INDIA’S POSITION AT COP-28: ENERGY USE AND CLIMATE PLEDGES

India commits to expanding renewable energy but insists it won’t adhere to restrictions on energy source choices. Notably, it didn’t join 118 countries pledging to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030 at COP-28.

Source :Mercom

No Agreement on Climate and Health Declaration:

  • India has not signed the “Declaration on Climate and Health,” a major pledge endorsed by 123 countries at COP-28.
  • The declaration emphasizes the need for governments to protect communities and prepare healthcare systems for climate-related health impacts, linking health goals to restrictions on fossil fuel emissions.

India’s Position on Coal Power:

  • India’s stance on coal power remains contrary to nudges discouraging its use, emphasizing its reliance on coal to improve living standards.
  • Discomfort arises from linking the objectives of declarations to cut specific emission categories, as India prioritizes energy access for marginalized populations.
  • India emphasizes the negligible historical contribution to the carbon crisis, citing below-global-average per-capita emissions.

Concerns on Emission-Cutting Suggestions:

  • Leena Nandan, Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests, rejects suggestions that India’s use of certain fuels contributes to climate emissions.
  • India aims to be constructive in COP-28 negotiations, ensuring energy access for marginalized populations without compromising development goals.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Overview:

  • According to India’s latest communications to the United Nations, its greenhouse gas emissions increased by 4% from 2016-2019, totaling 2.6 billion tonnes of CO2.
  • Anthropogenic emissions Contributors :
    • The energy sector  (75.81%),
    • The agriculture sector (44%)
    • Industrial Process and Product Use (PPU) sector(8.41%)
    • Waste sector(34%)