India's Climate Targets | Gist of Rajya Sabha TV / RSTV (now Sansad TV) - UPSC PDF Download

Introduction

Union Cabinet has approved India’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution to be communicated to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The updated NDC seeks to enhance India’s contributions towards achievement of the strengthening of global response to the threat of climate change, as agreed under the Paris Agreement. This update translates the ‘Panchamrit’ or five-point agenda announced by PM Modi at COP26 into enhanced climate targets. According to the updated NDC, India now stands committed to reducing emissions intensity of its GDP by 45 per cent by 2030, from 2005 level, and achieving about 50 per cent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030. It will help India usher in low emissions growth pathways and protect the interests of the country and safeguard its future development needs based on the principles and provisions of the UNFCCC.

Panchamrit

India has presented the following five nectar elements (Panchamrit) of India’s climate action:

• Reach 500 GW Non-fossil energy capacityby 2030.
• 50 per cent of its energy requirementsfrom renewable energy by 2030.
• Reduction of total projected carbon emissionsby one billion tonnes from now to 2030.
• Reduction of the carbon intensityof the economy by 45 per cent by 2030, over 2005 levels.
• Achieving the target of net zero emissionsby 2070.

Challenges in addressing climate change

• Regional Inequality:
  • The principle of Common but differentiated responsibilities was proposed to tackle climate change by addressing the regional inequality.
  • However, the indifferent behaviour by the developed countries has led to partial success of many global initiatives. Eg. Kyoto Protocol.
• Developed Countries not taking responsibility:
  • Historical emissions and pollution caused due to industrial revolution is not accepted by the industrialized nations.
  • Developed nations are unwilling to accept the responsibility and are moving away from global agreements. Eg. USA rejecting the Paris deal.
• Finance:
  • Huge amount of funds are required for adaptation and mitigation measures to be adopted.
  • For eg: electric mobility, certainly is a green measure, but is actually expensive, in immediate terms, in terms of cost per vehicle kilometre.
  • The cost of shifting into renewable energy is also a fiscal challenge to most countries.
• Technology:
  • Many adaptation and mitigation measures need sophisticated technologies and Research and Development which is an impediment to many developing and small island nations.
  • Commercialization of technology in form of Patents, evergreening has made it unaffordable.
  • Increasing use of fossil fuels.
  • Complex linkages among emissions, concentrations, climate changes, and impacts.
  • Lack of certainty about the details of future climate change.
  • Significant time lags in human response systems.
  • Risks, judgments about risk, and adaptation needs are highly variable across different contexts.

Major initiatives of the Government towards combating climate change

• National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
• International Solar Alliance (ISA)
• State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC)
• FAME Scheme for E-mobility
• Atal Mission for Rejuvenation & Urban Transformation (AMRUT) for Smart Cities.
• Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana
• UJALA scheme
• Swachh Bharat Mission

A path for India without compromising for Developmental Activities

• First, that the prospects of effective global action required to address climate change are so weak is extremely bad news for India.
• We are a deeply vulnerable country to climate impacts. It would behove India not to be a status quo player in this context, but to argue for enhanced global collective action.
• Second, India has the potential to show the pathway to accelerating action on climate change even while pursuing its development interests.
• A notable example is its energy efficiency track record, which helps limit greenhouse gases even while saving the nation energy.
• However, there are inconsistencies in India’s story as a climate champion. India is justifiably recognised for promoting renewable energy, yet also muddies the waters by sending mixed signals on future coal use.
• India needs domestic energy policies that are more clearly and coherently tuned to a future low carbon world.
• Third, such a domestic message would position India to be a true global climate leader, rather than a leader only among climate laggards.
• India and China, both jostling for influence in African nations but also both losers from climate impacts, jointly help ensure that Africa’s development is powered by renewable energy rather than fossil fuels and based on an energy efficient future.
• Such an agenda could bring together economic, environmental and political gains.
• The pathway to enhanced action is unlikely to override entrenched national politics, powered by international suasion.
• Instead, the aim should be to make accelerated climate action congruent with an enlightened notion of national interest by focusing on key actions in rapidly changing areas such as energy and urbanisation.
• India can build a diplomatic approach on a firm domestic foundation that takes seriously climate change as a factor in its future development pathway.

Way Forward

• Localized Climate risk atlas at national scale level.
• We have technology but need to work on R and D to reach our targets.
• Democratization of climate data.
• The real challenge is to get other developed countries on board.
• Ban on single use plastic will be one of the game changer
• The ‘developing versus developed country’ schism needs to be diluted at the earliest and Developed Countries should avoid watering down the CBDR principle envisaged in earlier agreements.
• We should not treat climate change as an environmental problem but need to address it as developmental challenge.
• Investment in R&D is needed to spur innovations in sustainable climate-friendly and climate-proof productivity, and the private sector can help on this.
• India’s ambitious targets to cut carbon emissions require strong political will, meaningful engagements and sustainable plans.
• Climate finance can prove to be a compelling financial tool to align India’s growth with various climate change measures.