Climate change has become a real concern for the entire world. Almost all countries, including the developed and developing ones, are taking steps to contribute to a sustainable environment. More countries and businesses are now considering the idea of becoming net zero in emissions.

Over 140 countries, including India, have set their net-zero targets. These targets cover around 88 percent of global GHG emissions. The number of companies with net zero targets has also increased in the last few years. The biggest market leaders like TCS, Wipro, Infosys, etc, have their net zero targets and are working to achieve the same. 

It is not possible to completely remove these gases as they are emitted through industrial and human activities, which cannot be stopped. But, companies can try to reduce emissions or balance them. 

As per a PwC survey, around 50% of Indian businesses (that were surveyed) committed to achieving the net zero emissions target in order to address the climate change issues and help India make a transition to a low-carbon economy. India aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2070, which may be challenging but not impossible. 

Let us try to break things down and understand how soon we can expect India to achieve its net zero emissions target:

How feasible is it for India?

There are a few factors that are making it a challenge to achieve the target of net zero emissions by 2070, which include a growing carbon footprint, usage of coal, climate change, etc. In this scenario, transitioning from non-renewable energy to renewable energy sources can be very helpful. Utilizing renewable energy sources can help reduce carbon emissions.

There are various aspects of net zero targets of IT companies in India. These aspects include:

1. Target Boundaries: The target boundary refers to whether a company is addressing the major emission sources in its value chain. Some companies set net zero emission targets that only cover activities in specific locations. Other companies may set targets that only cover specific products or services in their value chains.
2. Timeframe: This is another aspect of determining a company’s net-zero targets. It is about specifying a target year by which a particular company is expected to achieve its net zero emissions target. It is different from the GHG emission reduction targets, which specify a base year and a target year.
3. Mitigation Strategy: There are three common mitigation strategies that can be considered for determining net zero emissions for IT companies. These 3 strategies include abatement, compensation, and neutralization. Abatement refers to preventing the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Compensation refers to directly investing in emission reduction activities. Neutralization refers to removing and permanently storing atmospheric carbon.

India is the most populous country in the world, and it is a country with growing industrialization. Hence, reducing GHG emissions comes as a big challenge in front of the country. 

However, with a strategic approach and proper usage of advanced technologies, India might be able to achieve its net zero emissions target by the year 2070. The strategic approach here means proper government policies, involvement of the community, and cooperation from industries & businesses.

How Technology Can Be Used to Achieve The Target?

Companies can utilize technologies to achieve the net zero emissions target in several ways, some of which are listed below:

• Integrating Renewable Energy: India is rich in solar and wind energy due to its vast geography and seasonal patterns. Companies can switch to renewable energy sources, such as wind turbines and photovoltaic (PV) panels. Apart from this, they can adopt innovative energy storage technologies like lithium-ion batteries and solid-state batteries.
• Advanced Battery Management System (BMS): Another aspect where technology can play a significant role is energy conservation. Advanced battery management systems can be used to control and monitor building services such as lighting, heating, and ventilation. These systems help optimize energy usage, ensuring minimal wastage.
• Digital Transformation: Various companies have already made a digital transformation. Companies can significantly reduce their carbon footprint by migrating to the cloud.

How AI can help in Attaining It?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not just restricted to automating tasks and creating chatbots. It can do much more than that. AI can also help attain the net zero emissions target in India. Here’s how:

• Energy companies can use AI tools to predict energy demand, properly manage renewable energy sources and reduce unnecessary waste.
• Government can use AI for smart urban planning to reduce energy consumption.
• In the transport sector, AI can be used to optimize routes, which can further help reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

How soon we can expect net zero emissions for Indian IT Companies?

Considering the climate change and increasing carbon footprint, it has become a necessity for India to attain net zero emissions in the coming decades. It seems challenging due to the enormous population of the country and the number of companies running in India. However, if all the companies decide to contribute to a sustainable environment by reducing GHG emissions, we can expect that India will be able to achieve its target of net zero emissions by 2070.