Government has taken a series of measures to enhance energy security and improve efficiency in use of energy for inclusive growth and sustainable development. These inter alia includediversification in sources of imports, promotion of alternate fuels, increasing production of oil and gas, substitution of energy demand, improving refinery processes, notification of fuel efficiency norms, etc. Government has been promoting the use of biofuels with multiple objectives of reducing import dependency, generating employment, providing better remuneration to farmers, reduction in environment pollution, etc. in line with the National Policy on Biofuels 2018.

 

Climate change is a global collective action problem. Reports from various sources, including the Inter governmental Panel on Climate Change, highlight that the challenges faced due to global warming are mainly due to cumulative historical and current greenhouse gas emissions of the developed countries. India is a Party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), its Kyoto Protocol (KP) and the Paris Agreement (PA).  The UNFCCC notes that the emissions originating in developing countries, including India, will grow to meet their social and development needs. Developed countries have to take the lead in mitigation and provide climate finance, low-cost climate technologies and capacity building. India is on track to meet its Nationally Determined Contributions, which are compatible with a well-below-2°C scenario. Further, the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India at the recent 26^thsession of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 26) presented India’s vision to achieve carbon neutrality by 2070.

 

India, for its part, abides by commitments to the UNFCCC in letter and spirit. India with more than 17% of the global population has contributed only about 4% of the global cumulative greenhouse gas emissions between 1850 and 2019. Even though we are not part of the problem, India is committed to being part of the solution and has done far more than its fair share. India has progressively continued decoupling of economic growth from greenhouse gas emissions. In key sectors of the economy, the mitigation efforts have been undertaken with a vision of low-carbon, sustainable development.

 

India’s commitment to emission intensity reduction of the economy is an economy-wide target that encompasses various sectors including transport and energy sectors. The Government stands committed to combating climate change through its several programs and schemes.

 

The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) 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.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.

 

The National Hydrogen Mission aims to cut down carbon emissions and increase the use of renewable sources of energy while aligning India’s efforts with global best practices in technology, policy, and regulation.

 

The Government has taken various initiatives to accelerate the decarbonisation of transport and adoption of electric mobility in the country. The Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles scheme supports the electric vehicle market development and its manufacturing eco-system to achieve self-sustenance.  Government has been implementing the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, wherein Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) sell petrol blended with ethanol up to 10%. Encouraged by the past 7 years performance, the Government decided to advance the target of 20% ethanol blending in petrol from 2030 to 2025. SATAT (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation) initiative for boosting production and availability of Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) as an alternative and affordable clean fuel for transportation sector was launched by the Government of India on 1.10.2018. The scheme envisages setting up of 5000 CBG plants by FY 2023-24. Indian Railways has taken a number of initiatives including setting up dedicated freight corridors, railway electrification, improving energy efficiency in traction, and increasing share of renewable energy. Indian Railways has set a target of making itself ‘net zero’ by 2030.

 

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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