In his Independence Day address to the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned India spends over Rs 12 lakh crore on importing energy, and that domestic energy production will be a policy priority for the country.
Reduced fossil-fuel use and carbon mitigation strategies will also have to be prioritised immediately, as highlighted in the recently released Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
AR6 recommends that our mitigation strategies be risk-proof and not adversely affect the environment. One such strategy often considered in India, towards achieving energy security and carbon mitigation, is the use of biofuels. However, it should be evaluated carefully to ensure that its benefits outweigh its negative consequences.
