The crucial international event, the United Nations Climate Ambition Summit (CAS), was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on 20th September 2023. The objective of this summit was to expedite climate action preceding the 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) under the banner of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Unfortunately, major carbon emitters, China, the US, and India, responsible for approximately 42% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions, were absent.
The Climate Ambition Summit: An Overview
Renowned as a significant global event, CAS aims to address the critical issue of climate change. It invites leaders from different sectors showcasing policies, actions, plans, and not just commitments, to speed up the decarbonization of the global economy and ensure climate justice. The Paris Agreement’s central objective, maintaining the 1.5°C temperature limit, is also CAS’s main target, aiming to prevent severe climate consequences by capping global warming at 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Participation and Highlights of the Summit
The summit saw participation from 34 states and seven institutions, including neighbouring countries of India like Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Pakistan, and emerging economies like South Africa and Brazil. Countries had to present updated pre-2030 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), net-zero targets, and energy transition plans. Commitments to halt new coal, oil, and gas projects, fossil fuel phase-out plans, and ambitious renewable energy targets were sought.
Several countries announced their updated climate goals. Brazil pledged to restore its original 2015 goals, highlighting the need for a fossil fuel transition. Nepal aimed for Net Zero emissions by 2045, Thailand by 2050, and Portugal set a carbon-neutral goal for 2045.
Paris Climate Accord
The Paris Climate accord is a legally binding international treaty on climate change, adopted by 196 countries at COP 21 in Paris in December 2015. The main goal of this treaty is to limit global warming below 2° Celsius and ideally to 1.5° Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels.
India’s Climate Commitments
As a signatory to the Paris Agreement, India updated its climate pledges in 2022. It now aims to reduce emissions intensity by 45% from 2005 levels by 2030, a 10% increase from its prior commitment in 2016. By 2030, India also targets to produce 50% of its energy need through non-fossil fuels. It aims to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2-equivalent by 2030.
Achieving Net-Zero Emissions
India has pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070. This commitment is a significant part of India’s NDCs, reaffirming its commitment to the Paris Agreement in August 2022 by submitting an updated NDC to the UNFCCC.
Significance of International Climate Summits
Climate Summits play a crucial role in advancing global climate action and cooperation. They are platforms where countries can uphold their commitments, learn from each other’s experiences, and collectively make decisions to affect global climate change positively. Given the urgent need to address the climate crisis, participation in such summits by major emitters like India is vital for global climate governance.