Amidst the clamor surrounding the intensive use of coal in China and India, one may not realize that these nations have some of the world’s largest renewable energy installations. In fact, I hail from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu which is often compared to Scandinavia for its large number of wind farms. Accounting for 25 percent of the country’s wind capacity, the state has the largest share of such generating assets in a nation of 1.3 billion people. Yet even Tamil Nadu relies heavily … [Read more...]
India’s “Bad Boys” Reopen 100 Coal Mines as Demand Skyrockets
Political leaders of developing countries face constant pressure to generate enough electricity for their populations as they are being asked to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. In a bold and rebellious move, India has ordered the reopening of more than 100 dormant coal mines to meet skyrocketing domestic power demand. The action is just one of the many measures that the country has taken to ensure a seamless supply of coal to power plants that generate more than 70 percent of the … [Read more...]
Biased Reporting Overheats Climate Fear, Ignores Cold
It was a cold May night for many in the city of Bengaluru, India. The mercury dipped to 52 degrees Fahrenheit, a low not witnessed in the last 50 years. The same week, some Indian cities made global headlines not for unusual cold but for extreme heat. Followers of international news likely have seen reports about heat waves and historic high temperatures in South Asia. “India and Pakistan are no strangers to extreme temperatures, but the current heatwave stands out for its … [Read more...]
When Will the Cold Go Away? Disappointed Public Wakes Up to Climate Reality
Many regions in the Northern Hemisphere are experiencing relatively colder spring conditions. The residents of New Delhi, India, were particularly miffed at the apparent lack of Delhi’s infamous summer heat waves and excruciatingly hot weather. In fact, the temperatures dropped to a 70-year low last week when the city received unusually heavy rainfall. Surprised at the turn of events, one of my friends messaged me, “When will the cold go away...? Why is it so cold at this time of the … [Read more...]
India speeds up fossil-fuelled economy, despite Net Zero noises
India, the world’s third biggest oil importer, is now on a mission to diversify its oil imports and look beyond the Middle East. For the first time, oil processors and buyers in India are buying oil from Guyana and Brazil. The decision comes at a time where India is facing a complex energy situation which is dominated by rising domestic oil prices and mainstream media’s pressure to make India join the Net Zero bandwagon. India, it appears, is increasingly aiming for a fossil-fuel … [Read more...]
The Fossil Fuel Dichotomy: Biden and the East’s Contrasting Energy Approach
While leaders in the West are obsessed with a fossil fuel-less utopia, the developing economies of the world are going full-throttle on fossil fuel. Could we be heading into an East-West dichotomy where different directions for the energy sector are pursued, making the East more energy secure and imperiling energy security in the West? It seems the likely case. Eastern Giants Go Big on Fossils India and China alone account for nearly 3 billion people and represent the largest … [Read more...]
An Open Letter to John Kerry from People Living in Energy Poverty
Dear Mr. Kerry, I write to you from India, a country you visited recently. Before I share my thoughts about some of your policy recommendations to my nation, I would like to mention a small note: When you ran for President in 2004, your pictures appeared in the local newspapers in India. Sitting in a remote, underdeveloped part of southern India, as a young high school student I wanted you to win that year. You did not, but I was hopeful that you would make it big in politics, and you did! … [Read more...]
Environmental Activism as Carbon Imperialism: Nightmare for the Poor
Environmental activism can delay or even stop development projects in developing countries. Not all of it is wrong, but more and more of it is, especially concerning hydrocarbon-based power plants in developing (and developed) countries. I live in India. With a population of 1.3 billion, nearly 300 million live in poverty, excruciating poverty compared to Western living standards. India is in a race against time to achieve economic progress. In the past three decades its economy has grown … [Read more...]
Fossil fuels help India overcome air pollution illnesses, deaths
This month, the Indian government announced its annual budget, an event that interests 1.3 billion people. The budget once again makes it clear that the government is pro-fossil fuels. India will continue making historic investments in the natural gas sector and prioritizing key measures to strengthen domestic gas supply for households. What many in the developed world do not know is that firewood used for household cooking is India’s biggest cause of indoor air pollution and associated … [Read more...]
Yes, We Need More Fossil Fuels in the Developing World
Energy has been a key factor in lifting people out of poverty. With the invention of ingenious methods to harness fuel resources, the energy extracted from naturally available resources like fossil fuels increased rapidly in the past two centuries. As a result, economies grew and people rose out of poverty. However, the energy revolution and industrialization occurred largely in Europe, North America, and a few Asian countries. The oil boom in the Middle East helped many of the states … [Read more...]
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