Energy is a crucial factor influencing the socio-economic development of any country. India is not only characterised by the pressures of a growing economy but also by an increasing population, placing energy security at the very core of the development process. The demand and supply imbalance in energy, pervasive across all sources requires serious efforts by government and business alike, to augment energy supplies and improve access to adequate, affordable and clean sources of energy. Increasing oil import dependency and huge investment needs for energy market development pose further challenges.
As the Trends in Global CO2 Emissions: 2013 Report indicates, India’s CO2 emissions continue to rise from the 2012 levels of about 2 billion tonnes, making it the fourth largest CO2 emitting country globally. It thus becomes imperative to explore alternate sources that not only mitigate climate change but also promote energy security and economic development in a sustainable manner. The nexus between energy and sustainable development is the cover theme of this issue of ISBInsight. While individually the articles examine various facets such as: the evolution of renewable energy policy and practice; measures and policy proposals to strengthen energy financing and infrastructure; and the potential of behavioural interventions to encourage energy efficiency, together they coalesce into a scholarly framework that affirms the significance of ‘Making Renewable Sustainable’.
Our Features section carries a selection of scholarly articles. Professor Raveendra Chittoor and Bibhu Prasad Kar scrutinise India’s largest transnational companies and present insights from the third annual survey based on the Transnationality Index (TNI). Professor Karan Bhanot offers an innovative approach for social entrepreneurs to provide welfare services. Other articles include a study on the growing relevance of corporate venture capital in India and China and an evaluation of the need for businesses to invest in detailed costing systems that capture various types of hidden costs.
