India makes carbon pledge ahead of Paris climate change summit
October 2, 2015, 6:52 am

India’s climate-change policy statement also said coal would continue to dominate power generation for development [Image: Archives]

New Delhi filed its climate-action plan to United Nations climate secretariat late Thursday. All countries are expected to submit their national pledges to reduce carbon emissions beyond 2020, also known as Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC).

India is the world’s third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases.

A climate-change policy statement released by New Delhi said the plans were “fair and ambitious considering the fact that India is attempting to work towards low carbon emission pathway while endeavoring to meet all the developmental challenges the country faces today.”

The country will boost the share of electricity produced from sources other than fossil fuels to 40 per cent by 2030, the government claimed.

India trails China, the world’s biggest emitter, which has vowed to reduce its carbon intensity by 60-65 per cent by 2030.

India’s climate-change policy statement also said coal would continue to dominate power generation for development.

“It is estimated that more than half of India of 2030 is yet to be built,” it argued.

While China had said it would peak emissions by 2030, India has not made any such commitments. Neither has the country mentioned establishing carbon trading.

“The successful implementation of INDC is contingent upon an ambitious global agreement including additional means of implementation to be provided by developed country parties, technology transfer and capacity building following Article 3.1 and 4.7 of the Convention,” the Indian document submitted to the UN said.

Article 3.1 of the convention refers to the principle of equity and common but differentiated responsibility, a reference to the fact developed countries have put more carbon into the atmosphere over time than developing countries.

The government estimates India’s climate goals will need funds of $2.5 trillion (calculated on the basis of 2014-15 prices) between now and 2030.

TBP and Agencies