Context

The next five years are pivotal for India's climate action efforts, especially considering its ambitious 2030 targets. While there have been notable advancements in solar and renewable energy, the country's heavy dependence on coal is a concern, with clean energy making up only 22% of the electricity mix. Urgent environmental issues that need addressing include mitigating heat stress, improving air quality, managing waste, and boosting energy efficiency.

Overview

As per the Assessment of Climate Change over the Indian Region report of (MoES)

• Since 1901, the average temperature in India has risen by 0.7°C.
• The occurrence of daily precipitation extremes has surged by approximately 75% since 1950.
• Additionally, both the frequency and extent of droughts have markedly increased since 1951.
• In the North Indian Ocean, sea levels have been rising at a rate of 3.3 mm per year since 1993.

Mitigating pollutants

• To address heat waves: India is extremely susceptible to heat stress and could soon experience heat waves that surpass human survivability limits. To address this, it is essential to mitigate both CO2 emissions and short-lived super pollutants like methane, black carbon, and hydrofluorocarbons. These super pollutants, particularly methane, have a substantial impact on global warming as they trap significantly more heat than CO2 over shorter timeframes. Reducing their levels can be more effective in preventing near-term warming compared to focusing on CO2 reductions alone.
• Breaking down the climate issue: by pollutants, sinks, or sectors can lead to more effective solutions. Tailor-made agreements, fair to all countries, could be integrated into the Paris Agreement for better accountability.
  • The Montreal Protocol's Kigali Amendment, which phases out potent F-gases, is projected to prevent 0.5°C of warming by the century's end.
  • Methane should be the next focus, potentially avoiding nearly 0.3°C of warming by the 2040s. A new treaty involving the U.S., EU, and China could secure corporate pledges to nearly eliminate methane emissions by 2030.
• Mitigating methane emissions:  through cost-effective gas capture and biogas projects can address one of the most powerful greenhouse gases while also improving urban sanitation. Reducing short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) like black carbon and strengthening the National Clean Air Programme can greatly enhance air quality and public health. However, it is crucial for society to acknowledge that air pollution is a year-round issue that demands ongoing action.
• Cleaning the air will need five key changes: promoting shared responsibility, investing in clean air projects, integrating sustainability, using data for targeted actions, and recognizing clean air as an economic driver. Effective solutions require coordinated efforts, improved monitoring, and regulatory reforms, emphasizing the economic and health benefits for everyone. For better energy efficiency, rapid decarbonization and the use of low global warming potential refrigerants, as outlined in the Kigali Amendment, are essential steps to cut GHG emissions.

Importance of carbon market.

• Provides financial incentives for emission cuts: Carbon markets can drive reductions in greenhouse gases (GHGs) by providing financial incentives for emission cuts. To limit global temperature, rise to 1.5-2°C, global GHG emissions must be reduced by at least 43%. Carbon markets will be essential in achieving these reductions.
  • India plans to introduce the ‘India Carbon Market’ in 2026, which could help meet its Nationally Determined Contributions and potentially become the world's largest emissions trading system by 2030.
  • A robust carbon market in India could prevent $35 trillion in climate-related costs over the next 50 years.
• To encourage faster climate action: it's crucial to develop financial incentives and a more nuanced carbon trading approach. Current methods that convert all pollutants into CO2 equivalents offer economic efficiency but mask the distinct impacts of different pollutants. A more effective approach would separately measure long-lived pollutants like CO2 and short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) such as methane and black carbon, creating distinct metrics for each to better reflect their varying impacts.
• A substantial scale and coordination: These actions, and more, are essential and require substantial scale and coordination. At the governance level, India needs a central authority with constitutional powers to oversee collaborative, proactive measures and set timelines for all stakeholders. This is the minimum requirement to ensure accountability and effective coordination across various levels of government.

A missed opportunity

• The 2024 Lok Sabha election largely overlooked the urgent climate crisis, despite voter demand for action. Party pledges were insufficient, and the issue was sidelined amid record-high temperatures and low voter turnout caused by extreme heatwaves.
• Rising unemployment, farming struggles, and high living costs have forced the poor to focus on basic survival, exacerbating inequality.
• With no major 'green party' in India, the sustainability debate feels disconnected from everyday concerns. Effective climate leadership must move beyond token gestures and make climate action central to political agendas.

Conclusion

addressing India’s climate crisis is urgent and demands immediate robust action. The country must overcome its reliance on coal, tackle rising temperatures, and address critical environmental issues. Effective climate action requires nuanced policies, including targeted reductions of short-lived pollutants, enhanced air quality measures, and a well-developed carbon market. Governance needs a powerful, centralized authority to ensure accountability and coordination. Despite recent election neglect, integrating climate action into political agendas is crucial. Immediate and comprehensive efforts are essential to mitigate impacts and drive meaningful progress toward India’s climate goals.

Source: The Hindu