India Cooling Action Plan

India Cooling Action Plan

Question: Consider the following statement in respect to the India Cooling Action Plan and choose the correct option:
1) This plan was launched by Union Environment Minster Dr. Harshvardhan on March 8, 2019
2) India became one of the first countries to launch this comprehensive plan
3) This plan provides long term vision to address the cooling requirement across sectors and lists out actions which can help reduce the cooling demand
4) This plan will go on to help India in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Options:
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 3 and 4
(d) All of the above.
Answer: (d)
Related facts:

  • Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan released the India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) on March 8, 2019 in New Delhi.
  • India is one of the first countries in the world to develop a comprehensive Cooling Action plan which has a long term vision to address the cooling requirement across sectors and lists out actions which can help reduce the cooling demand.
  • India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) provides an integrated vision towards cooling across sectors encompassing inter alia reduction of cooling demand, refrigerant transition, enhancing energy efficiency and better technology options with a 20 year time horizon.
  • The India Cooling Action seeks to:

(i) reduce cooling demand across sectors by 20% to 25% by 2037-38,
(ii) reduce refrigerant demand by 25% to 30% by 2037-38,
(iii) Reduce cooling energy requirements by 25% to 40% by 2037-38,
(iv) recognize “cooling and related areas” as a thrust area of research under national S&T Programme,
(v) Training and certification of 100,000 servicing sector technicians by 2022-23, synergizing with Skill India Mission. These actions will have significant climate benefits.

The following benefits would accrue to the society over and above the environmental benefits:

(i) Thermal comfort for all – provision for cooling for EWS and LIG housing,
(ii) Sustainable cooling – low GHG emissions related to cooling,
(iii) Doubling Farmers Income – better cold chain infrastructure – better value of produce to farmers, less wastage of produce,
(iv)Skilled workforce for better livelihoods and environmental protection,
(v) Make in India – domestic manufacturing of air-conditioning and related cooling equipment’s,
(vi)Robust R&D on alternative cooling technologies – to provide push to innovation in cooling sector.

• Linkages of cooling with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are well acknowledged. The cross-sectoral nature of cooling and its use in development of the economy makes provision for cooling an important developmental necessity.

Links:
http://www.pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1568158
https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/government-releases-india-cooling-action-plan-119030800922_1.html