Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change addresses India's carbon dioxide emissions in response to a parliamentary question. While acknowledging increasing emissions due to development goals, India emphasizes its low historical contribution and per capita emissions. The government outlines various initiatives, including the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), and Long-Term Low-Carbon Development Strategy (LTLEDS), to combat climate change and achieve emission reduction targets. The document references specific targets and actions to promote sustainable practices across various sectors.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **India's Emission Status and Commitments:**
* India's GHG emissions are increasing due to development and poverty eradication goals.
* India's historical cumulative emissions (1850-2019) are less than 4% of global emissions.
* India's per capita emissions are about one-third of the global average.
* India is committed to addressing climate change based on equity and CBDRRC principles.
* **National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC):**
* NAPCC comprises missions in areas like solar energy, energy efficiency, water, and sustainable habitat.
* Thirty-four States/UTs have prepared State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCC) aligned with NAPCC.
* **Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC):**
* India submitted its NDC under the Paris Agreement in 2015 and updated it in August 2022.
* Targets include reducing emissions intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030 from 2005 levels.
* Aim to achieve 50% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel sources.
* Creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
* India has achieved its NDC goal of 50.07% non-fossil fuel-based power generation capacity as of June 30, 2025.
* Emission intensity of GDP declined by 36% from 2005 to 2020.
* Between 2005 and 2021, India created an additional carbon sink of 2.29 billion tonnes CO2 equivalent.
* **Long-Term Low-Carbon Development Strategy (LTLEDS):**
* Submitted to UNFCCC in November 2022, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2070.
* Includes seven key strategic transitions.
* **Industrial System Strategies in LTLEDS:**
* Promote energy-efficient/low-carbon technologies.
* Focus on process/fuel switching and electrification in manufacturing.
* Implement sector-specific material efficiency technologies.
* Boost R&D in green hydrogen technology and electrolyzer manufacturing.
* Explore low-carbon options in sectors like steel and cement.
* Strengthen financial support and knowledge sharing.
* **Specific Sector Initiatives:**
* The Ministry of Steel has released the Taxonomy for Green Steel.
* The Ministry of Steel has released a roadmap for green steel and sustainability towards net-zero emissions by 2070
Impact Analysis:
* **Government of India:**
* Impact: Responsible for implementing and overseeing climate change mitigation strategies and achieving national and international commitments.
* Action Required: Continue implementing NAPCC, NDC, and LTLEDS. Monitor progress, provide support to states/UTs, and collaborate with relevant ministries and stakeholders.
* **High Carbon Dioxide Emitting Industries:**
* Impact: Need to adopt low-carbon technologies, improve energy efficiency, and align with the government's emission reduction targets.
* Action Required: Implement energy-efficient processes, switch to cleaner fuels, invest in R&D for green technologies, and comply with relevant regulations and standards.
* **Ministry of Steel:**
* Impact: Responsible for steering the steel sector towards green practices and achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
* Action Required: Enforce the Taxonomy for Green Steel and implement the roadmap for green steel, promoting sustainable practices and technologies within the steel industry.
* **States/Union Territories:**
* Impact: Responsible for addressing state-specific climate change issues and implementing the SAPCC in alignment with the NAPCC.
* Action Required: Develop and implement SAPCC, promote sustainable practices in relevant sectors, and collaborate with the central government on climate change initiatives.
* **Citizens of India:**
* Impact: Affected by the impacts of climate change and benefit from cleaner and more sustainable development.
* Action Required: Adopt sustainable lifestyles, support government initiatives, and promote awareness about climate change.
Key Entities Referenced
India: A country which is the subject of the policy regarding carbon emissions and climate change initiatives.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The Indian government ministry responsible for environmental and climate change policies.
National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC): A comprehensive plan by the Indian government to address climate change through various missions and strategies.
State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC): State-level plans created by individual states/union territories in India, aligned with the NAPCC, to address climate change issues specific to their region.
Paris Agreement: An international agreement on climate change, under which India has submitted its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC): India's commitment under the Paris Agreement to reduce emissions intensity and increase non-fossil fuel capacity.
Long-Term Low-Carbon Development Strategy (LTLEDS): India's framework submitted to the UNFCCC outlining strategic transitions to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): The international treaty under which the Conference of the Parties (COP) meetings occur, and to which India submits its climate action plans.
OIH
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 188
TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025
High Carbon Dioxide Emissions
188. SHRI DILIP SAIKIA:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether India is currently included in the list of countries emitting high carbon dioxide;
(b) if so, the details of the steps taken/being taken by the Government to prevent high
emissions of carbon dioxide;
(c) whether any roadmap has been prepared by the Government for high carbon dioxide
emitting industries; and
(d) if so, the targets set for their assessment?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (d) India is an emerging economy where greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are set to
increase, albeit from a low base, in pursuit of its development and poverty eradication goals.
India’s share of historical cumulative emissions from 1850 to 2019 amounts to less than 4
percent of global cumulative carbon dioxide emissions, despite being home to more than 17
percent of the world’s population. India’s responsibility for global warming thus has been
minimal; even today, its annual per capita emissions are only about one-third of the global
average. Despite this, India is committed to addressing climate change with firm adherence to
multilateralism and based on the principles of equity and common but differentiated
responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR-RC), as enshrined in the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The Government is combating climate change through several programs and schemes.
This includes implementation of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), which
comprises missions in specific areas of solar energy, energy efficiency, water, agriculture, the
Himalayan ecosystem, sustainable habitat, green India, strategic knowledge on climate change,
and human health. The NAPCC provides an overarching framework for all climate actions.
Thirty-four States/Union Territories (UTs) have prepared their State Action Plan on Climate
Change (SAPCC) in line with NAPCC, considering the state-specific issues relating to climate
change.India submitted its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris
Agreement in 2015 and updated it in August 2022, setting enhanced targets i.e, reducing
emissions intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030 from 2005 levels, achieving 50% cumulative
electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel sources, and creating an additional carbon
sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent through increased forest and tree cover. The
NDC also promotes sustainable lifestyles under the ‘LIFE’ initiative, cleaner development,
climate adaptation, and capacity building.
India has achieved its NDC goal of the share of non-fossil fuel-based power generation
capacity, which stands at 50.07% as of June 30, 2025. From 2005 to 2020, the emission
intensity of the GDP declined by 36%, and between 2005 and 2021, India created an additional
carbon sink of 2.29 billion tonnes CO₂ equivalent from forests and tree cover, reaffirming its
commitment to equitable climate action.
In addition, India’s Long-Term Low-Carbon Development Strategy (LT-LEDS),
submitted to the UNFCCC in November 2022, provides a framework with seven key strategic
transitions for achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 based on the principles of CBDR-RC,
equity, and climate justice. These include (i) low-carbon development of electricity systems
consistent with development, (ii) develop an integrated, efficient and inclusive transport
system, (iii) promote adaptation in urban design, energy and material efficiency in buildings,
and sustainable urbanisation, (iv) promoting economy-wide decoupling of growth from
emissions and development of an efficient, innovative low emission industrial system, (v)
development of carbon dioxide removal and related engineering solutions, (vi) enhancing
forest and vegetation cover consistent with socio-economic and ecological considerations, and
(vii) economic and financial needs of low-carbon development.
The industrial system strategies in India’s LT-LEDS, inter alia, includes promotion of
energy efficient/low carbon technologies; process and fuel switching, and electrification in
manufacturing, based on availability and access to technology and the provision of climate
finance; sector-specific material efficiency technologies and strategies enhanced through value
chains; R&D in technology and infrastructure for green hydrogen to be given a boost, ramping
up electrolyser manufacturing capacity; explore low carbon options in hard-to-abate sectors
such as steel and cement; and strengthen financial support, knowledge sharing, and awareness
of low carbon options and sustainable technologies.
The Ministry of Steel has released the Taxonomy for Green Steel to provide standards
for defining and categorizing the low emission steel. Further, Ministry of Steel has released a
report titled "Greening the Steel Sector in India: Roadmap and Action Plan" to provide roadmap
for green steel and sustainability towards net-zero emissions by 2070.
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