CLIMATE CHANGE AND NET ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS

Context:

‘Leaders’ Climate Summit is going to be held on April 22-23. It is being organised b y the United States. Prior to the summit there are demands and speculations whether India should announce a ‘net-zero’ emissions target, and by when.

Background:

The 1.5°C report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) called for net zero global carbon emission by 2050. This may require developed countries reaching the target prior to 2050 as they have consumed a disproportionate share of the carbon space and thus providing a window to the developing countries to fulfil the goal of development and reduced emissions.

What India needs to do?

Taking the modest steps in the direction of decarbonising is not going to be viable in the near future, Or announcing an Indian 2050 net-zero commitment risks taking on a much heavier burden of decarbonisation on India and might act as a hurdle in the path of development.

Thus India should opt for the middle path which includes:

Focussing on concrete, near-term sectoral transformations by aggressive adoption of technologies that are within our reach.
Try to avoid high carbon lock-ins.
It can be achieved by focusing on sectoral low-carbon development pathways that combine competitiveness, job-creation, distributional justice and low pollution in key sectors where India is already changing rapidly. Keeping in mind the objective of achieving net-zero emission as a long term target.

Sectors that can be decarbonised:

Power sector
- Electricity sector is the single largest source of emissions i.e. it contributes about 40% of India’s greenhouse gas emissions.
- Decarbonising the power sector would allow India to undertake transformational changes in urbanisation and industrial development.
  - for instance: not just expanding the use of electricity for transport but also by integrating electric systems into urban planning.
  - So far India’s concentration has been expansion of renewable electricity. But now it's needed to shift gears to a comprehensive re-imagination of electricity and its role in our economy and society.
    - We need to limit the expansion of coal based electricity capacity
Ceiling for coal power
- India needs to pledge that it will not grow its coal-fired power capacity beyond what is already announced, and reach peak coal electricity capacity by 2030.
- And making coal based power as more cleaner and greener.
- A low-carbon electricity future can be realised by addressing existing problems of the sector which includes the poor finances and management of distribution companies, which requires deep changes and overcoming entrenched interests.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND NET ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS: News