The expert group on low carbon growth strategy formed by the planning commission will submit its report in the first week of March. Kirit Parikh, the head of the expert group, said that the report will be submitted to the plan panel first and then released by Jairam Ramesh, environment and forests minister, and Montek Singh Ahluwalia, the deputy chairman of the planning commission.

“This report is not looking at the cost of a low carbon growth strategy,” he said speaking at a conference on low carbon economy in New Delhi on Wednesday. He said that the purpose of this report was to understand the barriers and policies needed for a low carbon growth.

Parikh said that the report looks at four broad areas, increasing electrical energy efficiency being the first. It also looks at the changing supply mix of electricity with renewable, nuclear and hydel adding to the mix. How to Increase efficiency of thermal energy is also a part of the report.

Alternate options for energy consumption available in industries like steel and cement and options available in the transport sector also form sections of the report to be released. Parikh said that the number of people using motorised transport in the country is increasing tremendously.

There is a need to be careful before declaring something energy efficient, Parikh said, “As business has a way of getting around regulations,” he added. He added that while it was necessary to promote renewables in the country but it was also necessary to factor in the concerns of the consumers.

He said that the cost analysis of low carbon growth and the steps to be taken in the direction of a low-carbon growth strategy will be a part of the next report to be released by the group.

This group was constituted last year to conform to the country's commitment to transform into a "low carbon" economy. India had announced voluntary targets to reduce the emissions intensity of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 20-25 per cent.

The recommendations made by the group are to be included in the 12th five-year plan. The commission had directed the group to present a final report by end-September 2010.