The reduction underscores India’s commitment to a sustainable and low-carbon future, aligning with its pledge to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070, made during the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) in 2021.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed India’s dedication to sustainable development, inspired by the principles of Mahatma Gandhi.
In a statement, he said, “India is the land of Mahatma Gandhi, whose vision for sustainable development inspires us greatly. We have shown what it is to realize key principles like Green Future and Net Zero.”
India’s Commitment to Global Climate Action
As a signatory to the Paris Agreement, India has committed to stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations and limiting global temperature increases to below 2°C, with efforts to limit it to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. India continues to submit its Biennial Update Reports (BURs) to the UNFCCC, which provide updates on national GHG inventories, mitigation actions, and support received.
In 2020, India’s total GHG emissions, excluding Land Use, Land-Use Change, and Forestry (LULUCF), stood at 2,959 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (CO2e). Including LULUCF, net emissions were reduced to 2,437 million tonnes of CO2e, reflecting the country’s progress in emissions reduction.
The energy sector was the largest contributor, accounting for 75.66% of emissions, while forest lands sequestered around 522 million tonnes of CO2, equivalent to reducing 22% of the nation’s total emissions.
