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Context

• India has been ranked 63rd on the global Energy Transition Index, with European nations dominating the top ranks.
• The index, released by the World Economic Forum, assesses countries' progress towards a more equitable, secure, and sustainable energy system.

Global Rankings

• European Dominance: Sweden tops the index, followed by Denmark, Finland, Switzerland, and France in the top five. China secured the 20th position.
• Backward Movement: Despite progress in some areas, 83% of countries have regressed in at least one energy system dimension — security, equity, or sustainability.

Opportunity for Developing Countries

• Potential for Transformation: Developing countries like India, China, and Brazil show improvement, offering an opportunity to reshape energy demand.
• Reverse Innovation: Developing countries can lead in transformative energy solutions, leveraging frugal, scalable innovations originating from developed nations.

Role of India and China

• Leading Initiatives: India is spearheading initiatives replicable elsewhere, with notable progress in energy equity, security, and sustainability.
• Critical Players: With a third of the global population, India and China play pivotal roles in renewable energy adoption and green tech manufacturing.

India's Clean Energy Initiatives

• Renewable Focus: India's renewable and biomass energy constitutes 42% of its power generation capacity, positioning it as the fourth-largest renewables market globally.
• Investments: Annual investments nearing $10 billion drive electric vehicle adoption and green hydrogen production. However, coal dependency remains a challenge.

Progress in Emerging Asia

• Improvement Trends: Emerging and developing Asian countries, including India and China, exhibit an 8% improvement in Energy Transition Index scores over the past decade, primarily in reducing energy intensity.

Focus on Affordability and Viability

• Income Generation: India emphasizes leveraging energy for income generation and supporting microenterprises through renewable energy utilization.
• Sustainable Practices: Efforts underscore India's commitment to promoting sustainable energy practices benefiting local communities and driving economic growth.

Challenges and Opportunities

• Decoupling Growth from Energy Demand: India aims to decouple growth from energy demand, necessitating significant investment in energy efficiency alongside infrastructure development.
• Slowing Transition: While innovation growth has slowed globally, countries like China and India lead in developing new energy solutions, despite challenges in balancing transition facets.

PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Discuss the concept of decoupling growth from energy demand and its significance in the context of sustainable development. How can countries like India address this challenge, considering their growing energy needs and environmental concerns? Illustrate with examples and potential strategies.

SOURCE: THE HINDU