Paper: GS – III, Subject: Environment and Ecology, Topic: Indian Initiatives, Issue: Tamil Nadu Climate Action Strategy.
Context:
Tamil Nadu’s climate action strategy is built on the principle that effective leadership begins at the grassroots level.
Key Highlights:
- The state has established the Tamil Nadu Green Climate Company (TNGCC) to coordinate and monitor all climate-related activities.
The TNGCC operates through four key missions:
- The Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission (TNCCM): Focuses on mitigating climate change and adapting to its impacts.
- The Green Tamil Nadu Mission (GTNM): Aims to increase the state’s green cover through afforestation and reforestation efforts.
- The Tamil Nadu Wetlands Mission (TNWM): Dedicated to the conservation and restoration of wetlands.
- The Tamil Nadu Coastal Restoration Mission (TN SHORE): Works to protect and restore the state’s coastline.
Net Zero Pathway and TNGCC (GHG) Inventory:
Tamil Nadu aims to achieve net-zero emissions well before 2070. To this end, the state has:
- Conducted a detailed Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory covering annual emissions across all sectors and sub-sectors from 2005 to 2019.
- Developed a detailed Net Zero Pathway.
The GHG inventory revealed that Tamil Nadu contributed only 7% of India’s total emissions in 2019, despite being one of the country’s most industrialized states.
- Furthermore, between 2005 and 2019, the state reduced its emission intensity to GDP by nearly 60%.
This progress is attributed to targeted interventions in key sectors, including:
- Rapid expansion of renewable energy, Improved energy efficiency, Industrial decarbonization and Ambitious electric-mobility program.
Currently, renewable energy accounts for approximately 60% of Tamil Nadu’s total installed power capacity and 30% of total electricity generated.
Bottom-Up Climate Action Planning:
- Tamil Nadu has adopted a bottom-up approach to climate action planning and implementation. This involves: Developing district-level decarbonization plans.
- Implementing a real-time Climate Action Tracker.
These initiatives embed climate action directly into local governance. Decarbonization plans for four pilot districts
The Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Ramanathapuram, and Virudhunagar demonstrate that these districts can abate up to 92% of projected emissions by 2050 through:
- Clean energy adoption, Mobility transformation, Industrial efficiency and Nature-based solutions.
These districts also have the potential to sequester nearly three million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2050.
Action Plans and Timelines for Tamil Nadu Climate Action:
As India advances toward its net-zero future, Tamil Nadu’s model offers a valuable complement by showing how national intent can be deepened through local innovation and evidence-led governance.
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