While Indian industry aims for growth and expansion in the coming fiscal, an UN body has called upon the captains of the industry to carry out an assessment of possible adverse impact of climate change.
“A large number industrial units in India are located at the coastal areas, any rise in sea level would definitely impact these units,” Dmitri Piskounov, managing director, programme development and technical cooperation, United Nations Industrial Develoment Organisation (UNIDO) told FE. Piskounov said that no independent assessment study has been conducted in India or other countries.
Piskounov pointed out that industrially advanced states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu have large number of industries located at the coastal belts. Even states like Orissa, West Bengal and Goa have been attracting large number of investments due to their proximity to sea or availability of ports. “Sea level rise, flooding and extreme weather conditions make industrial units located at the coastal belt vulnerable,” he said.
He said that industries such as agro processing, fisheries, and tourism are going to be most affected by any change in the climate. The other focus areas of UNIDO would be in bringing in technology for optimum industrial use of water, recycling and cooling.
“Since the availability of water would be scarce or erratic, industry needs to be more water efficient,” Piskounov said. He said, as temperature rises, Indian industry needs to maintain the workplaces and equipment, which implies that industry needs more energy and water.
UNIDO will be entering into a formal agreement with department of industrial policy and promotion (DPIP) under the ministry of commerce for a $32 million programme during 2007-2017 would mainly focusing on transfer of green technology to SMEs. The UN body has been supporting the small and medium industries in the country since 1967and has already made assistance to SMEs to the tune of $ 112 million.