India’s Example

Looking at the advocacy campaigns done in India over the past, one can clearly see how information politics can bring people together in order to put pressure on a government. India’s main actors, like TERI, really helped establish an understanding of a new cultural norm–coal out renewables in. Now as long as India continues in this light their government and actions can serve as symbolic politics to many other nations in the world, even the United States. India’s government has started really tackling the energy problem. One great development would be the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. The Ministry has already gained rapid advancements for solar power, for example the target installation for 2012 was 200MW it now exceeds 450MW. Also the, “Ministry launched a National Solar Science Fellowship Programme to provide higher and liberal fellowship grant to maximum 10 outstanding scientists to work on cutting-edge technology research area in the field of solar energy. A Fellowship Management Committee has been constituted with eminent Scientists as members under the Chairmanship of Prof. K. Kasturiragam.” It is these great strides that make the work by advocates actually mean something. The government heard the cry of their informed public and has reacted swiftly. This  rapid turn of events was dramatically necessary in order to fight climate change. The best way to begin making a change toward a sustainable future is investing the time and energy needed to build an energy portfolio. Each energy sector has its own strengths and without a roadmap or portfolio a country could lose control of its energy. One such initiative that came from the Ministry outlines goals for the future, such as,

“The immediate aim of the Mission is to focus on setting up an enabling environment for solar technology penetration in the country both at a centralized and decentralized level. The first phase (up to March 2013) will, inter alia, focus on promoting off-grid systems including hybrid systems to meet/supplement power, heating and cooling energy requirements. These systems still require interventions to bring down costs but the key challenge is to provide an enabling framework and support for entrepreneurs to develop markets. In order to create a sustained interest within the investor community, it is proposed to support viable business models. Flexibility is an integral feature of this scheme. The scheme is completely demand driven as it offers a bouquet of incentive instruments from which eligible entities can tailor a package appropriate to their needs and circumstances within the boundary conditions of the scheme.”

Its exactly this kind of immediate work that needs to be addressed globally. Let India be a shining example to the world that as long as you have an informed public you really can get things done in government! 🙂