“Comparative Analysis of CO2 Emissions: Sustainable Development

Solutions for India Inspired by Germany’s Carbon Control Strategies”

1
Chirag, 2Diya, 3Nischay, 4Dr. Sabarmathi G,
1,2,3
,Student, BBA(DS),4Assistant Professor
School of Business and Management
CHRIST (Deemed to be University)
Bangalore, Karnataka, India

1
chirag.gulgulia@bbadsh.christuniversity.in,
2
diya.sharma@bbadsh.christuniversity.in,
3
nischay.agarwala@bbadsh.christuniversity.in ,
4
Sabarmathi.g@christuniversity.in.
wherein photochemical reactions produce
smog. Air pollution has been classified as a
human carcinogen by the International
Abstract Agency for Research on Cancer
2013.[1][2].[3].
This study compares the impact of carbon
emissions on air quality and health within
Germany and India. It then focuses on the
German state of waste management
practices, as this paper wants to adopt those
strategies for improving environmental
sustainability in India. This also deals with
highlighting the leadership of German
carbon reduction through ground-breaking
policies, technology, and public
engagement.

Introduction

Overview of Carbon Emissions

Carbon emissions are exposed to the

environment through the combustion of
fossil fuels as the by-product of human
development. Of specific concern, these
emissions of carbon, carbon dioxide,
methane, and nitrous oxide contribute to Objectives of the Research :
global warming and, subsequently, climate
change. They further induce serious air This research compares carbon emissions'
pollution, and thus, human health is impact on air quality and health in Germany
threatened. Smog, due to carbon emission and India, focusing on Germany's waste
and air quality, deteriorates respiratory and management practices. It aims to adapt these
cardiovascular diseases. Carbon monoxide strategies for improving India's
and nitrogen oxides were considered direct environmental sustainability.[4]
pollutants during fossil fuel burning,
Carbon Emissions And Air
Pollution:

Most of the carbon emissions in the form of

CO2 affect air quality and climate. The
combustion of fossil fuel is causing
warming, heat waves, and harmful ground-
level ozone that are capable of creating
health-related problems like asthma,
bronchitis, and heart attacks. Soot from
incomplete combustion adds particulate
matter to deteriorate respiratory and
cardiovascular diseases. Methane and
nitrous oxide add to environmental
degradation. A self-reinforcing feedback
loop can result from this, and reduction in Sources of Carbon Emission in
CO2 has implications for better air quality India and Germany:-
and, hence, dealing effectively with climate
change.[5][6]. Electricity production has a share of 52.3%
in the emission of greenhouse gas in India,
Comparison of Carbon Emissions: and road transport has 12%. It shows a very
Germany Vs. India huge reliance on fossil fuel. Other sectors
that have considered it relevant include
Germany is the third-largest emitter of CO₂ industries, the largest being iron and steel
in the world, after China and the United that has 6.7%, cement 2.2%. Both residential
States. The GHG emissions of Germany and commercial, which hold an admittedly
were 674 MtCO₂e in 2023, which entails a relevant share of 11.4%. From that, the
decrease of 10.1% per year. Totally, GHG mitigation can consider that energy
emissions in Germany were reduced by production can be shifted towards more
around 46% since 1990.It will be the key to sustainable resources, enhance industries,
the following targets of Germany with low-carbon methods and transport in daily
regard to the climate: For the long term, activities, include energy consumption.[8].
ambitious targets of at least minus 65%
below 1990 levels by 2030 and achieving
greenhouse gas neutrality by 2045 have been
set.
In India, per capita CO₂ emissions rose from
0.39 metric tons per person in 1970 to as high
as 1.91 metric tons per person in 2022, which
is 5.5% higher than that in 2021. Total CO₂
emissions in India also reached an all-time
record high in 2022.India is the third-largest
emitter of CO₂ in the world, subsequent to
China and the United States of America. All
these gases emit carbon dioxide, methane .[9]
gas, nitrous oxide, and increase global
warming and climatic change.[7]
Causes of Excess Carbon Emissions Sustainable Development in 2002 and
promoted sustainable waste management
India’s Perspective: practices.

Greenhouse Gas emission has been Packaging waste generation in Germany

between 2010 and 2019, in kg per capita
increased by 250% in India and almost
tripled the Fossil CO2 emissions. The power
sector in India is responsible for 32% of its
emissions making it the biggest source. The
country's high emissions stem from its
growing population expanding economy,
and increased use of fossil fuels. Even so,
India has the lowest emissions per person
among G20 nations. Coal production fast-
paced industrialization, and poor waste
Germany is the EU's best municipal waste
handling practices all play a part in the high recycler, always exceeding the trash get-rid-
emission levels. To tackle these problems, ofs in directives. For example, the country
India needs to switch to cleaner energy succeeded in recycling 56% of its waste in
sources, boost efficiency, and get better at 2002 when recycling targets were set at a
managing waste. minimum 50% of waste by 2020 from the
EU. In 2019, Germany reached the 67%
Germany’s Perspective: recycling rate before the EU's future target
years for at least 55–60% by 2025 and 65%
Germany's greenhouse gas emissions by 2025.
skyrocketed, and this was a result of the
Industrial Revolution, the post-war boom for The Deposit Refund Scheme
economic, and the car industry boosting. Germany's DRS system is an effective
Though the first legislation was mild on the management policy about waste that
natural environment in encouraging the imposes a consumer payment on deposit-
economic capability of the country, paid bottle with refunds at retail outlet. The
Germany has been aggressive in emission system encourages recycling and, at the
decrease through the development of low- same time reduces the rate of litter
carbon energy, energy conservation, and production. The system has attained 98.4 %
coal reduction. This was achieved through; of payback efficiency, achieving the effect of
establishing carbon price, construction of reduction of litter levels as well as
railways and better buses, clean technology maximization of plastic recycling. The set
management scheme is in tandem with the
subsidies, and implementing the climate
principle of Polluter pays, where those who
agreement.[10].
bear cost of pollution pay them. The Federal
Government has announced the inclusion of
Reduction of Carbon Emission in
a deposit on all containers that house liquid
Germany milk and dairy products from the year 2024.
This would help in reducing the current
Germany is leading European Union in challenge of trash removal within the
sustainable development, benchmarking country.
areas: energy, industrial and environmental
policy. Germany has managed decoupling Mandatory Waste sorting Policies
Economic activities and GHG emissions
Germany has been quick to have in place
with adoption of the National Strategy for
several policies on waste as measures against
increasing recycling and being in line with carbon reduction milestone in investments to
the environmental framework in place. The public transport services, electric vehicles,
Packaging Ordinance of 1991 created a and cycle routes. The urban air pollution and
recovery and recycling obligation to sales carbon foot review in low-emission cities
packaging. Similarly, the Packaging Act has like Essen and Unna have dramatically
placed some of the most ambitious recycling further reduced the urban air pollution and
rates with the Green Dot System; the Closed carbon footprints. Germany's municipal and
Substance Cycle and Waste Management
waste management systems of recycling,
Act of 1996, with the latest repeal by the
composting and waste to energy processes
Circular Economy Act of 2012, created
have produced one of the best recycling rates
being stricter at the local levels of creation
and now enforcement of higher recycling worldwide with little less than 70% of
rates. These measures will further enable municipal waste being.[17][18][19]
Germany to strive toward reaching the SDGs
on human well-being, social justice, climate Comparative Analysis Germany Vs
action, and a pollutant-free India
environment.[11][12][13]
Why Germany is ahead:
Sustainable Innovation and Waste
Management

Germany is also leading the world with the

reduction of Carbon Emissions through
several renewable energies, energy
efficiency programs, and innovative
sustainable transportation. The country has
been at the forefront, starting in the year
2000, with an ambitious policy, dubbed
Energiewende, intending to create an exit ClimateWatch_Data
from nuclear and coal and an entrance into
renewable energy sources like wind, solar, Germany’s Steps towards reducing carbon
and biomass. Energy efficiency policy in emissions involve various steps. Germany
Germany has been a very significant agenda being majorly dependent on coal for power
that is properly enforced in buildings and generation has contributed to a large extent
with financial support to to carbon reduction. It has adopted several
homeowners.[14][15][16] climate policy packages such as the Climate
Action Program 2030, limiting the amount of
coal used for generating power, and invested
14 billion Euros in the Coal Phasing-Out
Act. Strong policy frameworks, continuous
technology development, economic
stability, and the involvement of the public
were the hallmarks of successful policies
adopted by Germany. Germany's shift to
renewable energy has significantly
contributed towards carbon reduction. India,
however, at this point, faces some challenges
Sustainable transport measures contributed impeding its transition into renewable
to the sustenance of Germany's newfound energy due to economic constraints that
hinder the country from pursuing and invest in battery production as well as
implementing sustainable policies charging the infrastructure if It aims at
effectively.[20][21][22][23][24][25][26] replicating Germany's success in Electric
Mobility.
Its number one success in cutting carbon
emissions springs from the holistic approach For India, industrial decarbonization would
Germany adopts: stringent policy, be a helpful policy area for benchmarking in
technology innovation, economic stability, Germany, including green technologies
and public engagement. such as hydrogen and carbon capture; around
public-private partnerships to operate
Challenges in India : towards common emission reduction goals
or even stricter mandatory standards.
Lessons from Germany will lay the Second, a structured recycling system and
foundation for strategizing a low-carbon, advance in the recovery of valuable
sustainable future for India. materials as pursued by Germany, will dent
India's waste burden considerably on the
In India, the major obstructions were
environment.
economic, societal, and political conditions.
Under-electrification of industry and rural This goes to show that a framework in India,
segments, coupled with low efficiencies and needs stone-hardness emission targets will
substandard grid infrastructure, prohibits be and carbon pricing/coordination between
easy switchovers. However, the use of states and the center failing which. Hence,
electricity was not much due to industrial reducing carbon emissions in India could
and rural under-electrification, low bring the country closer to a cleaner and
efficiencies, and poor grid infrastructure. sustainable future.
Indian energy policies are widely influenced
by state governments and industrial lobbies, Conclusion:
which make environmental sustainability
very sensitive. Further, rapid urbanization, The academic article evaluates carbon
population growth, and tight energy demand emissions, air quality, and health impacts for
further complicate the situation. Answers to Germany and India, concentrating on
set India on a low-carbon and sustainable Germany's waste management techniques.
future path have to be there for economic Germany is a leader in carbon emissions
realities, infrastructure limitations, political reduction, given its effective and aggressive
complexities, and societal dynamics. strategies, technological advancements,
economic development, and civic buy-in. In
Implementing German Strategies contrast, India faces several dilemmas due to
In India: economic advancement, population growth,
and dependence on fossil fuels, resulting in
So, India has a lot to learn from the German high carbon emissions, although its per
experience, not only in renewable energy capita emissions have remained low. While
and transportation but also in India faces significant challenges to replicate
decarbonization. India can follow Germany Germany's practices, including economic,
which has laid down specific targets as well social, and infrastructure, emulating German
as incentives for renewable energy, in strategies could allow for India's own
particular solar and wind power, to hasten up transition toward a sustainable low-carbon
the pace of deployment. In transportation, future.
India will have to refine its EV policy and
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