Critically analyse India’s progress to meet its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions of Paris Climate Agreement 2015. (200Words)
Refer-Business Standard
Enrich the answer from other sources, if the question demands.
IAS Parliament 6 years
KEY POINTS
India’s progress to meet the targets
· According to the biennial update report (UNFCCC), the emissions intensity of India’s gross domestic product (GDP) had reduced by as much as 21 per cent below the 2005 levels by 2014, reflecting an average annual improvement of over 2 per cent.
· In the case of clean energy, the share of non-fossil fuels-based power in total electricity production has already surged to 35 per cent.(40% as per INDC of India).
· The Performance Achieve Trade scheme, solar and wind energy upscale, Electric Vehicles by 2030 and the recent announcement to replace all government vehicles with EVs in the next three to five years reflects the low carbon solutions at huge scales in a short period of time.
· According to the World Bank, India’s UJALA Scheme, expansion of LED bulbs and tubelights saved up to 20 GW of electricity capacity (that might otherwise have come from coal), resulting in the reduction of Cumulative Carbon Emission.
Criticisms in India’s Progress
· Lacking enough Carbon Sequestration, according to the biennial update report, carbon sequestration through forests has dwindled between 2010 and 2014 though it has increased outside the forests due to the expansion of plantations and agro-forestry.
· Solar energy sector, is also losing its attraction among the prospective investors due to the steep decline in solar power tariff and higher duties on solar equipment imports from China and USA.
· India Thermal power plants contribute around 70% of the energy contribution, increase in Cumulative Carbondioxide emission.
· Issue of power transmission loss while tapping the Geo-Thermal energy, as its source lies far away from the city.
India needs to effectively implement National Actional Plan on Climate Change(NAPCC) at all levels to reduce the Cumulative carbondioxide emission and meet the desired targets as mention in INDC.
