India releases long-term strategy to reach net zero goal

Sharm El-Sheikh: India on Monday released its Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), setting out a broad framework of how it proposes to meet its goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2070.
“We are particularly happy to present our strategy at COP27, which is the COP of implementation,” environment, forest and climate change minister Bhupendra Yadav said at the release programme held at the India pavilion at the conference. “Our strategy relies on a number of actions that are to be undertaken in different key sectors of our economy. Our strategy document elaborates on these,” he said.

At COP26 in Glasgow a year ago, countries had agreed to communicate their long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies by COP27. India submitted the document to the UN climate secretariat on Monday.

The strategy document brings together policy and programme options that India is, and in the process of, undertaking to transition to a low carbon net zero economy. There certain overriding concerns that frame this transition such as energy security and development goals.

“The journey to net-zero is a five decade long one and India’s vision is, therefore, evolutionary and flexible, accommodating new technological developments and developments in the global economy and international cooperation,” Yadav said.

“But we also need to be mindful of the risks that this journey will entail. The need to eradicate our development deficits and ensure our food and energy security, while rationally using our natural resources, are, therefore, themes that pervade our low-carbon strategy,” he said.

Experts said it’s a sound beginning for transition to net zero.

“It is an important statement of intent to pursue low-carbon strategies for development,” said Navroz Dubash, a professor at New Delhi-based social science research institute Centre for Policy Research.

Srinivas Krishnaswamy, CEO of New Delhi-based think tank Vasudha Foundation, said, “This is the first effort by the government to put together in a single document what a transition to net zero entails.”

What this document does is give substance to the net zero by 2070 pledge made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Glasgow, he said. “It is a clear signal to the states, business and industry that India is serious about its net zero goal,” said Krishnaswamy, a veteran of UN climate negotiations.

While the environment minister alluded to trade-offs, the strategy document does not provide an analysis of the policy measures and interventions, including the trade-offs that policies entail or the potential co-benefits it may bring.

FOCUS ON 7 AREAS
The strategy takes a sectoral approach – focusing on seven thematic areas, namely, electricity, transport, economic and financial aspects, carbon dioxide removal, industry, urban, and forests. In each thematic area, policy measures that are under implementation, in the process of finalisation, and under consideration have been considered.

“The sectoral approach is important, since some sectors like transport currently have a small share in GHG emissions but are projected to grow in the coming decades,” said Ulka Kelkar, director, climate change programme, at World Resources Institute (India), an international think tank.

However, the long-term strategy does not provide any linkage to key environmental challenges, with clear climate linkages, that confront India, such as air pollution. Also, there is no discussion on the institutional structure and institutions that India will require to essay this transition.

What the strategy establishes beyond doubt is that that climate action being undertaken by India goes far beyond what it has provided for in its nationally determined contribution (NDC).

The strategy does not include interim targets or trajectory. “Mere numbers are not the goal, and India will surprise the world, not with promises but with actions that are undertaken,” Yadav said.

Energy security is a critical concern. India has made it clear that focus will be on rational utilisation of national resources with due regard to energy security. Its transition from fossil fuels will be undertaken in a just, smooth, sustainable and all-inclusive manner, as per LT-LEDS.

The accelerated renewable energy programme and the green hydrogen policy underwrite this effort. India said it wants to emerge as a green hydrogen hub. India plans to and has put policy initiatives in place for the rapid expansion of green hydrogen production, and increasing electrolyser manufacturing capacity. A three-fold increase in nuclear capacity by 2032 is also among the measures that underpin India’s transition to a net zero economy.

In the transport sector, efforts such as the increased use of biofuels, especially ethanol blending in petrol, the drive to increase electric vehicle penetration, and use of green hydrogen fuel are expected to drive low carbon development. A shift to public transport for passenger and freight is another area of policy intervention.

When it comes to urbanisation, India envisages that the rapid trend will be driven by smart city initiatives, integrated planning of cities for mainstreaming adaptation and enhancing energy and resource efficiency, effective green building codes, and rapid developments in innovative solid and liquid waste management. As regards to the industrial transition, India is clear that it should not impact energy security, energy access and employment.

“While India is well poised to a low carbon economy and cater to energy security and development needs, the country would need access to financial capital in the form of grants, equity and concessional loans,” said Vibhuti Garg, director, South Asia, at Institute of Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, a US-headquartered research institute. “The low carbon pathway has been designed, which is flexible to adopt any new technologies that can further help in meeting the climate goals, but commitment of climate finance from developed countries is required. No more talks but real flow of money needs to happen now.”

Vaibhav Chaturvedi, fellow at Delhi-based think tank Council for Energy, Environment and Water, said, “The LTS could have included carbon pricing through a domestic emissions trading scheme as a key element of India's strategy, given that the government has already announced the creation of the same in India.”