Indian Journal for Net Zero 2070

African Indigenous Conservative Approach to Environmental Sustainability: Maintaining a Balance within the Blue Economy

2025-09-23T13:48:34+00:00

This paper ethically investigates into how to ensure a balance between wealth creation out of the ocean resources and at the same time maintaining a sustained environment through the introduction of the African indigenous conservative method. The problem of global warming as a result of climate change has, in recent times, shifted the global economic focus from wealth creation through unsustainable means to cleaner, healthier approaches that aim to protect the ecosystem, recognizing human survival’s dependence on it. One of the proposed clean means is the blue economy otherwise called the green economy, blue growth, ocean economy, and ocean sustainability, which is regarded as the sustainable use of ocean resources for wealth creation. However, amidst the optimism surrounding the blue economy, ethical considerations still becomes salient, as it remains imperative to ensure that the pursuit of wealth creation does not come at the expense of further environmental degradation, as that has often been the reality of wealth creation. Thus, through the use of a conceptual and critical analysis methodology, this paper at the end, we conclude that while the clean economy is considered a clean way of creating wealth, it could as well lead to further degradation if care is not taken due to the selfish nature of man and his anthropocentric consciousness, and it would be detrimental if further degradation is birthed through the blue economy. Hence, an ethical consideration is necessary and revered in order to further maintain a sustained environmental condition, of which the African conservative method of preserving the environment best addresses this concern.

Ecocentric Bias and the Human Welfare: Reintegrating Human Welfare into Environmental Conservation Discourse

2025-09-23T13:59:08+00:00

In recent times, the concept of ecocentrism has, to a large extent, influenced environmental ethics and conservation discourse by attributing intrinsic value to nature at the expense of human interests. However, while this framework has empowered several ecological approaches and enriched various forms of ecological consciousness, it has, by implication, produced what we identify as an ecocentric bias. By ecocentric bias, we refer to a conceptual imbalance that tends to isolate the human being from the environment, or rather, attempts to subordinate human welfare to environmental preservation, which we consider a problem. From this perspective, this paper critically engages with the imbalance in ecocentricism by arguing that the human person is not an external entity to the ecosystem, but an integral part of it. By extension, highlighting various lived realities of the people, including poverty, inequality, and survival-based environmental degradation, our paper contends that any environmental philosophy or conservation policy that does not consider or disregard human socio-economic conditions risks becoming ethically and practically biased. Through the methods of conceptual clarification and critical analysis, this paper interrogates the prevailing ecocentric paradigm, focusing on how it has marginalized human needs in conservation science. In doing so, our paper advocates for a mediatory framework that focuses on harmonizing environmental integrity with human flourishing, rather than placing them against each other. This paper concludes by arguing that sustainable environmental stewardship is only possible when both the human and ecological dimensions are held in balanced ethical regard, thereby providing a just and inclusive model for global conservation efforts.

A Critical Evaluation of Garrett Hardin’s ‘The Tragedy of the Common’

2025-09-23T14:17:23+00:00

The relationship between living and non-living beings within the ecosystem is crucial to their mutual survival. Plants, animals, humans, and even the land itself must accommodate one another to sustain the environment. Sustainability becomes threatened when individuals act solely in their own interest to the detriment of others. Garret Hardin’s The Tragedy of the Commons highlights the risk of unregulated use of shared resources by self-interested actors, predicting inevitable environmental ruin. This paper critically engages his thesis using comparative and critical analysis to assess both its validity and its applicability, particularly within the African context. It argues that Hardin overlooks the value of community-led cooperation and misrepresents the idea of the commons by confusing common property with open-access property. His call for government regulation, privatization, and under-consumption poses greater risks in societies already struggling with poverty and hunger. In places like Africa, under-consumption would bring severe hardship, not sustainability. In essence the idea of excessive governmental control, especially in fragile institutions, may worsen inequality and exploitation. However, in contrast, community-based collective action provides us with a more adaptive, humane, and effective approach to managing shared resources. This paper concludes that while Hardin raises important concerns, his proposed solutions are both simplistic and potentially harmful if applied uncritically to complex, diverse societies.

Frugal Climate Solutions for a Net Zero India: Integrating ESG, Innovation, and Inclusive Policies

2025-09-23T14:44:52+00:00

India wants to achieve net zero emissions by the year 2070. This is a major challenge. It is also a great chance to build a better future. Big projects and costly technologies are not the only way to reach this goal. This paper shows another path. It uses frugal innovation, which means doing more with less. It connects Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) ideas with local action. It highlights community-led solutions and low-cost technologies. Real examples from Indian villages are shared. These examples include solar power, waste reuse, and local planning. They help reduce pollution. They also create jobs and improve lives. The paper presents a model. It is called the Three-Pillar Frugal Climate Action Framework. It combines ESG principles, frugal solutions, and community participation. This model is simple and easy to follow. Other countries in the Global South can learn from this. They can use this approach to build a greener and fairer future. Climate action must be low-cost, people-centered, and easy to scale.

Energy Saving Measures Implemented in Auxiliary Motors in a Medium Scale Foundry - A Case Study

2025-09-23T14:51:45+00:00

Energy Efficiency Improvement in Auxiliary Motors in a medium scale foundry industry resulted energy savings in sand plant cooler and shot blast machine as below:
1. Sand Plant Cooler Motor
Existing Motor: 20 HP, Energy consumption = 11.6 kWh (hourly basis)
New Energy-Efficient Motor: 20 HP, Energy consumption = 10.0 kWh (hourly basis)
Daily Energy Savings for 20 hrs / day: 11.6 − 10.0 = 1.6 kWh x 20 = 32 kWh/day
Energy Savings Percentage: ≈ 14% through design modification and improved motor efficiency.
2. Shot Blast Machine – Impeller Motor
Existing Motor: 20 HP, Energy Consumption = 8.7 kWh
New Energy-Efficient Motor: 20 HP, Energy Consumption = 7.7 kWh.
Daily Energy Savings for 12 hr/ day : 8.7 − 7.7 = 1.0 kWh x 12 = 12 kWh/day
Energy Savings Percentage: ≈ 11.5% through design modification and improved motor efficiency.
The combined replacement of these two motors results in 44 kWh/day savings. Over 300 operating days per year, this translates to 13,200 kWh/year, reducing both operating costs and carbon footprint. CO2 reduction achieved per annum is 9.372 ton and its oil equivalent is 1.135 mtoe.

Energy Conservation in a Hospital Building through Energy Audit - A Case Study

2025-09-23T14:57:14+00:00

In the face of rising energy demands and environmental concerns, energy conservation has become a crucial imperative across all sectors. In particular, healthcare facilities such as hospitals are among the most energy-intensive building types due to their continuous operations, stringent indoor climate control, and reliance on advanced medical equipment. This study presents the findings of a detailed energy audit conducted at a a medium-sized tertiary-care hospital in a humid tropical region of southern India. The facility operates 24×7 and consumes energy at rates 2–3 times higher than standard commercial buildings. The audit involved systematic data collection, end-use energy monitoring, load profiling, and the identification of ten energy conservation measures (ECMs). The key contributors to energy consumption were found to be HVAC systems, lighting, and UPS equipment. The proposed ECMs including LED retrofitting, HVAC upgrades, solar integration, and operational changes were estimated to yield annual savings of approximately 4.48 million with a total investment of 8.92 million and a payback period of about 24 months. The study highlights the critical role of targeted audits in promoting energy efficiency in healthcare infrastructure and offers recommendations for sustainable operational improvements through both technical and behavioural interventions.