4.1 Principles
The Indian National Green Party Energy Policy is based on these premises:
a) the price of energy should fairly incorporate the full social, health and environmental costs of production and use;
b) there is a finite limit to non-renewable resources available for energy production;
c) the most commonly used methods of energy production have serious, deleterious effects upon the planet, most notably air pollution and contribution to greenhouse gases;
d) energy problems will not be solved by additional conventional power generation capacity;
e) transition to ecologically sustainable energy systems will be achieved through long term planning, research and development, demand management, increased energy efficiency and conservation, and greater reliance on renewable sources of energy;
f) given the environmental impact of large scale dams for hydro-electric schemes, and the high costs and risks to the environment and human health associated with nuclear energy, we do not consider that these systems form a viable long-term basis for putting the energy sector on an ecologically sustainable footing; and
g) achieving sustainability in the use and production of energy will have ramifications for every sector of the economy.
4.2 Goals
The Indian National Green Party aim to:
a) take a lead role internationally in promoting policies to reduce the impact of climate change due to the enhanced greenhouse effect;
b) assist other countries to develop and meet greenhouse gas emission targets through technology transfer and other forms of assistance;
c) apply integrated resource planning principles to the provision of all non-transport energy services. This is a systematic way of providing energy services to society at least cost;
d) provide for participation by local communities in planning and implementing strategies to provide energy services sustainably;
e) exercise restraint in use of non-renewable fossil fuel reserves in order to leave adequate supplies for future generations;
f) reduce dependence on fossil fuels by
l supporting the phase-out of coal and oil-fired power stations and the development of renewable alternatives;
l decreasing reliance on private motor transport; and
l increasing energy efficiency;
g) address regional equity impacts of making the transition to ecologically sustainable forms of energy production and use, through long term planning and specific development programme for affected regions. Some regions which are currently heavily dependent on the extraction of fossil fuel and the development and maintenance of power generation facilities which use fossil fuel will suffer employment loss in the transition;
h) establish strong national regulation over energy production, distribution and supply to ensure that integrated resource planning is implemented, to control economic, social and environmental impacts in the public interest and to ensure full community consultation;
i) provide incentives to encourage consumers to promote alternative energy technologies;
j) introduce a comprehensive carbon levy; revenue from this levy is to be used to fund public transport as well as the development of alternative energy techniques such as solar thermal power, photo-voltaics and wind power; there will also be compensation for any regressive impact of this levy on low income earners.
4.3 Short Term Targets
The Indian National Green Party will work to:
a) introduce a carbon levy;
b) use all available mechanisms to optimise electricity generation, distribution and supply infrastructure;
c) introduce tight enforceable regulation of the electricity supply industry to protect the public interest and the environment;
d) reduce emissions of Carbon Dioxide and other greenhouse gases and adopt clear national, regional and local energy policies to enable this target to be reached;
e) support an international protocol that makes these targets binding for all industrialised countries;
f) introduce national legislation to give effect to climate change controls;
g) establish a Sustainable Energy Authority to coordinate and oversee programme for research, development and adoption of energy efficiency and renewable energy in India;
h) adopt mandatory energy labelling, and mandatory minimum energy performance standards for all commercial and domestic appliances, equipment and buildings;
i) oppose any new coal-fired power stations and large-scale hydro-electric dams;
j) provide information and low-interest loan programmes to encourage rural residents to choose renewable energy systems for domestic and farm power supplies;.