Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) 2023 Update By India

Policy Update
Ishan Singh

Background

On December 12, 2015, during the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris, France, several nations submitted their first nationally determined contributions (NDCs) in accordance with the Paris Agreement. The deal was finalized on November 4, 2016.

The 2015 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Paris Agreement seeks to keep global warming below 2°C, ideally 1.5°C, relative to pre-industrial levels. To accomplish this, nations must draft, disseminate, and uphold successive Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) detailing their climate change plans. These NDCs are to be updated every five years, reflecting each country’s highest possible ambition.

India’s Climate Action Framework

India, as a signatory to the Paris Agreement, submitted its first NDC in 2015. The nation’s climate policy is deeply intertwined with its developmental goals, focusing on sustainable growth, poverty eradication, and improved quality of life for its citizens. India’s initial NDC included the following targets:

By 2030, lower the GDP’s emissions intensity by 33–35% compared to 2005 levels.
By 2030, attain approximately 40% of installed capacity for electricity from non-fossil fuel-based energy sources.
By 2030, add more forest and tree cover to create a 2.5–3 billion tonnes CO2 equivalent additional carbon sink.

NDC 2023 Update

India revised its 2023 NDC to include greater targets in response to the growing climate crisis and international calls for more ambitious climate action.

Reduction of Emissions Intensity: By 2030, 45% less emissions are expected to be produced per GDP than in 2005, according to the revised target.
Energy from Non-Fossil Fuels: By 2030, the goal should be raised to approximately 50% of installed electric power generated by non-fossil fuel sources.
Carbon Sink Creation: Holding true to the pledge, by 2030, to plant and maintain 2.5–3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent in forests and other vegetated areas.
The development of climate-resilient infrastructure is emphasized as a means of mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change.
Sustainable Lifestyles: The Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) initiative aims to promote sustainable patterns of production and consumption.
India’s 2070 goal, as outlined in its climate policy and NDCs, refers to its long-term commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by the year 2070. This goal is part of India’s broader climate strategy and was notably highlighted in the country’s commitments during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) held in Glasgow in November 2021.

Performance

India updated its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in August 2022, reflecting enhanced climate commitments in response to both national priorities and global climate goals. Several factors and statistics influenced this decision:

Renewable Energy Targets:

Ambitious Renewable Energy Goals: By 2030, India targets to have 450 GW of capacity for renewable energy. This covers hydropower, biomass, solar, and wind energy.
Current Status: By the end of 2021, India had installed about 150 GW of renewable energy capacity. This included 46.51 GW of large hydro capacity (PIB), 10.62 GW of biopower, 4.83 GW of small hydro, 48.55 GW of solar, and 40.03 GW of wind. This noteworthy development demonstrates the nation’s commitment to renewable energy sources and its larger environmental objectives.

Emission Reduction Goals:

Carbon Intensity: India’s goal was to lower its GDP’s emissions intensity from 2005 levels by 33–35% by 2030. India had already reduced its emissions by about 24% by 2021, which led to a revision of its targets.
New Target: India pledged in its revised NDC to cut its GDP’s emissions intensity by 45% by 2030 when compared to 2005 levels.

Afforestation and Green Cover:

Forest and Tree Cover: By 2030, India sought to increase the amount of forest cover and tree species, which would add an extra 2.5–3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent to the atmosphere. With multiple extensive afforestation and reforestation initiatives, the nation has been increasing its green cover.

Impact

The NDC 2023 update by India would be a great achievement if India successfully achieves the mentioned goals. This could accelerate India’s transition to a low-carbon economy and contribute more to global climate goals. There would be various shifts from the perspective of policy and investments, this update might lead to new policies or adjustments in existing ones, such as incentives for renewable energy, stricter emission standards, or increased funding for climate resilience projects. There would be more innovations and investments in green technologies, potentially creating new job opportunities and industries. There would be other good impacts such as enhanced air quality, health outcomes, resilience to climate impacts etc.

It can also enhance and uplift the international position of India in the global community, therefore, setting a global standard towards national determination towards climate change and taking the right initiatives for the betterment of future generations.

Emerging Issues

This update could bring several emerging issues to light. Stricter targets may face infrastructural problems including the need for advanced technologies, infrastructure upgrades, and capacity building at various levels of government and industry. Increased investment in green technologies and infrastructure could strain public and private budgets, potentially affecting other areas of economic development. Balancing short-term economic costs with long-term benefits will be crucial. Sectors heavily reliant on fossil fuels, such as energy and transportation, might face significant disruptions. These targets could increase imports from foreign countries due to infrastructural unavailability which can be a problem given India’s ‘Swadeshi’ commitments.

Achieving ambitious targets may require broad public and political support. Ensuring that stakeholders understand and support the benefits of the updated NDCs is essential for successful implementation.

Way Forward

In summary, India’s 2023 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) update is a big step in the direction of a more comprehensive climate action strategy. While it offers significant environmental and social benefits such as improved public health and increased contributions to the global climate, it also brings forth new challenges such as managing regional disparities, implementing policies effectively, and making economic adjustments. It will be crucial to address these problems through strategic planning, active stakeholder participation, and thorough monitoring to meet the revised targets and guarantee a fair and equitable transition to a sustainable future.

References

About the Contributor – Ishan Singh, a research intern at IMPRI pursuing his bachelor’s degree in B.A. (Hons.) Political Science from Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi.

Acknowledgement – The author would like to thank Dr Arjun Kumar, Ms. Vaishali Singh, Srishtistuti Roy, Ronjinee Chattopadhyay who helped me throughout this article and reviewing the same.