Ethanol Blending Can Protect Livelihood, Biodiversity

World Environment Day which was observed on June 5, 2021  will remain eventful following more commitments made by the government and the public than in preceding years. As in previous years since its launch in 1974, countless functions were held throughout the country to promote awareness among people about the necessity for stopping the degradation of the environment. As people echo with the world body ‘’We can grow trees, green our cities, rewild our gardens, change our diets and clean up rivers and coasts. We are the generation that can make peace with nature”. India reaffirms its commitment to ensuring climate justice with a lofty global vision. India will continue to remain active to save ecosystems with PM  Narendra Modi stressing the need for the involvement of the agriculture sector in contributing to clean energy. Increasing blending of  Ethanol in petrol by 2025 will reduce dependence on fossil fuels by fifty percent. As Nitin Gadkari, senior federal minister says ethanol blending fuel is being accorded priority to contain rising prices of petrochemical products. The GOI  is justified in focusing on the production and usage of Ethanol for agricultural use. Foodgrain waste distilleries are being set up using modern technology across the nation. India’s ranking in the top 10 nations in the Climate Change Performance Index, has prioritized  Solar power generation setting up a Hybrid Energy Power Plant in the Kutch region of Gujarat. People are adopting new ways to eliminate single-use plastic and LED bulbs to dominate in every household. The mega global vision is part of the International Solar Alliance promoted by the GOI  since 2013 for realizing the vision of One Sun, One World, One Grid, or the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure initiative. Garbage and agricultural scrap are being converted to produce energy for farmers. Hybrid and electric vehicles alongside metro rail need to be promoted further for investment opportunities and generation of job opportunities as well as to stop climate degradation. These sectors should be assured of tax and other incentives if the government intends to prevent further assaults on the ecosystem as climate experts demand. Meanwhile, a study reveals that organic farmers are earning more with the new practices. Ethanol too helps farmers earn more profits and ensures an increase in the quality of production. Garbage to biogas too is immensely helping our food producers. Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar is justified in remarking that every day is environment day for India. Only with healthy ecosystems we can enhance people’s livelihoods, counteract climate change and stop the collapse of biodiversity. Image courtesy: Jagran Josh