India’s submission of NDC is step towards achieving net-zero by 2070: MoS Ashwini Choubey

New Delhi: Minister of State (MoS) for Environment, Ashwini Kumar Choubey said, the recent updated Nationally determined contributions (NDC) submission to UNFCCC is a step towards achieving India’s long term goal of reaching net-zero by 2070.

“To achieve the traget India has prepared and submitted a separate framework document titled ‘India’s Long-term Low Carbon Development Strategy’ to the secretariat of the UNFCCC in November 2022” the Minister said while reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.

Talking about India’s commitment about the emission reduction, the minister said India will reduced its emissions intensity of its GDP by 45 percent by 2030 from 2005 level”

He further added that with the help of transfer of technology and low-cost international finance including from Green Climate Fund, India will achieve 50 percent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030.

Choubey said that Government of India stands committed to combat climate change through its several programmes and schemes including the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) which comprises of missions in specific areas of solar energy, energy efficiency, water, sustainable agriculture, Himalayan ecosystem, sustainable habitat, health, green India, and strategic knowledge for climate change.

The National Solar Mission under the NAPCC is one of the key initiatives to promote sustainable growth while addressing India’s energy security. In his reply the Minister stated that India has progressively continued decoupling of economic growth from greenhouse gas emissions.

“India’s emission intensity of gross domestic product (GDP) has reduced by 24 percent between 2005 and 2016” he added.

“As on 30th November 2022, India’s total electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel based energy resources is 173.14 GW, which is 42.3 percent of the total electric power installed capacity from non-fossil based energy resources” the Minister informed.

The reply further stated that the Government has encouraged States and UTs to prepare their State Action Plan on Climate change in line with NAPCC.

“The priority sectors identified under the Andhra Pradesh’s state action plan on climate change are agriculture and livestock, health, energy, marine and fisheries, irrigation and water supply, manufacturing, transport and forestry” he said.