The 4th edition of the virtual Ministerial on Climate Action was recently held to further discussions on the implementation of the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The summit was co-chaired by representatives from the European Union, China, and Canada. Participants shared their strategies for aligning economic recovery plans amid the Covid-19 pandemic with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
India’s Stance and Expectations
India expressed its disappointment that developed countries have yet to fulfill their promises of extending financial and technological support to developing nations as outlined under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement. The country is hopeful that these pledges will be fulfilled in the remaining months of 2020, further strengthening climate actions in developing countries. Notably, developed countries had committed to providing USD 1 trillion by 2020.
India’s Initiatives to Combat Climate Change
India has launched numerous measures to fight climate change. Over 80 million LPG connections were provided under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) in rural areas, offering clean cooking fuel and a healthier environment. Additionally, more than 360 million LED bulbs were distributed under the UJALA scheme, resulting in energy savings of about 47 billion units of electricity per year and a reduction of 38 million tonnes of CO2 per year.
Further, India transitioned from Bharat Stage-IV (BS-IV) to Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) emission norms in April 2020, four years earlier than planned. The introduction of a coal cess also signaled one of the country’s most explicit green initiatives. The Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework 2019 was launched under the Smart Cities Mission, providing a clear roadmap for cities to combat climate change through both mitigation and adaptation measures.
India’s Progress in the Fight Against Climate Change
India has seen significant reductions in its emission intensity, achieving a 21% decrease in the emission intensity of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) between 2005 and 2014. This progress puts India on track to reach its voluntary target under its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) to cut the emission intensity of its GDP by 33-35% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels.
Over the past five years, India’s renewable energy installed capacity has grown by 226% and currently stands at more than 87 gigawatts (GW). Moreover, the share of non-fossil sources in installed electricity generation capacity has increased from 30.5% in March 2015 to 37.7% in May 2020. The country has set an ambitious target of raising its renewable energy capacity to 450 GW.
India has also expanded its total forest and tree cover to be 8,07,276 sq. km., or 24.56% of the total geographical area of the country. It is committed to enhancing its forest cover to absorb 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 by 2030.
The Paris Agreement – COP 21
The landmark Paris Climate Conference, also known as Conference of Parties (COP) 21, was adopted in 2015 to address climate change and its negative impacts. Its main goal is to decrease global greenhouse gas emissions, aiming to keep the global temperature increase this century well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and endeavor to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5°C.
Despite these goals, the USA has withdrawn from the agreement. One key component of the deal is a mechanism for addressing the financial losses vulnerable countries face from climate impacts such as extreme weather.
India’s Upcoming Challenges and Opportunities
Despite significant progress, India still has a long way to go in achieving its renewable power capacity target of 175 GW by 2022. The economic challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic have made the funding commitments from developed countries even more crucial. In moving forward, India, along with other nations, will need to continue pushing for these commitments while striving to meet their own climate targets.
Last Modified: February 8, 2024