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Climate Change: India’s Climate Change Goals

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Climate change has been one of the major concerns for all nations around the world. The last 15 years have seen a sharp increase in worldwide carbon measurements due to growing industrial activities and the use of automobiles. According to current statistics, carbon dioxide (CO2) measurement was 418 parts per million in January 2022, an increase of around 11% over the 378 parts per million recorded since 2007. This statistic has been rising steadily, with a compound average growth rate (CAGR) of around 0.73% from 2016 to 2021.

 

India, which has the second-largest population in the world (1.38 billion), is one of the most polluting nations. Three of the top ten most polluted cities in the world and 22 of the top 30 were in India in 2021. The nation has some of the worst air pollution in the world. However, realizing the climate change concerns, India has launched many initiatives to address the pollution problem on a national and international level. The country has periodically monitored its role in the global scene and has developed several goals and future visions. It is quickly migrating from conventional energy and fuel sources to technologies with no emissions. India has started several programs to combat climate change and reach its goal of having 45% lesser emissions by 2030.

 

Climate goals set by India

 

The Indian government has established goals in various sectors, including environmentally friendly industrial practices, emission-free transportation, and sustainable electricity generation. According to the declaration made by the prime minister during the Conference of the Parties (COP26) summit, India aims to have zero net emissions of carbon dioxide by 2070.

 

Listed below are the aims that India aims to achieve in the coming future:

 

  • India currently relies on fossil fuel-based power plants to provide around 60% of its energy needs, and it plans to boost its non-fossil fuel energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030. The government has previously instructed thermal power generating companies to build renewable power facilities directly or through developers.

 

  • By 2030, India wants to derive 50% of its energy needs from renewable sources, as currently, 37% of the total installed capacity is made up of renewable energy. This project aims to lessen the country’s reliance on and consumption of fossil fuels.

 

  • The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) predicts that total carbon emissions would reach48 Gt by 2030 if present trends continue. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that for global carbon emissions to remain within the 1.5°C thresholds, the globe must emit around 18.22 Gt of carbon per year. The government of India has set a goal of reducing carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes by 2030 to reduce emissions.

 

  • India has pledged to reduce its carbon intensity by less than 45% as part of the global effort to achieve net zero emissions. This is a step up from its Paris Agreement to reduce Gross Domestic Product (GDP) emission intensity by 33–55% from 2005 set objectives to be nations with zero emissions.

 

  • About 290 gigagrams (Gg) of PM2.5 are produced by vehicles, and the transportation industry is responsible for about 8% of all greenhouse gas emissions, reaching over 30% in some big cities. According to the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), India has set a goal of lowering PM2.5 and PM10 levels by 20–30% by 2024.

 

The road ahead

 

India has moved towards a more climate-friendly approach to align with the Paris agreement and achieve sustainable development goals. The country has adopted the framework for taking climate action to cut emissions and increase climate resilience. One example is the investment of USD 3bn in battery development and solar PV for green recovery in the country.

 

The Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to below 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) over preindustrial levels. One method that individuals, corporations, and major organizations may contribute to this goal is by using carbon credits. While a large portion of the globe still relies on fossil fuels for electricity, carbon credits provide an alternative way to contribute to the global effort to combat climate change.

 

(The article is authored by Mr Shailendra Singh Rao, Founder and MD of Creduce and the views expressed in this article are his own)

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