Report, Global Energy Assessment.
Prof Andy Gouldson is Director of the ESRC Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy at the University of Leeds in the UK. His work focuses on he relationship between economic development and the environment, and he has pioneered the development of studies on the economics and financing of low carbon cities. Alongside the study in Kolkata, he has projects underway in China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Peru. He acts as an advisor to the UK government Departments for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
The Centre for Low Carbon Futures is a collaborative membership organization that focuses on sustainability for competitive advantage. Formed by the University of Birmingham, University of Hull, University of Leeds, University of Sheffield and University of York, we work across the EU, Asia and Latin America. The Centre brings together engineers, natural scientist and social scientists to deliver high impact research.