Introduction
As one of the world's largest and fastest-growing economies, India plays a pivotal role in global efforts to combat climate change. With the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions gaining prominence, achieving net-zero emissions has become a critical objective worldwide. Net-zero emissions refer to balancing the amount of greenhouse gases emitted with an equivalent amount removed from the atmosphere. In this context, the role of government policies and initiatives is paramount in driving India towards this ambitious goal.
India's journey towards net zero spans various sectors, including energy, transportation, industry, and agriculture, necessitating a comprehensive approach. The Indian government has introduced several impactful policies and initiatives aimed at reducing emissions, promoting renewable energy adoption, and enhancing energy efficiency.
A Comprehensive Policy Framework
One of the landmark policies in India's climate action journey is the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), launched in 2008 by the Prime Minister's Council on Climate Change. The NAPCC outlines a comprehensive strategy through eight national missions, including initiatives focused on solar energy, energy efficiency, sustainable agriculture, and afforestation. These missions provide a guiding framework for policy formulation and implementation across relevant sectors, driving tangible progress towards net zero.
The eight national missions forming the core of the NAPCC are:
1. National Solar Mission
2. National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency
3. National Mission on Sustainable Habitat
4. National Water Mission
5. National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem
6. National Mission for Green India
7. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture
8. National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change
Renewable Energy Transition
In recent years, India has significantly scaled up its efforts to promote renewable energy deployment. The government's ambitious target of achieving 500 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity by 2030, up from the previous target of 450 GW, underscores its commitment to transitioning to a low-carbon energy system. Initiatives like the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission and the Green Energy Corridors project accelerate the adoption of solar and wind power while also enhancing grid infrastructure to support renewable energy integration.
The Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, launched in 2010 and governed by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, aims to increase the share of solar energy in India's energy mix. Its primary goals include achieving grid parity by 2022 and with coal-based thermal power by 2030, promoting decentralized distribution of energy, and developing a local solar industry capable of delivering solar energy competitively against fossil fuel options.
Energy Efficiency and Industrial Reforms
India has focused on improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions in industries through programs like Perform, Achieve, and Trade (PAT) and the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE). The PAT scheme has avoided 92 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions in its first two cycles. These initiatives incentivize industries to adopt energy-efficient technologies and practices, reducing their carbon footprint and enhancing competitiveness in a sustainable manner.
The NMEEE, governed by the Ministry of Power and based on the Energy Conservation Act, 2001, creates a market-based mechanism to enhance the cost-effectiveness of energy efficiency improvements. It aims to spread awareness, ensure supply, create financing platforms, formulate evaluation and monitoring mechanisms, and overcome market failures through regulatory and policy measures.
Transportation Sector Transformation
In the transportation sector, policies promoting electric mobility and reducing vehicular emissions have been introduced. The Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme incentivizes the adoption of electric vehicles and the development of charging infrastructure. India also supports the EV30@30 campaign for at least 30% of new vehicle sales to be electric by 2030 and has implemented schemes like FAME II, Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) for Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC), and the PLI for Auto and Automotive Components to develop the EV ecosystem.
Additionally, India transitioned from Bharat Stage-IV (BS-IV) to Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) emission norms by April 1, 2020, four years ahead of schedule, mandating stricter vehicle emission standards. The Vehicle Scrapping Policy has been introduced to phase out old and unfit vehicles, while the Indian Railways aims for full electrification of all broad-gauge routes by 2023.
Other Initiatives and Achievements
The Indian government has implemented several other initiatives to support its climate action goals. The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana has enabled 88 million households to shift from coal-based cooking fuels to LPG connections, while the UJALA Scheme has distributed over 367 million LED bulbs, reducing CO2 emissions by 38.6 million tonnes per year. India has also achieved a 24% reduction in the emission intensity of GDP from 2005 to 2016.
Additionally, the National Mission on Sustainable Habitat focuses on energy efficiency in buildings, waste management, and improving public transportation systems to make urban areas more climate-friendly. The National Water Mission ensures better integrated water resource management, leading to water conservation, reduced wastage, and equitable distribution through improved policies.
The National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem aims to protect the Himalayan ecosystem by evolving measures to sustain and safeguard glaciers, mountain ecosystems, biodiversity, and wildlife conservation. The National Mission for Green India is mandated to revive degraded forest land, increase forest cover and density, and conserve biodiversity.
The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture devises strategies to make Indian agriculture less susceptible to climate change by identifying and developing new crop varieties, using traditional and modern agricultural techniques. The National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change identifies challenges and requisite responses to climate change through open international collaboration and ensuring sufficient funding for research.
Lessons from Global Leaders
While India has made significant strides in addressing climate change, there are valuable lessons to be learned from countries like Sweden and Norway. These nations have implemented comprehensive policies encompassing carbon pricing, renewable energy incentives, and stringent emissions regulations, showcasing the feasibility of ambitious climate action with strong political will and effective policy implementation.
Collaborative Efforts
Driving India towards net zero requires collaboration among the government, private sector, civil society, and citizens. The continued implementation of impactful policies and initiatives will be essential for realizing this vision and securing a sustainable future for generations to come. The Indian cement industry has set global benchmarks in the low-carbon transition, showcasing the potential for private sector contributions.
Challenges and Way Forward
While India has made significant progress, several challenges remain in the efficient implementation of the missions. Institutional, systemic, and process barriers, including financial constraints, inter-ministerial coordination, lack of technical expertise, and project clearance delays, stand as major obstacles. To address these challenges, a renewed approach is needed to solve the issues of cross-cutting subjects among missions and bring the agenda of climate change to the mainstream. Recognizing that climate change is a global challenge, India has promised to engage actively in multilateral negotiations in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, in a positive, constructive, and forward-looking manner.
Moreover, initiatives to prevent climate change must be continuous and sustainable, with every individual and country contributing to this collective effort. By releasing the NAPCC, the Indian government has shown its commitment to addressing climate change issues and sent a positive message to the public, industries, and civil society about its concern to address the climate change challenge through concerted action.
Conclusion
India's ambitious path to net zero emissions by 2070 is a testament to its global climate leadership. Through a comprehensive policy framework, renewable energy transition, energy efficiency measures, industrial reforms, and transportation sector transformations, India is paving the way for a sustainable and resilient future. While challenges remain, the country's commitment to international collaboration, continuous improvement, and mainstream climate action highlights its determination to achieve its net-zero target. By leveraging lessons from global leaders and fostering collaborative efforts, India is well-positioned to pioneer climate action and contribute significantly to global efforts in combating climate change.
With its bold "Panchamrit" commitments announced at COP-26, including the ambitious target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070, India has demonstrated its proactive stance despite having a relatively low historical cumulative emissions contribution of only 4.37% of the world's total. Facilitating a seamless transition to renewable energy, increasing electric vehicle adoption, and fostering greater public-private collaboration will be crucial to realizing this visionary goal.
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