Alternative technologies for a climate change resilient India

Coming of age has the weight of innovative technologies which could counter the ill effects of the increasing pressure on the resources. The old age technologies like the coal-based power plants, diesel/petrol-based vehicles which emit a large amount of harmful gases into the environment, even the less efficient machines and systems whose output-input ratio is less are some of the examples which affect the climate indirectly. Use of technology has to be strictly inclined with climate change in the mind. This is a continuous process and as well as capital-intensive matter. It needs good intention from both the provider and the receiver. Even if the technology provider is banging on the less efficient technology, or is harming the environment in some way or another, it is the receiver which should commit to the eco-products. There are already close initiatives like these where the provisions from the regulators made it mandatory to mention the source in the package of the product. First, it is a game changer; second, it helps in creating awareness among the masses. During the world wars, we saw a number of the invention due to the burgeoning the pressure to win the war. Similar emergence has to be created and hard steps have to be taken even if it harms the economy in the short run; because there is no emergency situation, the governments and as well as the people are lackluster about it.

Some of the alternative technologies:

> Use of solar based electricity generation
> Harnessing the Wind Energy

> Use of Electric vehicles
> Biomass-based electricity generation

These are not the end in them and have to be made more efficient in terms of the material employed, size-efficiency, life, reusability. Again, with the increasing use of some of these renewable energies, we are coming across the inherent shortcoming in them for example, the solar panel may leak certain chemicals into the ground, effect of the wind farm on the birds and as well as the noise it creates.

Not only the technologies but the intelligent use of the available resources coupled with reuse, recycle and so on would greatly help to increase the efficiency, e.g. use of natural sunlight in the buildings and other infrastructure. All this can be done if the innovation environment is created and people should be motivated by giving incentives of all kind. Involvement of the people is the key in this.

India uses more than 90% of its freshwater resources for the purpose of agriculture. In fact, we use the highest by any country in terms of the usage of groundwater for the agriculture purpose. Usage of drip irrigation and optimum use of the pesticides and fertilizers in the field should be encouraged. There is a growing trend of in-farm technologies which are themselves resilient from climate change as they are grown in an artificial environment.

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