Cheat sheet: Sustainability and Climate Change: India & the World | Indian Economy for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Sustainable Development

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations.
Core Principles:

• Intergenerational equity
• Precautionary principle
• Inclusive growth
• Environmental stewardship

India’s Efforts:

• SDG India Index by NITI Aayog – benchmarks states’ performance on Sustainable Development Goals.
• Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) – nudges citizens towards pro-planet behaviours.
• National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) – umbrella program with 8 missions (e.g., Solar Mission, Energy Efficiency Mission).

Environmental Policy Framework

Key Legislations:

• Environment Protection Act, 1986
• Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
• Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
• Forest Conservation Act, 1980 (recently amended to ease strategic projects)

Other Instruments:

• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
• Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notifications
• National Environment Policy (under review)

Green & Climate Finance

• Green Finance: Flows directed to projects with positive environmental impact.
• Climate Finance: International transfers for mitigation and adaptation.
• Global Mechanisms:
  • Green Climate Fund (GCF)
  • Global Environment Facility (GEF)
  • Adaptation Fund
  • Loss and Damage Fund – created under COP27, operational modalities advanced in COP28.
• Indian Developments:
  • Launch of Sovereign Green Bonds
  • Introduction of Green Credit Programme – incentivises voluntary pro-environment actions.
  • Climate Budget Tagging initiated for sectoral integration

Climate Change: Mitigation & Adaptation

• Mitigation: Reduction of emissions through renewable energy, e-mobility, and afforestation.
• Adaptation: Coping strategies – resilient agriculture, climate-proof housing, early warning systems.
• Major Indian Schemes:
  • National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC)
  • FASTER Adoption of Electric Vehicles (FAME)
  • PAT Scheme (Perform, Achieve, Trade for industries)
  • UJALA (LED bulb distribution), Unnat Jyoti

Renewable Energy Transition

Target: 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.
Progress:

• Solar: ~80 GW
• Wind: ~45 GW
• Hydropower and bioenergy significant contributors

Key Missions & Schemes:

• National Solar Mission
• Rooftop Solar Programme
• PM-KUSUM (solarisation of agricultural pumps)
• National Green Hydrogen Mission – 5 MMT production target
• Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) for solar PV and green technologies

India and Global Climate Commitments

UNFCCC – India is a signatory
Paris Agreement – India’s Updated NDCs:

• Reduce GDP emission intensity by 45% by 2030
• 50% cumulative power capacity from non-fossil sources
• Enhance forest carbon sink by 2.5–3 billion tonnes
• Net-Zero Commitment: India to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070

COP28 Highlights:

• Operationalisation of Loss and Damage Fund
• Calls for phasing down fossil fuels
• Emphasis on Global Stocktake to assess Paris goals progress

Important Terms