Representative image of carbon emissions from a factory.
Credit: iStock Photo
Bengaluru: The Centre for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) organised ‘Namma Safari’, an initiative to explore low-carbon development pathways tailored to Karnataka’s unique needs.
This integrated dynamic model aims to promote sustainable growth across key sectors — power, industry, transport, buildings, agriculture, and land use — while tracking resource use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Considered Karnataka’s first comprehensive long-term planning tool designed to meet its specific development and climate goals, Namma Safari was launched by former MP Rajeev Gowda in Bengaluru on Thursday.
Stressing the importance of modelling studies that inform policy by evaluating long-term future scenarios, Gowda underlined the need to maintain continuous dialogue with policymakers.
"The tool can not only help test real-world trade-offs, but also bring the state closer to a low-carbon and sustainable future,” he said, adding that Karnataka ranks among the top five states in the country for sustainable development goals and energy efficiency at the policy level.
As part of a panel discussion on ‘Cross-Sectoral Dialogue on Enablers and Barriers', N Amaranath, CEO of Karnataka Solar Power Development Corporation Limited (KSPDCL), pointed out that the global expansion of large-scale solar capacity faces significant land-use challenges, particularly in balancing food security, forestry, and urbanisation.
This, he said, makes the prospect of meeting all energy needs through electrification alone highly unrealistic for a country like India.
Tejal Kanitkar, Associate Professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), spoke about how employment opportunities in solar parks may not match those created by earlier coal cities, which contributed significantly to urban employment and development.
CSTEP stated that Karnataka’s electricity demand is projected to soar, driven by massive electrification across sectors. "However, a green shift is possible. If no new coal plants are built and renewables ramp up, GHG emissions could fall from 400 MT to just 50 MT by 2050,” a researcher said.
Sumedha Malaviya from the World Resources Institute noted that adopting green construction materials, rooftop solar, and passive cooling strategies could cut building-related electricity demand by 25 per cent, while making homes more comfortable and energy-efficient.