Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha informed that Government of India stands committed and has taken a number of steps to reduce India’s emission level of Green House Gases.  The five elements enunciated by India at COP26 in Glasgow have been appropriately incorporated in enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under Paris Agreement and Long-term Low Carbon Development Strategies towards net zero emissions by 2070, in accordance with the principles of equity and Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC) in light of different National Circumstances.

India’s National Action Plan for Climate Change (NAPCC) provides the overarching policy framework for climate change mitigation and adaptation through its National Missions in specific areas of solar energy, energy efficiency, water, sustainable, agriculture, health, Himalayan ecosystem, sustainable habitat, green India and strategic knowledge for climate change. The NAPCC represents multipronged, long term and integrated strategies for achieving key goals in the context of climate change. In line with NAPCC, thirty-four states and union territories have prepared their respective State Action Plans on Climate Change.

The Government has taken several measures to promote renewable energy in the country and the sector in India is experiencing a period of rapid expansion, buoyed by strong government focus and policy support. The National Green Hydrogen Mission has been approved with an aim to make India a global hub for production, utilization and export of Green Hydrogen and its derivatives.

India has progressively continued decoupling of economic growth from greenhouse gas emissions. The Net Zero target by 2030 by India Railways alone will lead to a reduction of emissions by 60 million tonnes annually. Similarly, India’s massive LED bulb campaign is reducing emissions by 40 million tonnes annually. In the power sector, many thermal power plants have adopted use of efficient technologies in order to improve efficiency, and thereby reducing coal consumption and reducing emissions. 260 units of inefficient and old thermal power generation units has already been retired till 31.12.2022. 

In the written reply it was mentioned that under the Scheme National Bamboo Mission (NBM) of Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, the focus is on the development of complete value chain of bamboo sector to link growers with consumers starting from planting material, plantation, creation of facilities for collection, aggregation, processing, brand building initiative, etc. The NBM identified ten (10) commercially important bamboo species for promoting quality bamboo plantation. Theseare: (1) Bambusa tulda (2) Bambusa bambos (3) Bambusa balcooa (4) Bambusa cacharensis (5) Bambusa polymorpha (6) Bambusa nutans (7) Dendrocalamus asper (8) Dendrocalamus hamiltonii (9) Thyrsostachys oliveri (10) Meloccanna baciferra. As on 31.12.2022;24819-hectare non-forest area belonging to farmers and Government agencies has been planted with bamboo. Bamboo nurseries to the tune of 367 Nos, 78 Nos. of bamboo treatment and preservation, 416 Nos. of Product Development and Processing units, and 106 Nos. of Infrastructure for Bamboo Market etc. were established.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has notified emission and effluent discharge standards for the polluting industrial units. The compliance of environmental standards by industries is enforced by the respective State pollution Control Boards/ Pollution Control Committees.

It was also stated that Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has issued directions to all 17 categories of highly polluting industries to install Online Continuous Effluent/Emission Monitoring System (OCEMS) with real time data connectivity to CPCB server. The CPCB has also prepared a guideline for prevention and control of fugitive emissions. To reduce noise pollution, CPCB has published the ‘System & Procedure for Compliance with Noise Limits for Diesel Generator Sets’.

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