“We are living on the planet as if we have another one to go to.”
Quote by Terry Swearingen
Pollution had become a huge obstacle of achieving the sustainable development. Often it creates misfortune for other countries who are not directly involved in polluting the environment; by creating a web of complicated situation that is not easy to deal with, and this very serious and common problem is called Transboundary pollution. Let’s dive inside the topic, assume that there are only two countries on whole planet, interlinked with each others in terms of locations, trade and political & economical aspects.
One country is developed and industrialized called ABC while on the other hand there is an under-developed and backwards (here backwards means in terms of technology and innovations) country called Xyz. ‘Abc’ is at the high peak of development due to industrialization depended on polluting energies. While Xyz is agriculturally depended with loopholes present in administration, monetary and fiscal policy, the use of polluting energies is not at high amount. A’s policy is hostile with environment, that is not adversely affecting the pollution of A instead the effects of polluting behavior is more severe for B’s population.
If we study, major environmental disasters like Pollution at Rhine river, extreme effects of Climate change (floods and draughts) on Continents of Africa and Asia, etc. we notice that developing or under- developed countries are mostly affected, many people argues about shifting energy generation from polluting sources to non- polluting and renewable sources, but the process is so complex as world is more relied on non-renewable or polluting energy.
Let’s assume that we are able to conduct such historic shift but what about the pollution present in the environment, known as “stock pollution” that keeps on harming planet. Thus, adaptation policy measure is used by policy framers along with mitigating activities. There is also a perspective for this shift is “Green Paradox” explained by German Environmental Economists Hans-Werner Sinn. He pointed out that shifting the sources of energy to renewable and cleans sources eventually degrades environment at more alarming rate, for describing this perspective he used demand and supply framework. He states, shift to clean energy will decrease the demand and increase the supply of bad or polluting energies which further decrease the prices, as under- developed countries will be technically backwards for clean energies, they will continue to use bad energy at a large amount due to its more supply. It is also advisable to use Green Fiscal Policy. Under this approach, government charges for emissions and provides incentives if there is an innovation or decrease in emission. Under monetary policy approach, government issues green bonds.
Recently new form of energy is gaining momentum that can lead to a positive change in present situation by minimizing the fuel need for running a vehicle, by utilizing “Hydrogen”. With help of fuel cell technology we can convert chemical energy into electrical energy that will vehicles to travel for longer journey with lesser refueling, as fuel cells make vehicles more quitters because of fewer vibrations. So the main idea behind the use of hydrogen as a clean energy with zero greenhouse gas emissions and to facilitates efficiency for public transport and heavy vehicles with less noise pollution.
Now let’s discuss about the use of Fuel cell technology for public transport like train. Germany holds its count for this list as it had became first passenger rail line to run on hydrogen. If we talk about India, then we are also at the right track, recently in January of 2023, the Ministry for Railways had announced plan to introduce Hydrogen powered train for heritage lines. There are total eight heritage lines, thises heritage lines will ensure a smooth operation with propulsion unit and Vista dome coaches to enhance travelling. Furthermore, trains will be implemented on both narrow and meter gauge. Moreover, the fuel cell truck is likely to be launched in India this very year.
We are already well introduced by the advantages of fuel cell, apart from theses the new travelling approach will also ensure lesser reliance on fossil fuels and maintenances; thus situation is WIN-WIN. However, it has certain disadvantages, producing hydrogen (due its little availability in atmosphere) and manufacturing catalysts is quite expensive. There is lot to work on with this field and most of developed ones are at prototype stage and we need to develop a better infrastructure along with public support.
Above discussed approaches, are only efficient if we the general public also came forward to help with small steps like, carpool, separate waste disposal, using resources mindfully, recycling boxes and bottles, etc, as together we are stronger.
By: Khushi Joshi
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