India to raise ‘green energy targets’ to combat climate change

By Naharnet Press Office almost 9 years

India is promising to raise renewable energy targets to curb greenhouse gas emissions, a long-awaited commitment that is expected to be announced next week ahead of upcoming UN climate talks, a newspaper reported on Thursday.

India, a world leader in carbon dioxide emissions, will boost solar and wind power capacity, but it is unclear whether the country will commit to a timetable for reducing carbon dioxide emissions that drive climate change, the report said.

According to the Hindustan Times, India will aim to reduce its “carbon intensity” (the ratio of emissions to economic output) by 35 percent from 2005 levels by 2030.

An environment ministry official told AFP the declarations would be made next week to “time” with the national holiday marking the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on Friday.

He did not provide details on the commitments known as Intended Nationally Determined Contributions, or INDCs, which will form the basis of a universal climate pact to be struck at the talks.

India, the biggest emitter after the US and China, relies on polluting coal for 60 percent of its electricity but has come under pressure from the international community to commit to cutting emissions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has, however, accused developed countries of causing global warming.

The government has approved India’s commitment to generate 40-45 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by the end of 2030, the newspaper reported.

As a result, India’s renewable energy potential by 2022 will be more than twice Modi’s current ambitious target of 175,000 megawatts.

The country will try to reduce its carbon intensity by increasing the efficiency of thermal power plants, an anonymous official quoted in the report said.

The Modi government has already announced plans to double coal production to meet economic needs and provide electricity to some 300 million Indians living without electricity.

France, which is hosting the talks, this month called on countries to immediately submit their carbon emissions reduction targets ahead of the conference starting on November 30.