Energy, Environment and Globalization (eBook)

This book analyzes contemporary issues relating to energy, environment, and globalization in the Indian context. As a signatory to the Paris climate accord, India has reiterated its commitment to taking strong and positive steps toward climate change mitigation. However, as one of the fastest growing economies in the world, it is battling the effects of a steep rise in fossil fuel usage and pollution. Further, increasing globalization is leading to greater economic activity and production, resulting in additional energy use, which has a negative effect on the environment.

The book argues that globalization need not have only a negative environmental impact; it can also have  positive impact through the importation of environmentally sound technologies and implementing global compliance standards. The book is divided into three sections: The energy section discusses issues relating to the status of Indian natural gas market and the need for developing an efficient gas market in India; the economics and politics of sustainable energy in India; the challenges of thermal power and significance of clean thermal power generation in India; environmental and policy issues concerning energy use in urban India; the importance of energy use in developing  Human Development Index (HDI); and issues relating to renewable energy in India. The environment section then examines topics such as the impact of global warming on local weather by examining the frequency of extreme weather events such as drought and floods, and their impact on farming activities in the Indian state of Odisha; the importance of according the economic value to environmentally significant things like national park , mangroves, etc. for sustainable development; the role of environmental accounting for ecological sustainability and ecotourism; and environmental concerns increasingly gaining traction among the corporate sector for their long-run benefits . Lastly, the third section addresses issues relating to the challenges and opportunities of globalization, such as the interface between globalization and environment; managing India's business interest in proposing new Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT); the challenges being faced by Indian exports and their revival; and making Indian SMEs  competitive. As such, it is an invaluable resource for policymakers, researchers, practitioners and students in the field of energy, environment and  trade economics.

Anshuman Gupta is Professor and Head of the Economics Department at the School of Business, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES), Dehradun, India. After receiving his Ph.D. from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), he served as an economist at the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM). He has worked at Hawassa University, Ethiopia, under the UNDP/World Bank-funded capacity development program. Before joining UPES, he worked at the Research and Information System (RIS) for Developing Countries, a New Delhi-based autonomous policy research institute. His research interests include international trade, regional trading blocs, WTO issues, environmental and energy issues, etc. He has completed several government-funded projects and published numerous scholarly books and research papers in national and international journals. He also contributes in national newspapers including The Economic Times and Business Standard.

Narendra N. Dalei is Assistant Professor and Programme Head of Energy Economics (UG Programme) at the School of Business, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES), Dehradun, India. Before joining UPES, he held various research and teaching positions at the University of Delhi, IGNOU and the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India. He obtained his Ph.D. in Ecological and Resource Economics from the University of Delhi. His research focuses on the interactions between energy, environment and climate change in the context of India and the rest of the world. He has published numerous research papers in peer-reviewed journals, such as the Journal of Quantitative Economics (Springer), Journal of Air Transport Management (Elsevier), Economics and Policy of Energy and Environment (FrancoAngeli),  International Journal of Ecological Economics and Statistics (CESER) and Utilities Policy ( Elsevier).

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This book analyzes contemporary issues relating to energy, environment, and globalization in the Indian context. As a signatory to the Paris climate accord, India has reiterated its commitment to taking strong and positive steps toward climate change mitigation. However, as one of the fastest growing economies in the world, it is battling the effects of a steep rise in fossil fuel usage and pollution. Further, increasing globalization is leading to greater economic activity and production, resulting in additional energy use, which has a negative effect on the environment.The book argues that globalization need not have only a negative environmental impact; it can also have  positive impact through the importation of environmentally sound technologies and implementing global compliance standards. The book is divided into three sections: The energy section discusses issues relating to the status of Indian natural gas market and the need for developing an efficient gas market in India; the economics and politics of sustainable energy in India; the challenges of thermal power and significance of clean thermal power generation in India; environmental and policy issues concerning energy use in urban India; the importance of energy use in developing  Human Development Index (HDI); and issues relating to renewable energy in India. The environment section then examines topics such as the impact of global warming on local weather by examining the frequency of extreme weather events such as drought and floods, and their impact on farming activities in the Indian state of Odisha; the importance of according the economic value to environmentally significant things like national park , mangroves, etc. for sustainable development; the role of environmental accounting for ecological sustainability and ecotourism; and environmental concerns increasingly gaining traction among the corporate sector for their long-run benefits . Lastly, the third section addresses issues relating to the challenges and opportunities of globalization, such as the interface between globalization and environment; managing India's business interest in proposing new Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT); the challenges being faced by Indian exports and their revival; and making Indian SMEs  competitive. As such, it is an invaluable resource for policymakers, researchers, practitioners and students in the field of energy, environment and  trade economics.