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Can India wean itself off coal?

Phasing out a dependence on fossil fuels is one of the major challenges in reducing greenhouse gas emissions but India is the world’s third largest emitter of fossil fuels and still relies heavily on coal. Millions of jobs in India depend on coal and there are plans to open many more mines in the future.

India is starting to move towards alternative sources like solar and has set ambitious targets for renewable energy, but with predictions of the largest increase in energy demand of any other nation in the next two two decades, how quickly can it wean itself off coal? 

Rajini Vaidyanathan reports from the east Indian state of Odisha, formerly known as Orissa, and outlines the challenges that lie ahead.

"India cannot live without coal."

Photo: Workers help each other in lifting heavy loads of coal. Kamduni, West Bengal, India Credit: Getty Images

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4 minutes