Year 2022: India leads the world in mitigating the climate crisis

New Delhi: Placing climate change at the centre of its policy India has taken several measures in the years 2022, to meet its climate goals committed under the Paris Agreement and UNFCCC’s Climate summit, Conference of Parties (COP).

From pledging to become net zero emitter by 2070, to achieve 500 gigawatts non fossil energy capacity by 2020, to reduce its emissions intensity of its GDP by 45 percent by 2030, banning of single use plastic, rehabilitation of wildlife, or protection of flora and fauna, India led from the front on environmental issues this year and grabbing eyeballs across the world.

Lifestyle for Environment – LiFE

The year 2022 saw the launch of Mission LiFE by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a flagship programme to promote sustainable lifestyle across the globe.

A Global call for Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) was given by Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, while delivering India’s National Statement, at CoP26, held at Glasgow in October-November, 2021. S

Subsequently, Mission LiFE was launched at Ekta Nagar by the Prime Minister of India, on 20 October 2022, in the presence of United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres.

India participated in COP 27, with focus on mainstreaming the theme of LiFE – Lifestyle for Environment.

The Indian Pavilion at COP 27 highlighted the theme of LiFE in various ways – models, audio visual displays, activities and 49 side events with participation of various central government ministries, state governments, UN and multilateral organizations, public sector undertakings, think tanks, private sector, international organizations and civil society organizations.

India invited all countries to join the LiFE movement which is a pro-people and pro-planet effort, seeking to shift the world from mindless and wasteful consumption to mindful and deliberate utilization of natural resources. 

India’s Low-Carbon Development Strategy

India has launched a Long-Term Low-Carbon Development Strategy. With the submission of this document to UNFCCC, India joined the select group of fewer than 60 countries in the world to do so.

The Paris Agreement of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Article 4, paragraph 19, states, “All Parties should strive to formulate and communicate long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies, mindful of Article 2 taking into account their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in the light of different national circumstances.”

In light of the above, India launched its long-term low carbon development strategy at the 27th session of Conference of Parties (COP-27) to the UNFCCC. The strategy was launched by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, who led the Indian delegation to the COP 27 in November, 2022. With this release, India joins the select list of less than 60 parties that have submitted their LT LEDS to UNFCCC.

The LT-LEDS aims to go beyond India’s climate targets or the nationally determined contributions (NDC) announced in August, of achieving 50 percent of India’s cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030, and reducing emission intensity of GDP by 45 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 pledges at the 26th Conference of Parties (COP26) of the UNFCCC in Glasgow, including the target of net -Zero emission by 2070.

The roadmap is a result of a first of its kind inter-ministerial consultation, and a collaborative effort with experts and think-tanks.

India’s historical contribution to cumulative global GHG emissions is minuscule despite having a share of 17% of the world’s population.

India’s per capita annual emissions are about a third of the global average. From a global carbon equity perspective, India is justified in seeking that developed countries undertake early net-zero, well before 2050, by investing heavily in negative emissions, and providing adequate climate finance, technology transfer and capacity building support. 

India updates nationally determined contributions (NDC)

Building upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Panchamrit (five nectar elements) pledges at the 26th Conference of Parties (COP26) of the UNFCCC in Glasgow, including the target of net-zero emissions by 2070, India updated its NDC in August 2022 as follows:

i.    Meet 50% of India’s cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030.

ii.    Reduce the emission intensity of GDP by 45% below 2005 levels by 2030.

iii.    To create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030.

iv.   To better adapt to climate change by enhancing investments in development programmes in sectors vulnerable to climate change, particularly agriculture, water resources, Himalayan region, coastal regions, health and disaster management.

v.    To mobilize domestic and new & additional funds from developed countries to implement the above mitigation and adaptation actions in view of the resource required and the resource gap.

vi.   To build capacities, create domestic framework and international architecture for quick diffusion of cutting-edge climate technology in India and for joint collaborative R&D for such future technologies.

National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has been implementing since 10th January, 2019, a National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) as a national-level strategy outlining the actions for reducing the levels of air pollution at city and regional scales in India.

Around 7100 crores have been released to 131 cities till date under NCAP & XVFC for implementing actions stipulated under the city action plan.

State Action Plans are under process and received from 10 States/ UTs so far.

City Action Plans are prepared by cities for implementation of activities which assists in air quality improvement.

88 Institute of Reputes (IoRs) are assigned to 131 NACs for capacity building and for effective implementation of City action plans.

MoEF&CC has also launched “PRANA” a portal for monitoring implementation of NCAP on the occasion of international day of clean air for blue skies and released brochures, booklets on Guidelines for Capacity Building and Public Outreach.

The Swachh Vayu Survekshan guidelines for Ranking of cities under NCAP has been issued to cities- 9 cities are awarded with a cash prize of 5 crores under 3 categories on 3^rd December 2022 during VAYU conference in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

An overall improvement in ambient air quality has been observed in 95 cities during 2021-22 as compared to 2017. 18 cities were found to be within the prescribed National Ambient Air Quality Standard (PM10 less than 60^g/m3) in 2019-20 which has increased to 20 in the year 2021-22.

Cheetah Introduction in India

To promote the wild life conservation, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has released wild Cheetahs in Kuno National Park which were brought from Namibia, which had become extinct from India

The Cheetahs are being introduced in India under Project Cheetah, which is the world’s first inter-continental large wild carnivore translocation project. Out of the eight Cheetahs there are five female and three male Cheetahs.

The last cheetahs in the Indian wilderness were recorded in 1947 where three cheetahs were shot in the Sal (Shorea robusta) forests of Koriya District, Chhattisgarh State.

 The main reasons for the extinction of cheetahs in India were large scale capture of animals from the wild for coursing, bounty and sport hunting, extensive habitat conversion along with consequent decline in prey base and in 1952 Cheetahs were declared as extinct by the Government.

The Government of India initiated G2G consultative meetings with the Republic of Namibia which culminated in the signing of MoU between the two countries on 20th July 2022 for cheetah conservation. Following the signing of MoU, in a historic first wild to wild intercontinental translocation, eight cheetahs were translocated from Namibia to India on 17th September, 2022 and were released into the quarantine bomas by the Prime Minister of India.

The major objective of the introduction project is restoring open forest and savannah grassland that will benefit biodiversity and ecosystem services from these ecosystems. Further, the project provides opportunities for eco-development and eco-tourism to enhance local community livelihoods.

Modalities of taking the cheetah project forward have already been discussed with South African Authorities and a second batch of 12 cheetahs are likely to be translocated to India during January 2023. 

Establishes Asia’s largest Ramsar Sites network

On the eve of 76th Independence Day (15th August 2022) India added ten wetlands to the List of Wetlands of International Importance (also called Ramsar Sites) within the framework of the Ramsar Convention, taking the total number of Ramsar Sites in India to incredible 75, the highest in Asia, in the 75th year of its independence.

India ratified the Ramsar Convention in 1982. Keoladeo National Park (in Rajasthan) and Chilika (in Odisha) were the first two sites to be placed on the Ramsar List by the Government of India.

 Till 1990, only four more sites were added to the list, and another 20 over the following two decades.

Since 2014, Ramsar Site designation has received a significant policy push from the MoEFCC, and 49 wetlands have been added to the list. The network of Indian Ramsar Sites currently covers 1.33 million ha, which is approximately 8% of the known wetland extent of the country.

Ramsar Sites form an international network of wetlands which are important for conserving global biological diversity and sustaining human lives through the maintenance of their ecosystem components, processes and services.

The international significance of these sites is indicated by their fulfilling at least one of the nine criteria set by the Convention. With 2,455 sites spanning 255.8 million ha, the Ramsar sites represent the world’s largest protected area network.

Ban Single Use Plastics

The country has taken a defining step to eliminate single use plastics. A ban has been imposed on identified single use plastic items from 1st July 2022. The ban was notified on 12th August 2021.

India has taken resolute steps to reflect its commitment to eliminate single use plastics that are not biodegradable and have an adverse impact on the environment.

The strategy adopted by the Government to tackle unmanaged and littered plastic waste has two pillars – ban on single use plastic items which have high littering potential and low utility, and implementation of extended producer responsibility on plastic packaging.

Earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene (Thermocol) for decoration; Plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straw, trays, wrapping or packaging films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, and cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 microns, stirrers. Thickness of Plastic carry bags increased to 75 microns (30.9.2021) and to 120 microns (31.12.2022).

The introduction and use of alternatives to banned single use plastic items have led to creation of new employment opportunities, promote innovation and development of new business models. The manufacturing of alternatives with eco-friendly material in the MSME sector will further support development of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

India had piloted a resolution in 2019 for addressing pollution caused by single use plastics which was adopted by the 4th meeting of the United Nations Environment Assembly in 2019.

The Guidelines for Extended Producer Responsibility on plastic packaging are unique and have led to the establishment of the world’s biggest framework for EPR implementation on plastic packaging. 

The Guidelines for EPR in plastic packaging promote an environmentally conscious lifestyle that focuses on ‘mindful consumption’ through the reuse of rigid plastic packaging and sustainable plastic packaging instead of ‘mindless and destructive consumption’ of single-use plastics. The Guidelines for EPR in plastic packaging give a push for reducing plastic footprint in packaging through the use of recycled plastic content in manufacturing of plastic packaging material.

Promoting Circular Economy – Waste-to-Wealth

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in his address to the nation on the occasion of 75th Independence Day highlighted India’s action on ‘Mission Circular Economy’.

NITI Aayog constituted 11 Committees for development of circular economy (CE) action plans for different categories of wastes.

Circular Economy Action Plans for 10 waste categories (Lithium-ion batteries; E-waste; Toxic and hazardous industrial waste; Scrap metal (ferrous and non-ferrous); Tyre and Rubber; End of Life Vehicles; Gypsum, Used Oil, Solar Panels and Municipal Solid Waste have been finalized, and are under implementation. Respective Nodal Ministries are coordinating on progress of implementation of these action plans. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is the Nodal Ministry for Circular Economy Action Plan for Tyre and Rubber and stakeholder ministry in other CE Action Plans.

Regulations on market based Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) principle have been notified for four categories of wastes i.e., plastic packaging waste, battery waste, e-waste and waste tyre.

In EPR for Plastic Packaging, targets for minimum recycling, minimum use of recycled content and use of rigid plastic packaging in identified sizes have been mandated.