Low-carbon economy can create 10.5 million jobs in India

A shift towards low-carbon economy to tackle climate change would create at least 10.5 million direct jobs in the renewable sector in India, according to a report prepared by Global Climate Network.

"Implementation of the Indian government's National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) could create an additional 10.5 million direct jobs in wind, solar and bio-fuel energy production.

As India is already a world leader in wind technology, ambitious global expansion of wind power could see 288,500 jobs created if Indian firms are able to command 10 per cent of the global market," said the report titled 'Low Carbon Jobs in an Interconnected World' in India.

Launched by The Energy Resources Institute (TERI) with GCN, the report supports global cooperation for promoting low-carbon and renewable energy technologies to combat climate change via a network that links technology-finance-jobs.

GCN is a brainchild of a consortium of research and policy organisations from across the countries to tackle climate change.

Similarly, in China, the report noted, the government's wind, solar and hydropower targets could lead to the creation of 6.79 million direct and indirect jobs.

"The shift in the Chinese economy towards services sectors and away from basic industry could create a further 20 million," the report pointed out.

It gave a similar positive picture of employment potential in countries like United States, Nigeria and South Africa which were in for major climate change policies in various sectors such as power and energy.

During the occasion, another report 'Breaking Through Technology' was also released which is based on case studies carried out by GCN members in Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, India, Nigeria, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Arabinda Mishra, director, climate change division, TERI, said, "Technology, jobs or economic growth and finances or resources are going to be important to help us in solving the conundrum in the negotiations at the international level."