Why does biopiracy pose such a serious threat to the conventional knowledge that still exists in the poor world? What actions has the Indian government done to safeguard the country’s traditional knowledge base? (Answer in 150 words)
Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) are market-based instruments that represent the environmental attributes of renewable energy generation. They are a mechanism to promote and facilitate renewable energy development, especially in countries like India where clean energy adoption is critical for suRead more
Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) are market-based instruments that represent the environmental attributes of renewable energy generation. They are a mechanism to promote and facilitate renewable energy development, especially in countries like India where clean energy adoption is critical for sustainable growth.
How RECs Work:
1. Dual Attributes: RECs have two components—electricity and environmental benefits. When renewable energy is generated, the electricity is sold separately, and the environmental benefit (or the renewable attribute) is represented by the REC.
2. Tradability: RECs can be traded in the market. They are bought by entities that need to meet renewable energy obligations but may not have the capacity to generate renewable energy themselves.
Significance of RECs in India:
1. Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPOs): In India, certain entities like power distribution companies, open access consumers, and captive power producers are required to meet a part of their energy needs from renewable sources. RECs help them fulfill this obligation by purchasing the certificates instead of directly generating or purchasing renewable energy.
2. Promotion of Clean Energy: RECs incentivize renewable energy producers by providing them an additional revenue stream, encouraging further investments in the sector.
3. Flexibility: RECs offer flexibility to obligated entities to meet their RPOs without the need to directly engage in setting up renewable energy plants, thereby reducing the logistical and operational challenges.
4. Market Development: The REC mechanism has helped in developing a market for renewable energy trading in India. It has also promoted transparency and standardization in how clean energy is accounted for.
5. Environmental Impact: By monetizing the environmental benefits of renewable energy, RECs contribute to India’s broader goal of reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable development.
Overall, RECs play a crucial role in India’s energy transition strategy, aligning with the country’s objectives to increase renewable energy capacity and achieve its climate goals.
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Biopiracy refers to a situation where traditional knowledge is used by others for profit, without permission from and with little or no compensation or recognition to the indigenous people. Traditional knowledge is a vast treasure of knowledge susceptible to misappropriation because of its immense pRead more
Biopiracy refers to a situation where traditional knowledge is used by others for profit, without permission from and with little or no compensation or recognition to the indigenous people. Traditional knowledge is a vast treasure of knowledge susceptible to misappropriation because of its immense potential.
Biopiracy is detrimental for the existing traditional knowledge of the developing world in the following ways:
Some of the examples of misappropriation of existing traditional knowledge of the developing world include patents filed for the use of turmeric in wound healing, fungicidal effect of neem, ‘texmati’ rice, kava grown in the Pacific, quinoa from the Andes, hoodia from Africa, etc. Thus, it is imperative for the governments in the developing countries to take adequate measures in this regard.
The steps taken by the government of India for protecting the existing traditional Indian knowledge include:
Traditional knowledge-based innovations are critical for developing countries like India, not only for the development of indigenous population but also for the country’s economic development. Though the Indian legislations, together with the TKDL, are significant and laudable advances towards the protection of traditional knowledge and the prevention of biopiracy, an enforceable international regime for the acknowledgment and protection of traditional knowledge is still needed.
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