India Updating NDCs for COP30 and Exploring New Carbon Mechanisms
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Environment & Ecology (Climate Change, Paris Agreement, Nationally Determined Contributions - NDCs, Conference of the Parties - COP, Carbon Markets, Carbon Credits, Joint Crediting Mechanism - JCM).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 2 (International Relations): Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
General Studies Paper 3 (Environment & Economy): Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment; Climate Change. This is a core GS3 topic.
Key Highlights from the News
India will submit its revised Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) ahead of the COP30 Climate Summit in Brazil in November.
Under the Paris Agreement, countries are required to update and submit their climate targets every five years.
India's current main targets, updated in 2022:
Reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% from 2005 levels.
Achieve 50% electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel sources.
Create an additional carbon sink.
India has already achieved the target for non-fossil fuel capacity.
India is experimenting with new mechanisms to reduce carbon emissions:
Bilateral agreements such as the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) signed with Japan. Through this, both countries will share carbon reductions from joint green projects as carbon credits.
An India Carbon Market intended to be operational by 2026.
A major challenge remains the lack of climate finance from developed countries, which is necessary to achieve climate targets.
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