Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Space, and Atomic Energy, on September 28, 2023, stated that India is fully dedicated to achieving the Net Zero emission target by 2070, as proclaimed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Here are the key highlights from his speech, where he outlined India’s commitment to addressing climate change and setting ambitious emission reduction targets.
- India pledged to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2070, as declared by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- India is resolved to contribute significantly to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through international cooperation and innovation.
- The nation has laid out both short and long-term goals under the Panchamrit action plan, which include:
- Achieving a non-fossil fuel energy capacity of 500 GW by 2030.
- Ensuring that at least 50% of its energy demand is met by renewable energy sources by 2030.
- Reducing CO2 emissions by 1 billion tons by 2030.
- Lowering carbon intensity below 45 percent by 2030.
- Setting the stage for hitting the Net Zero emissions target by 2070.
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Panchamrit
- At the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26), held in Glasgow, United Kingdom in November 2021, PM Modi spoke about India’s intensified Climate Action Plan (CAP).
- He presented the “Panchamrit”, or five nectar elements, which are part of India’s climate action plan.
‘Lifestyle for Environment’ (LiFE). - Prime Minister Modi has also emphasized the importance of sustainable living. He proposed the concept of ‘Lifestyle for Environment’ (LiFE) as a global mission.
- The plan encourages more significant strides from worldwide clean energy sectors.
‘Mission Innovation’
- In 2015, at the COP21 meeting, Prime Minister Modi pioneered the International Solar Alliance and Mission Innovation (MI). For his efforts, he received the ‘Champions of Earth Award 2018’ from the United Nations.
- The term ‘Mission Innovation’ was first coined by PM Modi. MI is a global initiative involving 23 countries and the European Union, represented by the European Commission. It aims to expedite the clean energy revolution and make strides towards the goals of the Paris Agreement, to achieve net zero emissions. India is a founding member of this initiative.
- MI initiated its first phase on November 30, 2015, at COP21. India led three MI Innovation Challenges during this phase: Smart Grids, Off Grid Access to Electricity, and Sustainable Biofuels.
- Throughout this phase, India also hosted several workshops.
- The Government of India is proactively securing funding for clean energy innovations. This is being done through Public-Private Partnerships, aligning with the objectives of Mission Innovation 2.0.
Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM)
- The Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) setup has provided India a unique platform to highlight its clean energy initiatives both nationally and internationally.
- Some of the key CEM initiatives include the Global Lighting Challenge (GLC) campaign and the Street Lighting National Programme.
- Significant CEM initiatives also encompass the Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) programme and the ‘One Sun-One World-One Grid’ Initiative, initially proposed by the Prime Minister to harness the vast potential of solar energy.
- The G20 summit in New Delhi embraced the ‘Lifestyle for Environment Mission’ (LiFE), an initiative of India, and committed to leveraging Artificial Intelligence for the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Also Read | India’s Net Zero Ambition
Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA)
- India, Brazil, and the United States are set to lead the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) in a bid to help India achieve its goal to become Net Zero by 2070.
- GBA’s establishment is a significant milestone, agreed upon by the leaders of Singapore, Bangladesh, Italy, USA, Brazil, Argentina, Mauritius, and UAE. The agreement came at PM Modi’s initiative during the G20 Summit.
- The purpose of GBA is to act as a platform that spurs global collaboration for the development and widespread use of biofuels.
National Green Hydrogen Mission
- India’s renewable energy initiatives have seen robust advancements, notably in the field of Hydrogen energy.
- The Prime Minister, in his Independence Day Address on 15th August 2021, emphasised India’s renewable energy initiatives, including significant advancements in Hydrogen energy.
- The National Hydrogen Energy Mission was launched by India to facilitate affordable green hydrogen production.
- The National Hydrogen Energy Mission was initiated by India to boost affordable green hydrogen production.
- On August 21, 2022, India’s first fully indigenously developed Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus, a collaborative effort by KPIT-CSIR in Pune, was unveiled.
- The Prime Minister’s declaration two years ago about India’s ambition to establish a dedicated mission for Green Hydrogen resulted in the launch of the National Green Hydrogen Mission. Announced in January 2023, this mission has a budget allocation of approximately 2.4 billion dollars.
- A preliminary R&D Roadmap for the Green Hydrogen Ecosystem in India has been published.
- A Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework for research and development, known as the Strategic Hydrogen Innovation Partnership (SHIP), will be implemented under this mission.
- India is well-positioned to become a significant global authority in Green Hydrogen production.
- This positioning is due to India’s vast renewable energy resources and one of the world’s lowest costs of regeneration.
- India’s R&D ecosystem and the blueprint established for R&D in various sectors also contribute to this potential. These sectors include hydrogen production, transport, electrolyze manufacturing, support infrastructure, fuel cell Electric Vehicles (EVs), storage, and utilization.
Nuclear Energy
- By 2047, India’s nuclear sources are projected to contribute nearly 9% of the electricity share.
- The Department of Atomic Energy in India has set a goal to reach a capacity of 20 GW in nuclear power generation by 2030.
- Achieving this goal would place India as the third-largest producer of atomic energy globally, following the USA and France.
Bio-based Economy
- India has formulated a roadmap for a Bio-based economy, predicted to reach 150 billion USD by 2025.
- The Department of Biotechnology supports R&D innovations in Advanced Biofuels and ‘Waste to Energy’ technologies.
- Five Bioenergy Centers have been established in India, with interdisciplinary teams working on sustainable biofuels through modern biotechnology tools.
- These efforts will enable infrastructure for Bio-manufacturing of low-carbon bio-based products.
- Sustainable biofuels are crucial in mitigating Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from the transport sector.
Cooling Action Plan (CAP)
- India is one of the few countries globally to devise a Cooling Action Plan (CAP) with a long-term vision (2017-18 to 2037-38) catering to cooling needs across sectors.
- The Climate Action Plan (CAP) outlines potential strategies to decrease cooling demand from residential and commercial buildings, as well as cold chains. The CAP emphasizes the importance of building design and technological advancements that maintain energy efficiency.
Sustainable Practices
- Sustainable practices are being adopted in several sectors including:
- Fisheries
- Marine research
- Coastal tourism
- Renewable energy generation