CLIMATE CHANGE AND INDIA'S TARGET OF NET-ZERO EMISSIONS
There exists no precise definition of Climate so it is always described in relation to the place. Every place has its
own typical climate, as in, some places are covered in snow eternally and some are hot, dry, and arid. Climate
also varies with the season. However, climate change refers to a significant change in the usual climate of a
certain place in the sense of a change in the annual precipitation or the change in temperature or humidity, etc.
Due to the factors, some natural like the reduction of distance between the sun and the earth or some human
errors like emitting greenhouse gases, the temperature would soar thus melting the icebergs, rising sea level,
etc. While aiming for the Zero target is surreal, the Net-zero target is a trade-off. Net-zero does not actually cut
down on the emissions but tries to countervail the carbon emissions by carbon credits or sequestration or
methods like large-scale use of hydrogen and de-carbonization of electricity. India’s commitment to
accomplish the net-zero target in the year 2070 comes against the backdrop of the UN Climate Change
Conference of the Parties (COP26) held in Glasgow on 31 October – 13 November 2021 which was hosted by
U.K. wherein other advanced economies like the U.S.A, Europe, and japan scheduled their commitment till 2050
and China till 2060, besides India. COP-26 has had to incentivize the member nations to restrict Global
warming to 1.5 degrees referencing the terms in the Paris Agreement. India’s adherence to the Goals of Paris
agreement, which is to pull off 40% of electricity generation through renewables, has been lauded. Prime
Minister Mr. Modi avowed in the COP-26 that India will certainly have 450 GW renewable generating capacity
by the end of 2030 which is stooping 100 GW at this very moment. The 75% reliance on the fossil fuels like
coal, oil & gas for energy is aimed to be lessened to 50% which would drastically amount to the energy transition.
The aims and commitments of India are probably achievable in the offing because the solar capacity has risen
to a whopping 50 GW from 1 GW before a decade, the cost to store the solar power has reduced and stood
comparable to the cost of new coal-fired thermal plant, thereby applying the commercial logic the solar power
should be a cheaper one. If India is successful in lowering the fossil fuel share of 75 percent to 50 percent
target, then it will furthermore too easy and doable for India to pull the net-zero target off. There are some
processes in the industry that cannot be feasible sans fossil fuel, including aviation, cement, and steel
manufacturing. However, byways of de-carbonization and use of hydrogen the game could be won, as
hydrogen has been begun to be used as a substitute to fossil fuels with India already launching National
Hydrogen Mission and aiming to reduce the cost thereof by 2025. The net-zero target is achievable and India’s
plan of action seems promising enough, the time will tell how it unfolds.
@srujan-nirkheemnlumumbai-edu-in
The author is a 3rd-semester law student and the Student Editor in chief of the Editorial Board at LRASJ,
From Maharashtra National University Mumbai, India.
