Dr. Arvind Kumar*
To reach the Net Zero destination, countries should plan large-scale interventions in 6 sectors i.e. energy and electricity, transport, urban design, industries, forestry and agriculture. The strategy should also involve focused research and development efforts aimed at developing climate-specific technologies, and mobilization of financial resources public and private, domestic and international to streamline both backward and forward linkages in order to reap fruits of labour. In short, net-zero commitments must be robust to be effective and advance climate action. Countries must take concrete steps to ensure this if they are to effectively address the challenge at hand.
Last year at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced India’s net-zero target as part of the ambitious “panchamrit” pledge by 2070. However, getting there requires action on three fronts: steadfast policies to reach net zero by 2070, strong measures to adapt to the global warming that’s already locked in, and staunch financial support to help vulnerable countries pay for these efforts. While some developed nations may have scoffed at their respective timelines, the reality is that nations with different developmental trajectories cannot (and should not) be treated equally and collectively nations must do everything within their powers to ensure that they keep their emissions under control.
The footprint of climate change can already be seen in every corner of the planet. Erratic weather patterns, rising sea levels and melting glaciers due to climate change, are reshaping societies across the globe. Thus, climate neutrality through Net Zero is a need of the hour, which would reduce GHGs that cause global warming to zero by balancing the amount released into the atmosphere from sources with the amount removed and stored by carbon sinks.
The latest IPCC assessment report, 2022 highlighted that in 2010-2019 average annual global greenhouse gas emissions were at their highest levels in human history. And also India’s first-ever climate change assessment report carried out by Ministry of Earth Sciences, GOI in 2020, has revealed that the country’s average temperature is expected to rise by 4.4 degree Celsius by the end of the year 2100.
By all accounts, India is well on course to achieve its short-term target. India will need “trillions of dollars” to become carbon neutral, according to a report that lays down the country’s strategy to meet its 2070 goal. The 121 page document, released at the ongoing COP27 at Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt, India listed some of the measures — de-carbonization of electricity and transport sectors, redesigning of urban spaces, increase in energy and material efficiency, revitalization of forests, and a push for climate-oriented research and development — it planned to take in the coming decades to achieve the net-zero status.
Our statutory framework ensures that air and water pollution is prevented and controlled, forests are conserved and restored, biological diversity is protected, and energy is generated and utilized efficiently to ensure minimal environmental impact. The Government has launched various policy initiatives to work towards its climate change commitments, but are they harnessing the real potential of related sectors? The national and state action plans on climate change aim at integrating such climate action into their modus operandi, but are they on the same page before actually materializing such an extensive approach?
India has taken several measures towards climate change adaptation and mitigation but the question arises is how well equipped and streamlined India is to have this huge transition swiftly? Among national schemes, the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME-II) focuses on clean mobility and is meant to promote the transition to electric vehicles by providing incentives for manufacturing, adoption and development of associated infrastructure for electric vehicles. Financial assistance is being offered at the central and state levels for developing solar and wind energy projects like solar parks, grid-connected solar rooftops in residential buildings, installing off-grid solar devices and solar-based LED lights. Initiatives like Gujarat Emissions Trading Scheme, Renewable Energy Certificate, Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) Scheme are all meant to promote renewables, reduce emissions and achieve energy efficiency at the central and state levels.
Some important and innovative schemes initiated in India to combat climate change include the India Cooling Action Plan 2019, which aims to reduce direct and indirect emissions from energy-intensive cooling devices like refrigerators, air conditioners, etc. The National Clean Air Program 2019 aims to reduce air pollution and addresses several forms of harmful emissions. The National Hydrogen Mission launched in 2021 aims to help India achieve its climate targets by making India a green hydrogen hub. India is also targeting to increase the usage of alternative fuels to reduce emissions by blending 20% Ethanol in petrol by 2025.
Moreover, policies like National Building Code, 2016, Energy Conservation Building Code, 2017, Buildings Energy Efficiency Programme, green energy rating system, star rating programme, etc., seek to promote sustainability in the construction sector by improving energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management, recycling, etc. The union budget for the financial year 2022-23 also announced initiatives for financing climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies through sovereign green bonds, blended finance, etc. In addition to the various central government initiatives being implemented across the country, various states are devising their own strategies and plan to combat climate change. States like Gujarat, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu have constituted specific departments and cells to focus on climate change adaptation and mitigation. Kerala has announced a dedicated fund for this purpose and has issued green bonds to invest in climate resilience activities. Maharashtra has released the Mumbai Climate Action Plan to address climate change impacts in the coastal megacity and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
It is not just the central and state governments but also the corporate are taking active steps to combat climate change. More than sixty Indian companies have announced their net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions targets and giving prominence to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting, such as Tata, Reliance, Mahindra, ITC, Adani Transmission, Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel etc.
Today’s infrastructure can last for decades and have a major impact on mid-century targets. Therefore, to reach the Net Zero destination, countries should plan large-scale interventions in 6 sectors i.e. energy and electricity, transport, urban design, industries, forestry and agriculture. The strategy should also involve focused research and development efforts aimed at developing climate-specific technologies, and mobilization of financial resources public and private, domestic and international to streamline both backward and forward linkages in order to reap fruits of labour. In short, net-zero commitments must be robust to be effective and advance climate action. Countries must take concrete steps to ensure this if they are to effectively address the challenge at hand.
*President, India Water Foundation
