The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in conjunction with leading research institutions recently released the 2021 Production Gap Report. This report was initially launched in 2019 and it is designed to track the disparity between the planned fossil fuel production by various governments and global production levels that align with limiting global warming to either 1.5°C or 2°C. UNEP also has other major reports, including the Emission Gap Report, Adaptation Gap Report, Global Environment Outlook and Making Peace with Nature.
Findings of the Report
The report revealed a growing production gap, which will be vital to achieve climate goals. It showed that current production plans and projections by various governments would lead to approximately 240% more coal, 57% more oil, and 71% more gas in 2030 than levels that are aligned with a maximum global warming limit of 1.5°C. A cause for concern is that almost all significant producers of coal, oil, and gas have plans to elevate their production until at least 2030 and beyond.
Impact of COVID-19 on the Production Gap
The production gap has been worsened by the capital flow towards fossil fuels in the recovery phase following the COVID-19 outbreak. The Group of 20 countries (G20) has directed $300 billion towards fossil fuels since the start of the pandemic. This sector is still benefiting from substantial fiscal incentives.
India’s Position and Plans
In 2016, India issued its first Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) which committed to a 33%-35% decrease in “emission intensity” of its economy by 2030 compared to levels recorded in 2005. There is an expressed intention from the Indian government to increase coal production and become self-reliant by 2023-24. The plan is to increase coal production from 730 million tonnes in 2019 to 1,149 million tonnes by 2024. Similarly, India aims to boost total oil and gas production by over 40% during the same period.
Recommendations from the Report
The report encourages development finance institutions to reduce international support for fossil fuel production. But these measures need reinforcement through the implementation of robust and ambitious fossil fuel exclusion policies. It calls for fossil-fuel-producing countries to acknowledge their role and responsibility in closing the production gap and steering the world towards a safer climate future.
India’s Response to Fossil Fuel Emissions
The Indian government has already initiated measures to reduce fossil fuel emissions. The India Greenhouse Gas Program, an industry-led voluntary structure, was created to measure and manage greenhouse gas emissions. The National Action Plan on Climate Change was also launched in 2008 to raise awareness about climate change threats and ways to counter them. India has shifted from Bharat Stage-IV (BS-IV) to stricter Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) emission norms as a part of its efforts to curb emissions. Lastly, India is also promoting renewable energy as a step towards achieving a more sustainable future.
Last Modified: February 13, 2024