In recent years, there has been a global focus on the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions due to their detrimental impact on climate change. For India, the year 2019 saw the slowest growth in CO2 emissions, marking an impressive milestone for the country in efforts towards environmental sustainability, according to an analysis published in ‘Carbon Brief’.
Slowest Growth of Carbon Dioxide Emissions Since 2001
‘Carbon Brief’s’ report unveiled that the rate of increase in CO2 emissions for 2019 stood at a mere 2%, remarkably lower than any other year since 2001. The International Energy Emissions Agency reported that in 2018, India’s per capita emissions were roughly 40% of the global average, contributing to 7% of the global carbon dioxide burden. Comparatively, the United States, recognized as one of the largest emitters globally, contributed 14%.
Factors Triggering the Slow Emission Growth
Several factors played into this slowed growth in emissions. First off, the economic slowdown in the country was a significant factor, with oil demand growth slowing to 2.6% in the initial eight months of 2019, compared to 4.6% in 2018 and an average of 5% over the preceding decade.
In addition, the use of petcoke, an oil refining byproduct, continued to plummet following an import ban enforced in 2018. Currently, the importation of petcoke is permitted only for cement, lime kiln, calcium carbide and gasification industries as a feedstock or for use in manufacturing processes. Furthermore, the demand for naphtha, a lighter fraction of refined crude oil used in the chemical industry, also recorded a decline, likely due to slower growth in petrochemicals.
The Shift in Power Generation
The slowdown in the expansion of coal-fired electricity generation, coupled with the surge in renewable power generation, has led to a decreased reliance on coal. Data from the first six months of 2019 shows wind, solar, and hydro sources meeting 70% of the increased electricity demand.
Implications of the Reduced Emission Growth
The reduced growth in CO2 emissions provides significant benefits for India, specifically in relation to its renewable energy targets. The targets included in India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) involve reducing the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35% by 2030 from 2005 levels, and achieving approximately 40% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030.
In addition, the slower growth in coal-based power generation yields considerable benefits for the country’s air quality efforts, given that virtually all coal-fired power plants in India lack the pollution controls necessary in nations such as China and the European Union.
| Fact | Data |
|---|---|
| India’s per capita emissions in 2018 compared to global average | 40% |
| Contribution to global carbon dioxide burden in 2018 | 7% |
| Oil demand growth slowed in the first eight months of 2019 | 2.6% |
| Goal to reduce emissions intensity of GDP by 2030 from 2005 levels | 33 to 35% |
| Target for non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030 | 40% |
