India targets net-zero carbon emissions by 2070

In News

• The COP 26 United Nations Climate Change Conference was hosted in Glashow. 
  • India pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.

Why was the step required?

• Achieving net-zero by 2050, scientists say, is the world’s best shot at keeping temperatures from rising above 1.5 degrees C of Pre Industrial levels.
• India is the third-largest emitter of carbon emissions annually 
  • but the sixth-largest when historical emissions are considered, and
  • when accounting for the size of its population it is among the lowest per capita emitters. 
• India hadn’t committed to a timeline to achieve net-zero, or a year by which it would ensure its net carbon dioxide emissions would be zero.
• India will reach net-zero carbon emission by 2070.
  • In contrast to India’s run-up to the COP where it had strongly resisted demands by developed countries to take on net-zero targets.

India’s 5 Commitments 

• First, India will bring its non-fossil energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030. 
• Second, By 2030 India will fulfil 50% of its energy requirement through renewable energy. 
• Third, India will cut down its net projected carbon emission by 1 billion tonnes from now until 2030. 
• Fourth, by 2030 India will bring down the carbon intensity of its economy by more than 45%. 
• Fifth, by 2070 India will achieve the target of ‘net zero’.

Other steps to be taken for Net Zero Emissions 

• Climate Justice:
  • Developed countries ought to be providing at least $1 trillion in climate finance to assist developing countries and those most vulnerable.
  • Taking on net-zero targets requires a sharp shift to clean energy sources that will impose a steep cost.
• Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities:
  • Principles of Equity and Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC) and
  • Recognition of the very different national circumstances of countries to be respected. 

• Mitigation and Adaptation:
  • There must be a balanced focus on climate adaptation as well as mitigation.
  • Focussing just on the mitigation part would be an injustice against developing nations.
• Resilient infrastructure and agriculture: 
  • There are changes in cropping patterns, there are floods and a great need to make agriculture resilient to these shocks.
  • Put warning systems in place to avoid loss of homes, livelihoods and lives.

Way Ahead

• People?Centred Clean Energy Transitions: 
  • Citizens must be active participants in the entire process, making them feel part of the transition and not simply subject to it.
  • The transition to net-zero is for and about people.
• Skill Development:
  • It is thus paramount that not every worker in the fossil fuel industry can ease into a clean energy job
  • So governments need to promote training and devote resources to facilitating new opportunities.
• Phasing out Fossils:
  • Countries need to accelerate the phaseout of coal, encourage investment in renewables, curtail deforestation and speed up the switch to electric vehicles
• No one?size?fits?all approach:
  • Final aim of the Paris Agreement is global in scope.
    • But each country will need to design its own strategy, taking into account its specific circumstances.

• Adaptation of sustainable mode of living:
  • Certain practices of traditional communities ought to be made part of school curricula 
• India can be a role model:
  • The lessons from India’s efforts at adaptation in programmes ought to be popularized globally, such as 
    • Jal Jeevan mission, 
    • Swachh Bharat mission and 
    • mission ujwala.

Source: TH