India's Coal PSUs Ramp Up Green Initiatives to Mark 30th Anniversary of UNCCD

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Coal and Lignite Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) in India have intensified their green initiatives. These efforts aim to balance the nation's rising energy demands with environmental preservation, focusing on land restoration and sustainability.

The Ministry of Coal has released a report titled 'Greening Initiative in Coal & Lignite PSUs,' which showcases the ambitious efforts of coal and lignite PSUs in transforming mined-out areas into thriving green spaces. The report highlights extensive afforestation and ecological restoration projects that have successfully converted barren territories into flourishing green areas.

Key achievements include the establishment of approximately 50,000 hectares of green cover in and around coal mining regions. This includes biological reclamation of around 29,592 hectares of de-coaled land, additional plantation within mine leaseholds covering about 12,673 hectares, and plantation outside mine leaseholds spanning 7,735 hectares. These initiatives are estimated to create a carbon sink potential of approximately 2.5 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year.

Why this matters: This initiative has significant implications for India's environmental sustainability and its ability to meet its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets. If successful, it could serve as a model for other countries to balance energy production with environmental preservation, contributing to a global reduction in carbon emissions.

The report emphasizes the significant role the coal sector can play in advancing land restoration and promoting environmental sustainability. It presents greening initiatives carried out in both closed and active coal mines, alongside a blueprint for a more sustainable and eco-friendly future. The data provided has undergone validation through Remote Sensing Studies and on-site ground-truthing surveys at selected locations.

Secretary of the Ministry of Coal, Shri Amrit Lal Meena, praised the efforts of the Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI) and the Sustainability & Just Transition Division of the Ministry of Coal for their comprehensive compilation of this report. He expressed his anticipation that the report would attract significant attention and encourage the adoption of innovative techniques such as seed ball plantation, drone-based seed casting, and Miyawaki plantation within coal mines by other entities.

The theme of World Environment Day 2024, 'Our Land. Our Future. We are GenerationRestoration,' highlights the importance of sustainable land management and the need to rehabilitate degraded lands. This initiative aligns with India's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target of achieving a carbon sink of 2.5 to 3.0 billion tonnes by 2030.

The report outlines a roadmap for future plantation initiatives planned until the fiscal year 2029-2030. These plans highlight advancements in effective land reclamation and the sustainable utilization of mining-degraded lands. The Ministry of Coal anticipates that this report will reinforce the commitment to land reclamation among coal PSUs and catalyze the establishment of sustainable green cover across coal mining projects.

This greening initiative is set to significantly contribute to the augmentation of India's green cover, aiding in the fulfillment of India's NDC target. The Ministry of Coal's report not only highlights the sector's dedication to environmental stewardship but also showcases the vital role of coal and lignite PSUs in advancing national and global sustainability goals.

Key Takeaways

• Indian coal and lignite PSUs have restored 50,000 hectares of land to green spaces.
• This initiative has created a carbon sink potential of 2.5 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year.
• The report highlights 29,592 hectares of biological reclamation and 20,408 hectares of plantation.
• This initiative aligns with India's NDC target of achieving a carbon sink of 2.5-3.0 billion tonnes by 2030.
• The Ministry of Coal aims to establish sustainable green cover across coal mining projects by 2029-2030.