Pune: In the absence of a definitive plan for phasing out fossil fuels, local leadership should take the initiative in decarbonising cities and promoting clean energy, Sven Östberg, Consul General of Sweden in Mumbai, said.The COP30 summit in Brazil did not result in a definitive plan for phasing out fossil fuels, and according to Östberg, this is a major gap in accelerating the adoption of green energy.“A city like Mumbai is prone to flooding, while Pune might undergo severe heat stress and water scarcity on account of climate change. Local leadership must accelerate clean energy transition and efficiency settlements,” he said on Wednesday in Pune while speaking at a seminar organised by Alfa Laval on energy efficiency and India’s path towards net zero.“Climate change is no longer a distant threat. It is here, and its impacts are visible everywhere. We must act and act fast,” he added.Östberg said that limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius is a notable aim, but these targets also serve as a reminder of the hard truth that more needs to be done in combating climate change, especially by the G20 countries, which account for 80% of global emissions.Giving the example of his home country, Östberg said that climate actions do not necessarily hamper growth. Swedish policies have ensured that words are converted into action by passing the Climate Act in 2018. Secondly, the country has embedded finance into climate action and is mobilising domestic and international capital. Third is technology, which provides solutions across sectors to accelerate net zero emissions.“Sweden is living proof of this. Our emissions are down 33% since 1990, and our GDP per capita is up 58%. Climate action and competitiveness are not opposites. They are partners,” he said.Stressing the role of energy efficiency, he said that industry accounts for 25% of global carbon emissions. The share in India is even higher because the industry is growing fast.Speaking at the same event, Thomas Moller, EVP, energy division, Alfa Laval, said that countries should lay stress on electrification. Industry should also focus on improving energy efficiency so that electrification will lead to bringing down the carbon footprint.
