Context

India has announced its new set of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) at UNFCCC COP27 event to make transition towards green energy using Nuclear Power and Non-fossil fuels.

About

India’s Updated list of Commitments:

• Increasing Electric Vehicles and Infrastructure: India aspires to maximise the use of electric vehicles, with ethanol blending to reach 20% by 2025 (it is currently 10%) and a strong shift to public transport for passenger and freight traffic.
• Strategies for the transition: India will also focus on improving energy efficiency by the Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme, the National Hydrogen Mission, increasing electrification, enhancing material efficiency, and recycling and ways to reduce emissions.
• Reducing Greenhouse gas emissions: India’s forest and tree cover is a net carbon sink absorbing 15% of CO2 emissions in 2016, and the country is on track to fulfilling its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) commitment of 5 to 3 billion tonnes of additional carbon sequestration in forest and tree cover by 2030.
• Using Non-fossil fuel based energy: India updated its NDC commitments to ensuring half its electricity is derived from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030, and reducing the emissions intensity by 45% below 2005 levels by 2030.
• Domestic emissions trading scheme: is a key element of India’s strategy, given that the government has already announced the creation of the same in India.

Significance:

• India’s long-term strategy (LTS) can guide the growth of Indian industry, urban planning, and infrastructure creation.
• Connecting India’s net-zero target with near-term climate actions is critical to avoid investments that might be incompatible with a low-emissions and climate-resilient future.