Karnataka’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Projected to Surpass 400 MT by 2050: Report

Swift Summary

• Karnataka’s greenhouse gas emissions could exceed 400 million tonnes (MT) by 2050 under a business-as-usual scenario, according to a report by research organization CSTEP.
• The report, titled “Namma SAFARI: Low-Carbon Progress pathways for Karnataka,” identifies strategies to cut emissions down to ~50 MT using electrification, renewable energy, and demand-side interventions.
• Namma SAFARI uses an integrated system dynamics model considering six sectors: energy, transport, industry, buildings, agriculture, and land use.
• Key projections include Karnataka’s population surpassing 75 million and its gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) rising to ₹128 lakh crore (at 2011 prices) by 2050.
• Buildings sector electricity demand may comprise up to 40% of total consumption but can be reduced thru passive cooling methods, green construction practices, rooftop solar solutions, and enforcing energy codes like ECBC and ENS.
• Industry remains the largest contributor to electricity demand and emissions; introducing mandates for green cement/steel in public projects could boost low-carbon production investments.
• agriculture’s electricity usage (~30%) could drop significantly in a low-carbon scenario due to off-grid solar irrigation systems paired with scaled-up minimum support price coverage for certain crops like millets and pulses.
• Transport sector reforms suggest shifting freight transportation (33%) towards rail by 2030 and also doubling electrification efforts; EV growth and improved logistics are emphasized.

Indian Opinion Analysis
the findings from CSTEP’s “Namma SAFARI” report offer an incisive look at how proactive measures can bring transformative environmental benefits while shaping Karnataka’s long-term economic trajectory.By focusing on six pivotal sectors that contribute heavily to greenhouse gas emissions-energy through industry use being the most significant-the proposed pathways reflect practical approaches rooted in evidence-based planning rather than speculative shifts.Electrification remains central across industries such as transport or agriculture but necessitates complementary policies-for instance-adopting robust incentives for EV expansion alongside prioritizing rail freight logistics addresses both urban congestion +environmental drawbacks concerning locomotion-dependency!