India’s Climate Wins Story

ON CLIMATE CHANGE, INDIA HAS A GOOD STORY TO TELL

Why in the News?

• India announced its updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) on March 25 for the 2030–2035 period.
• These commitments are part of its obligations under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change (2015).
• The update signals India’s enhanced climate targets and long-term strategy amid evolving global climate challenges, supported by improved regulatory clarity and compliance framework.
• It comes in the context of concerns that developed countries are diluting their commitments and shifting the burden of climate action onto developing nations.

More about the news

• India’s climate targets gain importance amid a deteriorating global geopolitical environment.
• The world is currently affected by ongoing conflicts, weakening global cooperation, and a decline in multilateralism.
• Many developed countries are witnessing a renewed reliance on fossil fuel-based economic growth, affecting investment decisions in clean energy.
• At the 2015 climate summit, François Hollande described the Paris Agreement on Climate Change as historic and transformative, comparable to the French Revolution.
• However, since then, global momentum on climate action has weakened significantly, amounting to a retreat from earlier commitments.

NDC Targets for 2031-35

Resource Constraints & Climate Finance

• India must address the twin challenges of climate change and energy security with limited domestic resources, while managing compliance costs for the manufacturing sector and msme sector.
• Climate finance from developed countries under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change has remained inadequate (below $100 billion annually).
• Global factors like war, inflation, and national security priorities may further reduce available climate funding, impacting investor confidence.

Progress in Emissions Intensity Reduction

• India has built upon its earlier NDC commitments (base year: 2005; updated in 2022) through amendment of provisions in central acts.
• Target: 47% reduction in emissions intensity of GDP by 2035 (earlier target: 45%).
• Current achievement: ~36% reduction already attained.
• Further reductions are increasingly difficult due to diminishing returns from efficiency improvements.
• The 47% target is likely to be exceeded based on current trends.

Non-Fossil Fuel Energy Capacity

• Earlier target: 50% non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030 — already surpassed.
• Current level: ~82.5% installed capacity from non-fossil sources.
• New target: 60% by 2035, considered realistic despite energy challenges and compliance burden on small businesses.
• Key concern: Installed capacity ≠ actual generation;

○ Renewable energy contributes just over 20% of total generation.

• Need to significantly enhance actual renewable energy generation through regulatory rationalization and digital infrastructure support.

Carbon Sink & Afforestation Targets

• Goal: Expand carbon sink through afforestation efforts monitored by administrative officers.
• Earlier target: 2.5–3 billion tonnes CO₂ equivalent by 2030.
• Current estimate: ~2.296 billion tonnes by 2035, seen as achievable.
• Concern: Inclusion of plantations as carbon sinks.

○ Plantations may have negative ecological impacts, unlike natural forests.

Adaptation Strategies

Importance of Climate Adaptation

• The NDC press release highlights adaptation as a critical pillar of climate policy, requiring regulatory predictability and a graded framework for implementation.
• Even if emissions drop to zero, climate change will persist due to accumulated greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
• Hence, adapting to climate impacts is essential, not just mitigation.

Domestic Adaptation Measures

• Rising temperatures in a tropical country like India require protection for outdoor workers (e.g., farmers, labourers).
• Implementation of Heat Action Plans across the country is a timely and necessary step, supported by improvement notices and warning system mechanisms.

Need for Regional Cooperation (Land & Cryosphere)

• Collaboration with neighbouring countries is essential to monitor:

○    Melting Himalayan glaciers

○ Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) and downstream risks

• Monitoring only India’s territory is insufficient; requires transboundary cooperation through appellate authorities and adjudicating officers.

Marine & Coastal Ecosystem Protection

• Cooperation with maritime neighbours is needed to:

○ Monitor ocean health

○ Protect mangrove ecosystems safeguarding coastal areas

○ Conserve declining fish stocks and marine biodiversity

• Regional ecological planning must be integrated into climate strategy with clear administrative adjudication processes.

Hydrogen as a Future Energy Source

• Hydrogen is considered a clean fuel, producing only water as a by-product.
• Current production (from fossil fuels) is carbon-intensive, limiting its benefits.
• Cleaner production via electrolysis depends on whether energy input is renewable or fossil-based.
• India’s Green Hydrogen Mission has strong potential to address:

○    Climate change mitigation

○    Energy security needs

Role of Nuclear Energy in India’s Clean Energy Transition

Growing Importance of Nuclear Power

• Nuclear energy is crucial for providing clean, reliable baseload power to support India’s expanding economy and business identity in clean energy.
• It complements renewable sources like solar and wind by ensuring energy stability.

Ambitious Capacity Targets

• India aims to achieve 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047 under the Viksit Bharat vision.
• Current installed capacity stands at only 8.8 GW, indicating a significant expansion requirement.

Policy Reforms: SHANTI Act, 2025

• The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act, 2025 introduces major reforms similar to the jan vishwas bill approach to regulatory cholesterol reduction:

○ Opens the nuclear sector to private participation.

○ Allows up to 49% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in nuclear power generation.

○ Revises the nuclear liability framework to align with global standards, reducing criminal liability concerns and criminal exposure for operators.

• The reforms, reviewed by a select committee, incorporate principles from jan vishwas to streamline procedures and reduce procedural violations.

Focus on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)

• Emphasis on Small Modular Reactors (200–250 MW):

○ Suitable for both centralised and decentralised power generation.

○ Offer scalability, flexibility, and lower initial investment.

○    Expected to drive rapid expansion in nuclear capacity through a single window system for approvals.

Energy Poverty and Development Challenge

• India faces a significant energy deficit, reflected in its low per capita electricity consumption of 1,460 kWh, compared to the global average of 3,800 kWh.
• The key challenge is to increase energy consumption to support growth while ensuring it remains environmentally sustainable.

India’s Policy Approach and Global Relevance

• India has adopted a comprehensive and balanced energy strategy, combining renewables, nuclear energy, and efficiency measures through digital governance and a national single window portal.
• These policies serve as a model for developing countries, offering practical lessons in achieving growth alongside sustainability while reducing the case backlog in court proceedings through administrative penalties rather than criminal prosecution.
• The approach, discussed in lok sabha, emphasizes monetary penalties and civil penalties over imprisonment clauses for minor violations, with penalty escalation for repeat offences.

Constraints in Energy Transition

• The shift from fossil fuels to clean energy requires substantial financial and technological resources, which remain limited without international assistance, affecting investment decisions and creating criminal record concerns for businesses.
• Additionally, the transition is hindered by global uncertainties, including geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions, adding to the judicial burden.

Climate Justice and Global Responsibility

• India presents a credible and responsible stance on climate action despite developmental challenges.
• Developed nations have often failed to honour their climate commitments and attempted to shift responsibility onto developing countries, avoiding criminal penalties for their historical emissions.
• There is a strong case for holding them accountable for historical emissions and unmet obligations in addressing climate change.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/climate-change-india-good-story-tell-10605296/

Mains question

Discuss the challenges of India’s energy poverty and the need for sustainable energy transition. Critically examine the role of international support and issues of climate justice in achieving equitable global climate action.