Context:

Recently, India submitted its 4th Biennial Update Report (BUR-4) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

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The BUR-4 updates the Third National Communication (TNC) and contains the National Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory for the year 2020. 

• TNC is a report submitted to the UNFCCC detailing a country’s greenhouse gas emission, climate change vulnerability, and actions taken to reduce emissions and adapt to climate changes. 

The report also embodies information on India’s national circumstances, mitigation actions, and an analysis of the constraints, gaps, related finance, technology, and capacity-building needs.

Key Highlights

India's GHG Emissions in 2020:

• India’s total GHG emissions in 2020 were 7.93% lower compared to 2019.
• Emissions, excluding Land Use, Land-Use Change, and Forestry (LULUCF), were 2,959 million tonnes of CO2e.
• Net emissions (including LULUCF) were 2,437 million tonnes of CO2e.
• Different sectors contributing to emissions:
• Energy: 75.66%
• Agriculture: 13.72%
• Industrial Processes and Product Use: 8.06%
• Waste: 2.56%
• Forests and trees in India sequestered about 522 million tonnes of CO2, offsetting 22% of the country's total emissions in 2020.

India’s Achievements in Reducing Emissions (Nationally Determined Contributions - NDCs):

• India has been reducing its emission intensity while growing economically.
• Between 2005 and 2020, the emissions per unit of GDP (emission intensity) decreased by 36%.

By October 2024:

• Non-fossil energy sources comprised 46.52% of India’s electricity generation capacity.
• The total installed renewable power capacity (including large hydropower) reached 203.22 GW.
• Renewable power capacity (excluding large hydro) grew 4.5 times from 35 GW in 2014 to 156.25 GW.

India’s forest and tree cover now covers 25.17% of the country’s total area.

• Between 2005 and 2021, India created an additional carbon sink of 2.29 billion tonnes of CO2e.

India ranks:

• 4th globally in renewable energy installed capacity, 
• 4th in wind power capacity and 
• 5th in solar power capacity.

Installed Renewable Energy Capacity (as of October 31, 2024):

• Solar energy: 92.12 GW (35 times increase from 2.63 GW in March 2014).
• Wind energy: 47.72 GW (more than double the capacity of 21.04 GW in March 2014).

Government Initiatives for Climate Action:

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): 100% FDI allowed in renewable energy under the automatic route.

PM-KUSUM (PM Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan) Scheme: Launched by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in 2019 to promote solar energy for farmers through solar pumps and grid-connected power plants.

GOBARdhan (Galvanising Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan, 2018) Initiative: Launched by the Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation, this initiative aims to convert biodegradable waste into biogas, compressed biogas (CBG), and organic manure.

National Green Hydrogen Mission (January 2023):  The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy launched it to produce 5 million metric tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030.

International Cooperation: India participates in global initiatives such as:

• International Solar Alliance (ISA).
• One Sun, One World, One Grid.
• LeadIT 2.0 (with Sweden).
• Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.
• Global Biofuel Alliance.
• Mission LiFE—Lifestyle for Environment.