Application of solar energy in South Asia: promoting intergenerational equity in climate law and policy

Abstract

The blackout which left over 600 million people without power in India have correctly highlighted the pitfalls of depending on a carbon centric energy source. In fact, the entire South Asia has been experiencing the social, economic, and environmental effects of fossil fuel dependence including energy crisis, dramatic fluctuations in oil price, polluted atmosphere and finally the documented consequences of climate change. The climate concern has propelled renewable energy technologies into the mainstream to a greater extent than ever before, due to their ability to provide an alternative energy path. This paper contends that climate change is not merely an environmental issue but a social and human right issue of equity between generations. This paper critically looks at how far the concept of intergenerational equity has been made part of international climate law and policy. This paper discusses how dissemination of solar energy has the potential to advance intergenerational equity and mitigate the climate change affects in South Asia.