I would like to specially thank my daughters Arundhati and Ekansha for their endurance and care throughout the duration of the research work. The aim of the thesis is to study and understand the relationship between the laws of thermodynamics and the development process.
L IST OF PUBLICATIONS
Skill and knowledge development – training workshop on transboundary river Brahmaputra, 13-14 June, 2017, SaciWATERs & C-NES, Guwahati, Assam. National Workshop on Gender Budgeting in Rural Development, 25-27, February, 2015, National Institute of Rural Development, NERC, Guwahati.
A CRONYMS AND A BBREVIATIONS
Setting the Research Context
- Climate Change as a Challenge to Sustainable Development
- Biophysical Limits and Development – Are We Overshooting?
- Development Process: Resource Depletion and Sink Assimilation Challenges
- Entropy Law and Climate Change
- Urbanization: A Case of Development Process
- Sustainable Development and Sustainable City
NGR's theories center around the application of the law of entropy, known as the second law of thermodynamics, in economic processes. As discussed in the previous section, there is sufficient evidence to say that anthropogenic activities are the main drivers of climate change, which poses the greatest threat to sustainable development.
Finding the Research Gaps
Although urbanization is considered one of the main drivers of climate change, it also holds the key to sustainable development. With a set of economic activities in a development process (Urbanization case) and the most energy-intensive sectors that are the main drivers of climate change, such as the energy sector, building sector and AFOLU8, the thesis offers a new dimension of the analysis of the development process and sustainable development from the entropic lens.
Research Questions
Expected Outcomes
Layout of the Thesis
Chapter 1 deals with setting the research context based on literature review, dwelling upon mainly the development vs climate change dilemma, finding the research gaps and framing
This Chapter deals with entropy and the economic process focusing on the works of NGR, and carrying the propositions laid by him towards linking development with the Second
This Chapter covers the overall methodology of the research study. The Chapter dwells briefly upon the complexity of choosing the right methodology for the transdisciplinary
This Chapter briefly sums up the research and dwells upon the answers to the research questions, lists briefly the policy implications and the new contribution of the study in
- Introduction
- An Enquiry into the Origins of Thermodynamics – Economics Linkage
- Mechanistic vs Thermodynamic Epistemology in Economic Thought
- NCE Growth Models & Production Function- The Thermodynamic View Point
- Entropy and Economic Process: Summing up the Conceptual Framework
- Thermodynamics in Real World Economics- Adopting Systems Approach
- Laws of Thermodynamics
- Entropy Change of a System and Surrounding
- Interactions of the Economic Sub System as part of the Whole Earth system
- Conclusion
- Brief Discussion of methodologies used in 45 Years of Research on NGR
- Sollner/ Baumgartner Classification System
- Literature Review
- Case Study Methodology
- Why City Case Study?
- The City Case Study Methodology
- Research Methods
- Efficiency
- Methods for Estimation of CO 2 Emission
- Methods for Estimation of Entropy generation
- Entropic Indicators
- The Case Study Process Flow
- Introduction
- NGR’s Energy and Economic Myths: From Earth System to Development Process The Chapter 2 was primarily based on the theories of NGR (1971) that he propounded in his
The best representation of the economic process is the systems perspective which is non-linear and irreversible. However, in this study, the ambient temperature is taken to be 298K (which is normally considered room temperature). In the following paragraphs, a brief overview of the case study methods is provided.
Identify the nature of the link (directly proportional or inversely proportional?) 3.6.2.2 How is development measured in the case study. The population growth of the city as a time series was taken as one of the independent parameters in the study.
Living organisms, including humans (as Homo sapiens), within the earth system can grow and multiply sustainably (as long as the earth system itself survives) harvesting the solar
However, any energy received by Earth must be thrown back into space or the system will be damaged. However, all energy received by Earth must be thrown back into space, otherwise the system will become hot or cold. The mass can only be transformed from one form to another, including forms of energy and waste (a form of transformation from one form to another, including forms of energy and waste (a form of material that is not involved in any particular process can be used and level of technology).
Humans (as Homo economicus) can grow economically only till such time that resources within the earth system continue to flow in the economic process without getting
He says, “Since the law of entropy allows no way to cool a continuously heated planet, thermal pollution may prove a more important obstacle to growth than the finiteness of accessible resources” (NGR, 1975, p.358). Unless mass is converted into energy using the E=MC2 principle, the total mass after a process would remain the same as before the process.
Humans (as Homo economicus) need to look for new processes that are low in entropy by virtue of operating as close to normal temperatures and pressures 51 (say bio & nano
- The Economic Growth and Development Paradox: Need for Degrowth
- Endosomatic – Exosomatic Instruments and Technological Paradox
- NGR's Sustainable Development Snake Oil Revisited
- Economy, Energy, Environment: The Climate Stability Challenge
- The Entropic Framework of Sustainable Development: From Snake Oil to Sustainability
- Why Urbanization as a Case? The Energy Use Paradox
- Urbanisation and Sustainable Development: The Problem or the Solution?
- Conclusion
- Introduction
- Topography of Guwahati
- The Forests of Guwahati
- Wetlands of Guwahati
- Agriculture in Guwahati
- Guwahati City Population and Built Up Growth
- Guwahati City Population Growth
- Guwahati City Built Up Growth (1911-2015)
- Why Guwahati City?
- What is being measured?
- Data Sources
- Analytical Methods
- Sector Specific Methods
- Classification of Economic Activities
- Systems Boundary
- Direct and Indirect Emissions from Economic Activities and Processes
- CO 2 Emission Estimation Methodology
- Summary of Factors of Emission
- GUWAHATI CITY CASE STUDY – SECTORAL PRESENTATION
- ENERGY SECTOR: Guwahati City Electricity Consumption Case Study
In the AFOLU sector, the focus was on carbon emissions in forestry (land use change for settlements), agricultural arable land (rice) and wetlands in the city. A detailed description of the various data sources is provided in the relevant case study discussion. Details of ISIC codes are given in Appendix-1 for the activities covered in the case study.
CO2 emissions and entropy generation, process-wise, for each of the activities were considered individually in the study. CO2 emission = Fuel consumption • Net fuel value of fuel • Emission factor (5.4) The above equation will depend on the fuel consumption units.
E INPUT = E OUTPUT
To arrive at the feasible estimates of coal, a primary input of low-entropy resources and CO2 emission and entropy generation throughout the power plant, system efficiencies at different stages are needed.
E DTR = E HH
What If Analysis of Power Consumption
Two variables, namely the efficiency (of the electricity generation, distribution and consumption network), denoted by the symbol η, and the power per capita denoted by W82, were used to perform a scenario analysis of future consumption paths of Guwahati city power. Then, the % replacement of thermal energy with renewable energy (green energy) was considered in steps of 10% (means 70% Thermal Power), 20% (means 60% Thermal Power) and 30% (will ie 50% Thermal power) replacement. However, there may be high level of costs associated with increasing efficiency, reducing energy consumption per capita and replacing with green energy.
Results & Analysis
What If Scenario Projection (2001-2025)
Chart 5.3B shows that a 30 W power reduction is as good as a whole system efficiency investment right at the start of the scenario year, while Chart 5.3C shows that a 50 W reduction is a good enough measure by 2025-26. compared to the increase in efficiency. The percentage reduction in resource use and emissions for the substitution path of green energy (without affecting W or η values) compared to BAU is given in table no. , taking the CO2 BAU emission value of 2015-2016 as the baseline, the corresponding emission level (in %) in 2025 based on the baseline value was calculated for each of the scenario paths, the same is given in Table no.
Key Findings, Analysis and Discussion
Most spectacularly, Guwahati's per capita wealth in 2001-2002 was 23 W, while that of the state was only 14 W. The remainder of energy consumption was believed to be attributed to increased energy demand due to changing lifestyles. Guwahati ranks 12th in terms of power per capita with a value of 95 W, while it is the lowest in terms of total electricity consumption among the 15 cities compared.
Conclusion
Similarly, the energy per sq km for 2001-02 was taken as the base energy required for construction. Similarly, an associated increase in energy demand due to the increase in built-up area is also taken into account. It can be seen from the graph that population-related consumption growth is lower than that of built-up consumption (more buildings, more energy!), and that both are overshadowed by lifestyle-related consumption, which may indicate a larger number of electrical devices. appliances and air conditioners in use.
Limitations of the Study The limitations of the study are
However, the current increase in electricity consumption depends on changing lifestyles, which are becoming more and more energy intensive. The study also finds that increasing the efficiency of electricity production, transmission, distribution and consumption has a greater impact on reducing carbon emissions and generating entropy than if watts per capita were reduced. However, in the context of Guwahati city, it is seen that a per capita reduction of 30W-50W in electricity consumption has the same impact as increasing the efficiency of the electricity generation, transmission and distribution system.
Fossil Fuel Use in Guwahati City
- Key Questions
- Methodology
- Data Sources
- Conclusion
- Limitations of the Study
The annual registration of vehicles was obtained from the website of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Govt. The data on kerosene was obtained from the portal of the Food & Civil Supplies Department, Govt. The total annual CO2 emission from fossil fuels is on average in the order of 0.864 Mt CO2 per year.
Guwahati City Building Sector Case Study
- Key Questions
- Data Sources
- Methodology
- Key Findings, Analysis and Discussion
- Conclusion
- Limitations of the Study
For each of the above-mentioned materials, CO2 emissions and entropy generation are considered in the following paragraphs. Based on the values per m2 of entropy generation, CO2 emission and energy use, the parameter values were calculated according to the level of the year. Average emission factors for SQ M: The average emission values from 2007 to 2015 were worked out for CO2, direct and indirect energy, direct and indirect entropy generation, which was then divided by the average floor area in m2 to get the values per m2.
GUWAHATI CITY AFOLU CASE STUDY 83
- Objective of Study and Research Questions
- Key Questions
- Methodology
- Results, Analysis and Discussion
The study is confined to the administrative boundary of the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority, and the ecosystem of hills and forests existing within these boundaries. The secondary data used in the study was obtained from the concerned departments of the Government of Assam. Status of Wetlands in Guwahati City Wetlands of Guwahati city were classified into three categories namely:-.
A. The chart shows that the loss of wetlands have been very high since 2010
- Conclusion
- Limitations of the Study The study has the following limitations
The total AFOLU emissions, so arrived at, together with per capita emissions are given in Table No. To understand individual contributions of the various components of the study, component-wise emissions along with per capita emissions were also calculated based on the Eq. Nee Yadav R and Barua A (2016) in the study on carbon footprint of Guwahati city assumed an average of 1.80 tCO2 per capita emission within the city for 2015.
Combined CO 2 Emission and Entropy Footprint of Guwahati City
- Summary of Entropy Generation and CO 2 Emissions for Sectors Studied
- Average Values of Entropy and CO 2 Emission from Energy Sources (2010-2015) Taking a common dataset of 6 (six) years from 2010-11 to 2015-16, the total energy intake,
- Per Capita Emission and Entropy Values from all sources studied for 2015
- Share of Energy, Entropy & CO 2 Emissions in the Sectors Studied
- House Hold (Building) Energy Usage
- Trends for Guwahati City
- Case Study Conclusions
The total emissions and entropy generation can be summarized in the total entropy value per capita of 189 MJK-1 for the year 2015. Ignoring AFOLU, the share of the other three sectors to the total energy consumed and emissions in the city is given in table no. . In the case of the Guwahati city case study in which energy use (direct and indirect) as well as CO2 emission and subsequent entropy generation were studied in 4 sectors, it was found that per capita.
Concluding Discussion
- Development Paradox and Re-emergence of NGR
- The Case Study and Its Significance
While there is no objection to the application of the laws of thermodynamics to economic processes, and whatever criticisms there have been, with the exception of the 4th Law of Thermodynamics by NGR, in the past now seem to have subsided. Sectoral findings are provided in chapter 5 at the end of each of the sector studies. The policy implications arising from the case study are discussed in section 6.2 of this Chapter.
The Case Study: Sectoral Policy Implications
- Summarizing the Research and Policy Implications
However, land use coverage in the city should be regularly monitored and violators should be severely penalized. This implies that the sum of the earth's energy budget must always be zero. NASA studies are already showing that the earth has developed a tendency to retain some heat (0.6 Wm-2).
Achievements and Significance of the Research
Inventories of climate change protocols are also at the global/national level, making it difficult to incorporate climate change-related action plans based on measurements at the local level. Sector regulations and policies need to be reassessed to incorporate the entropy perspective as mentioned above.
Limitations
Further Research
There are very few real studies of entropy and urbanization, as well as entropy and the development process. More case studies of finite world systems such as cities should be examined to better understand the relationship. One of the main contributions of the study is that it advances the work of NGR (1971) by moving from the economic process to the developmental process and sustainable development.
APPENDICES
Difference Between Newtonian and Thermodynamic Systems
