Trupti Mishra

Assessing socio-economic vulnerability to climate change: a city-level index-based approach

The present study attempts to develop indices, indicating the vulnerability to climate change/environmental hazards, for Indian cities located in different bio-climatic zones. The indices generated in the study are based on socio-economic variables and provide a basic overview of the potential vulnerabilities faced by these cities in the context of climate disasters. Eleven cities located in six different bio-climatic zones have been studied. Various indicators of socio-economic vulnerability have been compiled and segregated into the following major components: infrastructure, technology, finance, social and space. This approach of segregation can aid identification of developmental needs essential for minimizing vulnerability. The proxy indicators have been standardized and agglomerated to obtain the respective major components. These components, thereafter, have been combined to obtain the overall vulnerability index. The indices are on a scale of 0–10. The results reveal that, among the selected cities, Jaisalmer is the most vulnerable and Pune is the least vulnerable. Further, the technological and financial indices vary significantly among the 11 cities, but their social capability and infrastructure are comparable. This index can assist in keeping track of vulnerability and planning disaster resilient cities.

Integrated MAED–MARKAL-based analysis of future energy scenarios of Nepal

This paper employs an integrated model for analysis of energy demand and MARKet ALlocation modelling framework for assessing different pathways for the development of energy systems of Nepal. Four energy scenarios are analysed with the time horizon from 2010 to 2030. With high electrification and energy efficiency and demand-side management, the analysis reveals that all three major goals of sustainable energy for all can be achieved by 2030, but that the total discounted systems costs required account for three times the costs of the reference scenario. In the policy scenario, net fuel import costs and greenhouse gas emissions will decline by 20% and 35%, respectively and the share of renewable energy will increase from 3% in 2010 to 22% in 2030. The analysis provides insights for selecting a better pathway for the sustainable energy development and energy security of the country.

A framework to investigate drivers of adaptation decisions in marine fishing: Evidence from urban, semi-urban and rural communities

Traditional fishing livelihoods need to adapt to changing fish catch/populations, led by numerous anthropogenic, environmental and climatic stressors. The decision to adapt can be influenced by a variety of socio-economic and perceptual factors. However, adaptation decision-making in fishing communities has rarely been studied. Based on previous literature and focus group discussions with community, this study identifies few prominent adaptation responses in marine fishing and proposes credible factors driving decisions to adopt them. Further, a household survey is conducted, and the association of these drivers with various adaptation strategies is examined among fisherfolk of Maharashtra (India). This statistical analysis is based on 601 responses collected across three regional fishing groups: urban, semi-urban and rural. Regional segregation is done to understand variability in decision-making among groups which might be having different socio-economic and perceptual attributes. The survey reveals that only few urban fishing households have been able to diversify into other livelihoods. While having economic capital increases the likelihood of adaptation among urban and semi-urban communities, rural fishermen are significantly driven by social capital. Perception of climate change affecting fish catch drives adoption of mechanized boats solely in urban region. But increasing number of extreme events affects decisions of semi-urban and rural fishermen. Further, rising pollution and trade competition is associated with adaptation responses in the urban and semi-urban community. Higher education might help fishermen choose convenient forms of adaptation. Also, cooperative membership and subsidies are critical in adaptation decisions. The framework and insights of the study suggest the importance of acknowledging differential decision-making of individuals and communities, for designing effective adaptation and capacity-building policies.

Inequality in water supply in India: an assessment using the Gini and Theil indices

Provision of drinking water is considered to be an essential public service. Ensuring adequate water supply remains a challenge in Indian cities that are experiencing rapid growth and often exhibit a mismatch between increasing demands and inadequate supply infrastructure. This study quantifies the existing inequality in water supply within Indian cities through Lorenz curve, Gini coefficient as well as Theil indices. Two types of Theil indices are estimated to gain different perspectives: water supply and population-weighted. Both the Theil indices are disaggregated, according to economic and regional categorisation of the cities, to explore the within- and between-group inequality. The water supply and population-weighted Theil indices provide different outlook of the inequality amongst the cities. But the population-weighted index is often better and pragmatic. Further, the inequality in access to tap water in India is studied by estimating modified Lorenz curves and Theil indices. Again, the Theil indices are decomposed into within and between components according to economic and regional grouping of states. The results suggest that there is disparity in supply of water in India, and infrastructure has to be boosted to meet the growing demand. This study is a step towards quantification of water supply inequality. The approach used in the study can contribute to monitoring of water supply equity as well as in formulating sustainable and equitable water policies.

Environmental disclosure by Indian companies: an empirical study

This study examines the extent and the quality of environmental disclosure made by Indian companies using legitimacy theory. Content analysis of 137 companies’ annual reports for the years 2011–2012 and 2014–2015 finds that (a) the extent of disclosure and the quality of disclosure have increased over the two-year period (though the increase is not statistically significant), (b) quality is largely descriptive and (c) disclosures vary between industries and within industries. The results of the econometric model suggest that firm-specific characteristics like industry, size, age and foreign customers have significant positive influence on environmental disclosures (extent and quality), while leverage has negative impact on disclosures.

Economic Assessment of Climate Mitigation Pathways (2015–2050) for the Brick Sector in India

India is the second largest producer globally, of fired brick in traditional kiln technologies with 250 million bricks produced yearly. Amongst different sectors, brick production is an important contributor to several SLCPs like black carbon, and ozone precursors like non-methane volatile organic compound and carbon monoxide. This report presented develops and evaluates the evolution of SLCP emissions from India, during 2015–2050, from the brick sector, under two different scenarios of diffusion of cleaner technologies and practices, compared to that under a reference scenario. Net emissions of SLCPs from India in 2015 from the brick sector are estimated at 422.89 GT CO2 eq. (using GWP-20). Total achievable mitigation of SLCPs in 2050 is 25% under a promulgated policies scenario, while it is 80% under a prospective policies scenario. Mitigation strategies of brick industry require shift from traditional burnt bricks to introducing higher use of unburnt bricks. A cost–benefit analysis shows that SLCP mitigation cost is as low as 59 Rs./tonne of CO2 eq., which is significantly lower than those estimated for GHG mitigation in India. Actions reducing emissions from brick industry require shift towards manufacturing of unburnt bricks which also reduce warming of the atmosphere and benefit public health.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions in India’s Road Transport Sector

India is one of the fastest growing major economies of the world. The transport sector of India is the third most GHG (Greenhouse gas) emitting sector, where the major contribution comes from the road transport sector. The chapter examines the trend of CO2 emission from transport sector (1970–2012) and trend of annual vehicle registration in India (2001–2012). The chapter also gives an account of the travel characteristics of India and explains the fleet models applied to obtain the age and technology distribution of vehicles on the road. Different methodologies adopted for GHG estimation can be explained via two independent approaches based on two sets of data such as fuel sold and vehicle kilometers traveled. The study analyzed the Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 methods for GHG emission estimation given by IPCC and segregates the studies done on India based on these approaches. Uncertainty in CO2 emission from different studies for Indian transport sector was high initially, but it has reduced in recent studies due to refinement in the input parameters, emission factors, and associated methodologies. The study addresses the gap in the estimation study and discusses the policies in India for reducing emissions from transport sector such as auto-fuel policy, shifting to four-stroke vehicles from two-stroke vehicles, policies for alternative fuels like CNG and biofuels, and incentives provided for the diffusion of electric vehicles in India.

Review of Indian Low Carbon Scenarios

An increase in global temperatures at rapid rate is attributed to greenhouse gas emissions mainly from our energy system. This paper performs a comparison and meta-analysis of low carbon scenarios based on integrated assessment models to provide insights on India’s greenhouse gas mitigation potential. This review compares the range of scenario formulation methods, analytical models, energy demand estimation methods, baseline scenarios, mitigation drivers, and low carbon scenario assumptions. A meta-analysis was conducted to provide insights on findings from these scenarios by analyzing trends in energy mix, electricity production, and emissions for 2050. The analysis of mitigation scenarios shows a clear decline in energy and carbon intensity for year 2050. The studies use a range of policies and targets for analyzing mitigation potential for India. This paper highlights trends in past studies where earlier studies have used parametric changes to create energy scenarios while recent studies have also used structural changes and policy options. The policy scenarios suggest a reduction in energy intensity by 70% with emission intensity declining by more than 90% by 2050. The emissions in policy scenarios stabilize in the range of 1300–2600 million tonne CO2 by 2050 averaged at 2118 million tonnes. The policy scenarios also suggest a phaseout of coal and its substitution with gas combined with carbon capture, nuclear, and solar. The study further discusses emerging avenues for future research and implications for policy modeling in Indian context.

Adaptation and its Socioeconomic Facilitators in the Marine Fishing Community of Maharashtra, India

Adaptation is crucial for countering the impacts of climatic and environmental changes, and sustaining livelihood. Communities adapt to various changes by intensifying their efforts to improve yields from their livelihood or diversifying into other forms of profession. Various socioeconomic factors facilitate adaptation in communities. However, facilitators of adaptation in fishing communities have seldom been studied. This study investigates adaptation and its facilitators in the marine fishing community of Maharashtra (in India) at two different time periods. The study assesses three important adaptation strategies in the community: motorization, mechanization, and diversification. It is found that mechanization and diversification among the community have increased over time. The association between adaptation and the proposed socioeconomic facilitators is examined through regression analysis. It is found that education, cooperative membership, and lower poverty influence different adaptation strategies. The regression estimates broadly lead to the acceptance of the proposed hypotheses, although different conclusions could be made for each of the adaptation strategies in both the time periods. Understanding these facilitators can assist in planning adaptation and developmental policies. The findings of the study can help design state-level adaptation programs for the marine fishing community.

Drivers of response to extreme weather warnings among marine fishermen

Extreme weather events, such as storms and cyclones, pose dire occupational hazards in marine fishing. Thus, warnings against such events can reduce risks to the life and property of fishing communities. This study is an attempt to assess the factors driving fishermen’s decision to respond to weather warnings. Mixed methods, such as exploratory fieldwork, literature review, and focus group discussions, helped in identifying the available weather warnings and hypothesizing the probable factors influencing response to the warnings in the marine fishing community in Maharashtra, India. The plausible drivers of response include perceived potential risk, credibility of the warning and its disseminators, community social capital, and other demographic characteristics. Data from a household survey, comprising 601 fishermen, is used to empirically test the hypotheses. The results suggest that trust in the source and disseminator of the warning is related to higher response rates. There is heterogeneity in the role of community social capital as a motivator to respond. Further, fishermen perceiving traditional information to be more reliable are less likely to respond frequently to the warnings. The findings of the study are relevant for designing interventions which can prompt high response rates to weather warnings from fishermen.