Climate change is a global collective action problem. India is a Party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), its Kyoto Protocol (KP) and the Paris Agreement (PA). As per the extant provisions under these treaties, India is not obliged to completely stop carbon emissions. The UNFCCC notes that the emissions originating in developing countries, including India, will grow to meet their social and development needs. As per the UNFCCC, the climate action of all countries should be based on the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. Based on these principles, all countries need to access and responsibly use a fair share of the global carbon budget. India with more than 17% of the global population has contributed only around 4% of the global cumulative greenhouse gas emissions between 1850 and 2019.

India has progressively continued decoupling of economic growth from greenhouse gas emissions. In key sectors of economy, the mitigation efforts have been undertaken with a vision of low-carbon, sustainable development. As a result, India has achieved 24% reduction in emission intensity of GDP between 2005 and 2016.

As a Party to the UNFCCC, India periodically submits its National Communications (NCs) and Biennial Update Reports (BURs) to the UNFCCC which includes national Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory. As per India’s third BUR submitted to the UNFCCC in February 2021, total GHG emissions, excluding Land Use Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) in 2016 were 2,838.89 million tonne CO₂e and 2,531.07 million tonne CO₂e with the inclusion of LULUCF. Energy sector contributed 75%, Industrial Process and Product Use 8%, agriculture sector 14% and waste sector contributed 3% of total greenhouse gas emissions in 2016. The LULUCF sector was the net sink and absorbed about 15% of the carbon dioxide in 2016.

The Government of India stands committed to combating climate change through its several programmes and schemes including the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) which comprises missions in specific areas of solar energy, energy efficiency, water, sustainable agriculture, Himalayan ecosystem, sustainable habitat, green India, and strategic knowledge for climate change. The NAPCC provides an overarching framework for all climate actions. Thirty-three States /Union Territories (UTs) have prepared their State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) in line with NAPCC taking into account the State-specific issues relating to climate change. These SAPCCs outline sector-specific and cross-sectoral priority actions, including adaptation. Apart from resolutely addressing climate change domestically, India has launched international coalitions such as International Solar Alliance (ISA) and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). Recently, at COP26 in Glasgow, new initiatives under CDRI and ISA, viz, Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) and Green Grids Initiative—One Sun One World One Grid (GGI-OSOWOG), were also launched. Along with Sweden, India co-leads the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT) for voluntary low carbon transition of hard to abate sectors.

This information was given by Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change in Rajya Sabha today.

 

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