India’s Arctic Foray: Enhancing the Clean Energy Engagement

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The recently introduced Arctic Policy 2022 paves a way for India to enhance its activities related to research and development in the Arctic region, diversify its energy needs as well as join the fight against climate change. India’s emergence into the Arctic creates a ray of hope for the neighbouring South Asian countries that look up to India for leadership in the field of polar exploration and research. India’s presence in the Arctic will also increase the presence of stakeholders in the region promoting greater exploration of the region.

    Image source: Unsplash

Introduction

The challenge of climate change is approaching human society faster than estimated earlier. In 2022, the Finnish Meteorological Institute published that the Arctic is heating up four times faster and the existing climate models may not be able to accurately predict the real pace of the change (The Hindu, 2022). The unpredictability of climate change in the Arctic is a cause of concern for the world and for India as our planet’s climatic systems are connected and a change in one system may affect the others (Bahri, 2018). According to some latest reports, India turned into the world’s most populous country by the end of 2022 with over 1.4 billion people (Pillalamarri, 2023). These big numbers highlight the need for even greater resources on India’s part, especially in a world terrorised by the demand-supply disequilibrium of oil and gas.

The whole world is experiencing an insufficient energy supply, particularly in terms of clean energy. India, too, needs to fulfil its energy demands to sustain its USD 3.18 trillion economy (World Bank, 2021). Although the demand for clean energy is much higher than its supply, the technology to produce and the market to subsidise solar energy or newer fuels such as hydrogen, is still far from becoming lucrative for India. 

Arctic Policy 2022: Diversifying India’s Energy Means


The commitment of India to carbon neutrality as promised in 2021 is also critical to its energy production and consumption. India has promised not only to reduce its consumption and production of fossil fuel energy but also to explore options for cleaner energy and become a net-neutral country by the year 2070 (Nandi, 2021). The commitments of India to cleaner energy are not only crucial to the current international brainstorming against climate change but also encourage the developing world to use clean energy over traditional sources. Amidst these developments, it has become clearer that there is an urgent need to diversify India’s energy sources as well as means. In view of this need, India has announced its engagement with the Arctic directly via its Arctic policy 2022 announced by Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh (Ministry of Earth Science, 2022). Through its Arctic policy, India not only envisions research and development in the continent but also a joint fight against climate change - one of the world’s biggest common enemies at the moment (Ibid). The Six Pillars of India’s Arctic Policy encompass Consolidating India’s Scientific Research in the Arctic; Climate Protection; Human Development and Economic Growth; Transportation and Connectivity; International Cooperation and Governance; and National Capacity Building in the Arctic Region.

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh announced that India plans on involving its scientific community as well as academia, businesses and industries as stakeholders (Ibid). The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) in Goa, for example, in addition to its climate research in the Arctic at present, can additionally lead India’s Arctic research for clean energy options. Additionally, the University Grants Commission (UGC) invited online proposals for the development of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) based on the Six Pillars of India’s Arctic Policy in 2022 (University Grants Commission, 2022). These initiatives point towards India’s keen interest in becoming an important stakeholder in the region.

Potential Outcomes of India's Presence in the Arctic Region

India as one of the global stakeholders in the Arctic can bring about changes in the global outlook towards climate change and its impact on the Arctic. India can engage in securing and discovering clean energy options from the Arctic that can resolve the energy crisis of the developing world. India’s emergence in the Arctic is also a ray of hope for other South Asian nations that look towards India for leadership in the field of polar exploration and clean energy research. India’s initiatives in the Arctic Ocean will lead the way for the rest of Asia to register its presence in the region as a common heritage of mankind. The current concerns of the US, Russia and Europe over the Arctic are shared by India since any changes in the Arctic climatic system affect the summer monsoon of India and subsequently its economy. India’s representation will also democratise the region as well as its issues (Ghosh and Aggarwal, 2021). China’s growing interest in the Arctic is also an area of concern for India and the rest of the world due to its earlier aggressive stance on the South China Sea and ambitious Belt and Road Initiative. Russia is the chair of the Arctic Council at the moment with whom India shares a close relationship (Arctic Council, 2022). India’s non-contentious and cooperative relationship with all the eight members of the Arctic Council has also ensured India’s smooth entry into the Arctic (Ibid). In fact, India’s observer status at the Arctic Council is key to maintaining a unique balance in the region.

Way Forward

With the newfound Indian interest in the Arctic, the Arctic community can hope for great outcomes both in terms of polar research and ground-breaking initiatives in its fight against climate change.

 References

Arctic Council (2022). Russian Chairmanship 2021-2023. Retrieved from The Arctic Council: https://www.arctic-council.org/about/russian-chairmanship-2/

Ghosh, S., and Aggarwal, M. (2021). With a new policy, India aims to understand the impact of the Arctic region on its monsoon. Retrieved from Quartz: https://qz.com/india/1939274/indias-arctic-policy-to-focus-on-climate-change- monsoon-rains

Bahri, C. (2018). How Arctic weather may impact monsoon rains in India and affect our farmers. Retrieved from Business Standard: https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/how-arctic-weather-may-impact-monsoon-rains-in-india-and-affect-our-farmers-118051200112_1.html

Giri, C. (2021). India at the Arctic Council. Retrieved from The Gateway House: https://www.gatewayhouse.in/india-at-the-arctic/

Hindustan Times (2021). As a tri-polar nation, India has a critical role in the Arctic. Retrieved from Hindustan Times: https://www.hindustantimes.com/opinion/as-a-tri-polar-nation-india-has-a-critical-role-in-the-arctic-101618049966302.html

Ministry of Earth Science (2022). Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh releases India’s Arctic Policy in New Delhi today. Retrieved from Ministry of Earth Science: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1806993

NDTV (2023). In Increasing Oil Trade Between India and Russia, An Unusual Development. Retrieved from NDTV: https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/in-unusual-move-india-receives-arctic-oil-from-russia-3665457

Pillalamarri, A. (2023). India is the World’s Most Populous Country: What it Means. Retrieved from The Diplomat: https://thediplomat.com/2023/01/india-is-the-worlds-most-populous-country-what-it-means/

The Hindu (2022) Explained | The warming of Arctic Ocean and its impact on India. Retrieved from The Hindu: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/explained-what-is-causing-arctic-warming-should-india-be-worried/article65778586.ece

University Grants Commission (2022). lnviting Online proposals for development of MOOCs at UG'PG level for the. Retrieved from University Grants Commission: https://www.ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/5832523_SWAYAM-UGC-letter-IAP.pdf

World Bank (2021). Retrieved from World Bank: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD?locations=IN

 

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