India’s Long-Term Strategy to a ‘Low Emissions’

Why in the News?

Recently, India announced its long-term strategy to transition to a “low emissions” pathway at the United Nations Conference of Parties (COP) in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

Key Points:

Background: 

2015: Paris Climate agreement requires nations to submit 2 documents.

• • Short-term targets: Nationally determined contributions (NDCs) targets

• Long-Term Strategy to reduce carbon emissions (LTS):

• • Cutting emissions by 45% by 2030
  • To achieve net zero around 2050

What is India’s Long-Term Strategy to reduce carbon emissions (LTS):

• 195 member countries who are signatories to the UN climate agreements, were obliged to submit the long-term document by 2022.
  • India is the 57th country to submit LTS.
• India made a commitment to net zero or being carbon neutral by 2070 at Glasgow (COP 26).
• It has been prepared in the framework of India’s right to an equitable and fair share of the global carbon budget.

Strategy: 

• Transport: India aims to maximise the use of electric vehicles, with ethanol blending to reach 20% by 2025.
• • Shift to public transport for passenger and freight traffic.
• Improving energy efficiency: India will focus on improving energy efficiency through the Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme, the National Hydrogen Mission, increasing electrification, enhancing material efficiency, and recycling and ways to reduce emissions.
• Carbon Sequestration: India’s forest and tree cover are a net carbon sink absorbing 15% of CO2 emissions in 2016.
• Finance of LCD: 6-8 trillion USD will be required for India