Trace India’s progress on climate commitments under the Paris Agreement and highlight the key concerns that may impede its full realisation.

Under the Paris Agreement (2015), India committed to reduce the emissions intensity of GDP by 45% from 2005 levels by 2030. It pledged to achieve 50% of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030. India also committed to creating an additional 2.5–3 billion tonnes of CO₂-equivalent carbon sink through forests and tree cover.

 India’s Progress on Climate Commitments:

1. Early Achievement of Non-Fossil Capacity Target: India’s total installed power capacity reached 484.82 GW, of which 242.78 GW (50%) is from non-fossil sources (solar, wind, hydro, nuclear).
2. Rapid Renewable Energy Expansion: In 2024 alone, India added a record 30 GW of renewable capacity, including 24 GW of solar.
3. Significant Reduction in Emissions Intensity: India reduced its emissions intensity by 36% by 2020 (from 2005 levels), placing it firmly on track to achieve the 45% reduction target by 2030.
4. Expansion of Carbon Sink through Forests: As per India State of Forest Report (ISFR) data, India added more than 2.5–3 billion tonne carbon sink so far with annual additions of 150 million tonnes.
5. Behavioural Climate Initiatives: India launched innovative missions such as Mission LiFE, Sovereign Green Bonds, MISHTI (mangroves), and the National Adaptation Plan, signalling a shift towards behavioural change.

Key Concerns and Limitations:

1. Capacity–Generation Gap: Despite 50% non-fossil capacity, only 28% of electricity generation is clean with coal still accounting for over 70% of power, due to intermittency and grid constraints.
2. Rising Absolute Emissions: India’s absolute emissions remain high at 2.96 billion tonnes CO₂e, reflecting partial decoupling, especially in hard-to-abate sectors like steel, cement, and transport.
3. Over-Dependence on Solar Energy: Wind, hydro, and nuclear growth remains sluggish due to land acquisition issues, clearance delays, and financing hurdles.
4. Ecological Quality of Carbon Sinks: Carbon accounting relies heavily on plantations and monocultures, while natural forest cover increased only marginally at 156 sq km between 2021–23).
5. Climate Finance Deficit: Persistent under-delivery of climate finance by developed countries constrains India’s transition, despite its strong mitigation performance.

Way Forward:

1. Bridge Capacity–Generation Gap through large-scale battery storage, pumped hydro, smart grids, and transmission upgrades.
2. Diversify Clean Energy Mix by fast-tracking wind, hydro, offshore wind, nuclear, and green hydrogen.
3. Shift Beyond Power Sector by decarbonising transport and industry using EVs, biofuels, and hydrogen.
4. Improve Forest Governance by prioritising native species, agroforestry, and satellite-based monitoring over monoculture plantations.
5. Strengthen Climate Finance & Carbon Markets through global advocacy, sovereign green bonds, and a robust domestic carbon trading mechanism.

Conclusion:

The next phase of climate action must move beyond headline metrics toward systemic decarbonisation, ecological integrity, and a just energy transition, reinforcing India’s role as a credible global climate leader.

‘+1’ value-addition:

• India’s per-capita CO₂ emissions (1.9 t) are far below the global average, yet it ranks among the top 3 renewable capacity adders (IEA).
• Renewable expansion now avoids 250 Mt CO₂ annually, equivalent to removing 55 million petrol vehicles.
• India’s 5 MT green hydrogen target (2030) could cut 50 Mt CO₂ from steel and fertiliser sectors.
• Despite ₹1.95 lakh crore CAMPA funds, poor utilisation (e.g., Delhi 23%) limits effective carbon sink outcomes.

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