A Drawdown of India’s Climate Policies

First, let us look at India’s Paris Agreement Goals :

1. 33–35% reduction in emissions intensity (2005 levels) of GDP by 2030
2. 40% market share of renewable energy by 2030
3. 2.5–3 GtCO2e mitigated through increase in forest cover by 2030

Here is a drawdown of India’s most prominent climate policies and schemes introduced to meet these goals:

• FAME — The scheme for the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles in India or the FAME scheme has been India’s answer to increase national dependence on Elective Vehicles (EVs). The scheme falls under the department of Heavy Industry and is monitored by the Project implementation and Sanctioning Committee (PISC). It aims to foster an environment to increase the growth of EVs through manufacturing of charging stations, education and creating demand for EVs. India has allocated 10,000 crore rupees for this scheme which is a bold step in an energy-friendly direction.
• ECBC — In 2017, an updated Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) was released by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). This code, developed with the help of NITI Aayog, the policy think tank of the Indian Government, details the steps needed to be taken to decrease energy consumption by infrastructure in the nation which are responsible for a third of India’s energy consumption. As of 2020, 13 states have agreed to implement the code. If implemented by the entire nation, the ECBC has the potential to save 3,453 TWh of electricity.
• Ujala — The Ujala scheme is the largest electrical appliance distribution scheme in the world. Since 2015, the government of India along with Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) has spearheaded the distribution of LED bulbs, tube lights and fans all over the country. Till date, more than 360 million bulbs (for household and street lighting purposes), 7 million tube lights and 2 million fans have been distributed throughout the nation, resulting in an annual emission reduction of 38.5 million tonnes of CO2e.
• NAFCC — The National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) is a nationwide plan aimed at building climate resilience in various geographic regions that are estimated to be hit hard by the changing climate. Established in 2015, this fund provides the resources for state projects dealing with far ranging issues such as water conservation, carbon positivity, sustainable livestock management, etc. With the help of Adaptation Fund, which is providing the monetary resources for the 30 approved projects under the NAFCC, and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) which is the National Implementing Entity for the project, the NAFCC is a crucial step in preparing Indian states and rural communities for the adversities that could be inflicted on them by climate change.
• NCAP — In 2019, the National Clean Air Program (NCAP) was released with the aim of reducing atmospheric particulate matter by 20–30% by 2024. City-level action plans have been mandated for 122 cities, the implementation funds for which shall be provided by the NCAP. Many Indian cities have formulated air quality indices under this program, which is a landmark policy achievement in India.

Now, let us take a look at where India has lacked

India is on course to meet and even overachieve its first 2 commitments to the Paris Accord. With the massive efforts it has taken, independent studies say that it is among the nations that will be successfully able to suppress national temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius. However, India has severely lacked in its 3rd commitment. The creation of carbon sinks by restoring forests and other green spaces has not been as productive as envisioned. While carbon sequestration by farmland has increased, forest spaces still have room for improvement. However, India is stepping up to the task. As a signatory of The Bonn Challenge, 9.8 million hectares of forest land have been restored as a part of the goal to reach 13 million by 2020 and 21 million by 2030. With more schemes being planned by the government, the future of climate action looks bright for India.

Additional Sources:

https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/india-progress-climate-pledge-2019-ib.pdf

https://thewire.in/environment/india-paris-climate-agreement-targets

Pledges And Targets | Climate Action Tracker

Researched and contributed by Venkat Lakshmanan.