Coal usage & transition to go hand in hand: Chief secy

RANCHI: At a time when talks about coal phasedown and achieving net-zero by 2070 is dominating the climate change dialogues across the globe, Jharkhand is preparing for coal usage and its phasedown simultaneously, accepting the fact that adopting sustainable transition methodology is a must.

Talking to TOI on the sidelines of a two-day international conference “Sustainable Transition for Future-Ready Jharkhand: Global Perspectives & Learnings for Climate Resilient Growth’, Jharkhand chief secretary L Khiangte said new coal mines are in the pipeline and there is no denying the fact that the state and country are highly dependent on coal as energy source. “Still there are mines that are being closed down and we have to plan an equitable sustainable transition so that the people engaged with the trade are not affected,” he said.

The international conference organised by the Task Force on Sustainable Just Transition (govt of Jharkhand), with support from its technical partner, Centre for Environment and Energy Development (CEED), and in association with United Nations Development Program (UNDP-India) and World Resources Institute (WRI-India), aims at chalking out a pathway which is greener and all-encompassing.

Further elucidating the objectives of the conference, chairperson of the state task force, AK Rastogi, said the initiative adopts a proactive, opportunity-driven lens to acknowledge Jharkhand’s potential in realising climate-compatible growth, setting a precedent for transformative action worldwide.

The conference also witnessed the launching of the official website of the task force and participation of experts from multilateral organisations, hailing from about 30 nations, including influential voices from Japan, USA, Germany, South Africa, South Korea, Indonesia and so on.

During the two days, experts from the govt and climate change will brainstorm over finding green mobility, green economy, training of manpower and preparing a blueprint for different nations to tread on the path of doing away with polluting energy sources and transitioning to cleaner fuel while ensuring that it has minimum socio-economic impact.

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