Energy efficiency improvement needs to be initiated and prioritised to move towards net zero
On June 5, the world environmental day, Kerala’s Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan asserted that the Pachathuruthu initiative of his government would be the cornerstone of state’s ambitious Net Zero Carbon target.
The Pachathuruthu (green space / mini forest) project is an initiative aimed at greening barren land by planting trees and native plants. It focuses on creating natural biological diversity, including fruit trees, to absorb and store excess carbon in the atmosphere through joint efforts of local self-government bodies and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. The project initiated on June 5, 2019 at Vengode in Pothencode panchayat, Thiruvananthapuram District has expanded from a modest six-cent plot to cover 856.23 acres in five years.
A critical review raises significant concerns about its overall impact and feasibility in offsetting Kerala’s carbon emissions, making it net zero. It was reported that the Haritha Kerala Mission aims to develop 1,000 Pachathuruthus across the state, claiming that Kerala will achieve carbon neutrality by year 2050, solely through tree planting. This claim is totally unrealistic.
Energy and carbon emissions
Kerala’s Final Energy Consumption for 2022-23 was 1.4 billion tonnes of oil equivalent, resulting in 3.5 billion tonnes of CO2 .
This consumption encompasses various energy sources, including electricity, coal and petroleum products like LPG, diesel, aviation turbine fuel and furnace oil. Petroleum products constitute the largest share at 64 per cent, followed by electricity, coal and gas.
During the same period, electricity consumption was 24,923 gigawatt-hours, corresponding to 1.87 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions. This is primarily because 70 per cent of the state's electrical energy requirement is imported and predominantly generated from fossil fuels. (Source: KSEB, enerdata.net, and CII Data)
Tree planting & carbon sequestration
To offset the projected emissions of 3.62 billion tonnes of CO2 for 2023-24 through tree planting, Kerala would need to plant at least six billion trees, which would require 55 million acres of land. This is an unfeasible task, considering that the total land available for non-agricultural use, land under miscellaneous crops, marshy lands, and social forestry is less than 1.16 million acres.
The recommended spacing for agroforestry systems is 20 ft x 20 ft, allowing for 109 seedlings per acre, as they need sunlight, water, and nutrients from the soil. Young trees absorb about 5.9 kilogramme of CO2 per year, and mature trees can absorb around 22 kg annually.
We must also consider that when trees die, the carbon stored in their biomass is released back into the atmosphere through decomposition, burning (in the case of forest fires), or harvesting. However, soil can continue to store carbon long after trees die, contributing to long-term sequestration, provided the trees or leaves are not burned.
Additionally, not all regions are suitable for large-scale tree planting due to potential negative impacts, such as the loss of native species. Ensuring the survival and growth of planted trees over time requires proper species selection, effective planting methods and ongoing maintenance.
Better options
The draft plan for Kerala, prepared by the Confederation of Indian Industry with support from the Energy Management Centre, Kerala, under an initiative of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, indicates a potential reduction of 470 million tonnes of CO2 per year by 2031 through various energy efficiency initiatives, with an estimated investment of Rs 4,453 crores.
Considering the growth observed in the Pachathuruthu project, which expanded to 856 acres in five years, it is projected that the current project could cover a maximum of 5,000 acres by 2050. The estimated annual CO2 absorption by 2050, through the Pachathuruthu project, is between 12,000 and 20,000 tonnes, assuming trees are planted on 5,000 acres and mature to absorb CO2 at a rate of 22 kg per year. Therefore, it is evident that the primary focus should be on reducing the carbon footprint from the energy sector.
Greenhouse gas emissions, not just CO2
Achieving Net Zero emissions involves more than just sequestering carbon dioxide (CO2); it requires addressing various greenhouse gases (GHG) that contribute to global warming. While CO2 is the most prevalent and persistent GHG, methane has a significantly higher global warming potential, being 28-34 times more potent than CO2 over a 100-year period. Major methane sources include livestock, rice paddies, landfills and reservoirs associated with hydroelectric plants and dams. Ignoring these sources in a carbon neutrality strategy undermines the credibility of the goal.
Kerala’s Pachathuruthu project, while laudable as a positive initiative, cannot singularly drive the state to net zero carbon emissions. Claiming that this project will make Kerala a Net Zero state (100 per cent offset), when the reality is that it will not offset even 1 per cent, is totally misleading. Energy efficiency improvement is the most important action that needs to be initiated and prioritised to move towards net zero.
Realistic, diversified strategies encompassing all GHGs and robust policy interventions are imperative. Tree planting is a part of the solution, but it must be integrated with broader, systemic changes to achieve lasting environmental impact. The government should initiate actions to assess the present-day emissions in each sector and monitor the changes from this benchmark every year, rather than making tall and unrealistic claims of “net zero” emissions.
C Jayaraman is the winner of Fulbright Nehru Environmental Leadership and Fulbright Kalam Climate Change Fellowships and holds PhD in Energy Management. At present, he is working as the managing director of EQUINOCT Community Sourced Modelling Solutions, a tech startup.
Views expressed are the author’s own and don’t necessarily reflect those of Down To Earth.