India’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Policy Measures

Overview of India’s GHG Emissions

• Global Rank:
  • 3rd largest emitter globally (after China and USA).
  • However, per capita emissions are ~1.9 tonnes CO₂e, significantly below the global average (~4.5 tonnes CO₂e).
• Emission Profile (as per India’s Biennial Update Report to the UNFCCC):
  • Energy Sector – ~73%
  • Agriculture – ~14%
  • Industrial Processes – ~8%
  • Waste Sector – ~5%
• Historical Responsibility:
  • India’s cumulative historical emissions (since 1850) are only ~3% of global total.

India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

India’s updated NDCs (2022) under the Paris Agreement include:

1. Emission Intensity Target:
   • Reduce emission intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels.
2. Renewable Energy Goal:
   • Achieve 50% cumulative electric power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
3. Carbon Sink Enhancement:
   • Create an additional carbon sink of 2.5–3 billion tonnes of CO₂e through forests and tree cover.
4. Net Zero Target:
   • India aims to achieve Net Zero by 2070 (announced at COP26, Glasgow).

Key Climate Policy Measures

1. Energy Efficiency Measures

• Perform Achieve Trade (PAT) Scheme:
  • Launched by Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).
  • Market-based mechanism: incentivizes industries to reduce energy intensity.
  • 6 cycles completed; saved ~87 million tonnes of CO₂e.
• Standards and Labelling (S&L) Programme:
  • Promotes energy-efficient appliances (star-rated products).
• Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC):
  • Mandatory energy efficiency norms for new commercial buildings.

2. Carbon Pricing & Trading

• Energy Conservation Act (Amendment 2022):
  • Introduces India’s first domestic Carbon Credit Trading Scheme.
• Perform, Achieve & Trade (PAT) and Renewable Energy Certificates (REC):
  • Serve as market mechanisms to promote low-carbon transition.

3. Sectoral Initiatives

• National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) & FAME I & II:
  • Promote adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs).
• Ujjwala Yojana:
  • Replaces traditional cooking fuels with LPG, reducing GHGs and indoor pollution.
• BS-VI Emission Standards:
  • Enforced since April 2020, reducing vehicular emissions drastically.
• Ujala Scheme:
  • Promotes LED adoption, helping in energy conservation and emissions reduction.

4. Renewable Energy Drive

• National Solar Mission:
  • Part of NAPCC; target: 280 GW by 2030.
• Installed Renewable Energy Capacity (as of 2024):
  • 180+ GW (Solar: 73 GW, Wind: 44 GW, Hydro: 47 GW, Biomass: 10 GW).
• International Solar Alliance (ISA):
  • India-led initiative to promote solar energy globally.

5. Waste and Agriculture Sector Reforms

• GOBAR-Dhan Yojana and SATAT:
  • Convert animal & organic waste to bio-CNG.
• Agri-decarbonization:
  • Efforts to reduce emissions from enteric fermentation, stubble burning, and inefficient irrigation.

6. Institutional Framework

• National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC):
  • Launched in 2008; 8 core missions including Solar, Energy Efficiency, Sustainable Habitat, and Green India.
• State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCCs):
  • All states and UTs have submitted SAPCCs aligned with national priorities.

India’s Global Climate Leadership

• Paris Agreement: India played a key role in negotiations and ratified it in 2016.
• Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment): Promotes sustainable lifestyles globally.
• Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI): India-led initiative for climate-resilient infrastructure.