What’s the news?

• India will reach carbon neutrality by 2070, Prime Minister announced as part of a five-point action plan that included reducing emissions to 50% by 2030, making the boldest pledge at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow along with urging developed countries to deliver on their promise of climate financing.

News in detail

• This is the first time India has committed to net-zero emissions.
• India has the lowest per capita emissions of the world’s major economies emitting 5% of the total, despite accounting for 17% of the world’s population and in absolute terms, India is the fourth largest carbon emitter after China and the US.
• China has pledged to turn carbon neutral by 2060 while the US and the European Union as a block, EU nations together account for the third largest volume of emissions aim to do so by 2050.
• Many developing countries in Asia have announced net zero targets like Thailand, Sri Lanka, Malaysia.
• To keep temperatures from rising more than 1.5C, the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projects that the world has to reach net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by about mid-century and then hit net zero across all greenhouse gases by 2070.
• Cropping patterns in India are changing due to monsoonal flooding and unseasonal and extreme rainfall. India’s infrastructure needs to be made resilient to climate change and climate change adaptation should be mainstreamed.

5 Point Action Plan by PM

1. The country will increase its non-fossil fuel power capacity to 500 gigawatts (GW) by the end of the decade, up from 450GW.
2.  Half of India’s energy needs will be fulfilled by renewable sources by 2030.
3. India’s 2030 carbon intensity goal measured as carbon dioxide emissions per unit of gross domestic product will be increased from 35% to 45%.
4. The country will also strive to produce half of its electricity using renewable energy and cut carbon-dioxide emissions 1 billion tons from business as usual by 2030.
5. By 2070, India will achieve the target of net-zero emissions.

Reference:

1. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-pledges-new-climate-crisis-goal-net-zero-by-2070-101635793110247.html