India's Climate Action Plans and Paris Agreement Commitments
India is expected to miss the February deadline for submitting its next set of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for 2035 under the Paris Agreement. These plans outline the climate actions countries aim to undertake up to 2035. The current NDCs, submitted in 2020, target the 2030 period.
Paris Agreement Requirements
- The Paris Agreement mandates countries to update their NDCs every five years.
- The February 10 deadline was set for the 2035 NDCs submission, to allow time for compilation and synthesis reports before the annual climate conference.
India's Position
- India is not ready with its 2035 action plan and may submit it closer to the annual climate meeting in November in Brazil.
- There are no penalties for late submissions, and several countries, including developed ones, have not yet submitted their 2035 NDCs.
Climate Finance Disappointment
- India's NDC may reflect dissatisfaction with the climate finance outcome of COP29 in Baku.
- Developing countries, including India, sought at least one trillion dollars yearly in climate finance, but developed nations agreed to only 300 billion dollars from 2035.
Future Prospects and COP33
- India plans to host COP33 in 2028, which affects its current NDC commitments.
- Host countries typically announce new climate initiatives to showcase leadership, and India aims to enhance its NDC commitments nearer to that time.
Existing Commitments for 2030
- Reduce emissions intensity of GDP by 45% from 2005 levels.
- Ensure 50% of installed electricity generation capacity is from non-fossil fuel sources.
- Increase forest and tree cover to absorb an additional 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 annually.
Challenges and Economic Considerations
- Developed countries have been criticized for inadequate financial support, affecting global climate action.
- India's Economic Survey indicated possible adjustments to climate targets due to funding shortfalls, emphasizing reliance on domestic resources.
