Assessing Policy Choices For Managing SO2 Emisions From Indian Power Sector

The production, transportation and consumption of energy resources, especially of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas, generate negative environmental externalities including air pollution. The use of energy resources are the largest anthropogenic source of air pollution and the impacts are felt both at the global and local level. At the global level, emissions include greenhouse gases (GHGs) like carbon-dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) and the local pollutants include sulphur-dioxide (SO2), nitrogen-dioxide (NO2), suspended particulate matter (SPM) and carbon monoxide (CO). The GHG emissions cause global warming, which impacts agriculture and food security, natural ecosystems, human health, energy and industrial infrastructures, and coastal areas. In the case of local pollutants, their concentration in the ambient air reflects the air quality in an area. These concentrations, if exceeded, result in direct and immediate damaging impacts on human health and ecosystems, besides having other local and regional impacts such as acid rains.[CSH OP NO 12]Energy; environment; policymaking; deteriorating; air quality; market-based instruments; power generation; coal; steel; cement; chemical; fertilizer; externalities; GHG emissions; SO2; air quality management; Mashelkar Committee; Public Interest Litigations; power sector; United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; cost savings; Power; Planning Commission, 2002b; Industrial Policy Resolution; Electricity Supply Act, 1948; National Thermal Power Corporation