Write a review on India's climate commitments under the Paris Agreement (2015) and mention how these have been further strengthened in COP26 (2021). In this direction, how has the first Nationally Determined Contribution intended by India been updated in 2022?
Under the Paris Agreement of 2015, India submitted its first Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) with three key quantitative targets for 2030. These were: to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33-35% from 2005 levels; to achieve about 40% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources; and to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through additional forest and tree cover. These commitments were lauded for being ambitious for a developing economy with significant energy needs.
At the COP26 summit in Glasgow in 2021, India significantly strengthened its climate ambition through the "Panchamrit" (five nectars) declaration. This included a commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2070. The 2030 targets were also made more ambitious: increasing non-fossil energy capacity to 500 GW, meeting 50% of energy requirements from renewable energy, reducing total projected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes, and cutting the carbon intensity of the economy by 45%.
Following this, in August 2022, India officially updated its NDC to formalize some of these commitments. The updated NDC now includes two main quantifiable targets for 2030: first, to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% from 2005 levels, an improvement over the previous 33-35% target. Second, to achieve about 50% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources, up from the earlier 40% goal. This update formalizes India’s enhanced climate action intent on the global stage.
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Sakshi Negi
Sakshi Negi is a Delhi-based journalist and content specialist with expertise in educational content and digital media, focusing particularly on government exam preparation and career guidance. With a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from NRAI School of Mass Communication and her background as a Kendriya Vidyalaya alumna, she brings unique insights into the Indian education system and government sector opportunities.
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Important Questions from GS3
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