Tax and Pandemic; Curbing Carbon Burden of India’s Blue Sky

Abstract

Out line: Carbon dioxide is one of major signatures of Anthropocene. Energy sector contribute maximum to CO2 emission. Reaching 1.4billion population, India must strides to provide affordable, riskless, secure, uninterrupted and cleaner energy with energy security prioritized. The CO2 emission in India was 2201.865 MT CO2 e in 2019 matched to 2172.19 MT CO2e in the previous year. The apocalyptic pandemic of COVID19 have shut down the cities and forced people to migrate to native places as a result the carbon dioxide level has reduced in the sky. Methodology: After carbon tax implementation from 2010 and post Paris Agreement surge in Carbon tax in India’s climate from 2015 there was slow decline of CO2 level in the ever rising global grey sky. The carbon tax had raised faster rate but its effect was slow. Lockdowns, closures and confinement during the pandemic COVID-19 from March 2020 in India is the real-life experience explaining the additive control of carbon level of polluted air along with the burden of carbon tax globally including India. Discussion: The socio-economic impact of shutdowns of all industrial units, power generation and transport sectors along with immediate migration of all workers to their native place have dropped carbon level in air and initialized the concept of blue sky thinking. The present apocalyptic complex pandemic without vaccine has forced the government machinery to be utilized for life, neglecting livelihood. Presently after 4 stages of lock downs, the uplift of restrictions in 5th stage is allowed for lively hood and socio-economic sustenance. Conclusion: As post pandemic measures under economic bankruptcy, the Indian government should initiate strategic plans to restore the socio-economic normalcy and relax the heavy carbon tax on Indians as the carbon level is reduced as a major impact of COVID-19 during 2020.