Worldwide: Analysing Actions By India And Other Countries Towards Achieving Climate Neutrality

INTRODUCTION

The word Carbon Neutral was first coined in the year 2006¹ and is defined as accomplishing net zero emission by balancing the volume of carbon emitted by anthropogenic activities with the volume of carbon captivated by the atmosphere. In simple words, emissions added into the atmosphere will be balanced out by absorbing an equivalent amount.  The roots of carbon neutrality can be traced back to the Paris Agreement² which aims at limiting global temperature up to 1.5°C by 2050.  Shortly, the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change published a report³ stating the target of 1.5°C is possible if dedicated and strong commitments are adopted by countries to reduce per capita emissions. According to latest data on nationally determined contributions, United Kingdom (UK), European Union (EU), Australia accompanied by United States (US) presented most ambitious goal in emission reduction by 2030.⁴ The year 2021 witnessed CoP 26, the most significant climate event, wherein 197 countries pledged for stronger actions to reduce carbon emission by 2030. A few important outcomes of the conference included coal transition,  climate finance, deforestation and methane pledge. India is most susceptible to climate change and as a developing country it has committed to being carbon neutral by 2070. Since the past few decades negotiations around emission reduction are at the heart of solving climate crisis and globally countries such as EU, UK, US and China are at the forefront for carbon neutrality. In this article, we will examine legislative actions deployed by India and other countries that aim to be carbon neutral 20 years before India.

INDIA

India's per capita emission is lowest compared to EU, UK, US ad China despite a higher population density. To achieve net zero by 2070, it is focussing on achieving its 2030 target more rigorously. In this context the climate action plan includes minimising use of fossil fuels, transition to renewable energy, reducing carbon emissions and forty-five per cent reduction in carbon economy by 2030⁵. The Indian framework on decarbonisation is laid out in the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and Intended Nationally Determined Commitments (INDC). The NAPCC is sector specific and enumerates goals to be achieved in eight sectors. The National Solar Mission aims to increase the share of solar energy and targets to mount 100 GW solar plants by 2022⁶. The National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency aims to promote energy efficiency by mandating energy intensive industries to trade excessive energy savings, affordability of energy efficient products, public-private collaboration and taxing energy efficient products. National Mission on Sustainable Habitat objective is to enhance sustainability through green energy structures in housing and commercial space, urban transport and management of urban solid waste. National Water Mission aims at decreasing wastage, improving conservation and equity in water distribution. National Mission for sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem emphasises on the role of local self-government in preserving ecological resources. It includes adopting appropriate land use planning, environment friendly infrastructure development and sustainable tourism. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture intents to make agriculture sector resistant to climate change by formulating strategies including picking thermal resilient crops and harvesting patterns. The purpose of National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change is to provide research and development in climate change.  These are further implemented at the state level by State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC). The INDC evaluates and sets the targets to be achieved by the country for carbon neutrality.  One such target is to meet its energy requirement by fifty per cent from renewable sources by 2030.

Apart from these policies, there are a plethora of environmental legislation and judicial decisions that have time and again laid stress on environmental protection. The Constitution of India under Article 21 grants to its citizens the 'right to environment'⁷ and fundamental duty of protecting the environment⁸. Environmental legislation covers all aspects of the environment such as wildlife⁹, forest¹⁰, air¹¹, water¹², groundwater etc and enumerates compliances, role and responsibility of authorities and prescribes penalty for non-compliance. The Supreme Court of India too has acted in the spirit of environmental protection and in its latest judgement recognised suo moto powers of National Green Tribunal (NGT) to take up environmental matters on its own¹³.  The NGT is a special forum for addressing all environment related grievances. India has unleashed a decisive action plan for carbon neutrality. Its targets are achievable provided all actions are backed by effective implementation of strategies.

GLOBAL EFFORTS IN CARBON NEUTRALITY

Climate change poses a great deal of threat to all nations across the globe. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a burning issue and calls for immediate actions by national governments. In furtherance to achieving commitments under the Paris Agreement, above 130 nations have set or are considering setting net zero targets by mid-century¹⁴. Countries like the US, UK, EU and China have started implementing their climate goals by way of legislative and affirmative actions.

European Union

The EU recognised the gravity of climate change problem long before any other country. As a response it passed the European Climate Law¹⁵ which further facilitated the 'European Green Deal'. Article 2 of the Climate Law obligates signatory states of EU to take necessary steps to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. One such step includes national reduction in emissions by at least 55% by 2030. Article 3 sets up an Advisory Board which uses recent, scientific and qualitative data couple with board of members that have expertise in the subject matter. Article 4 sets an intermediate climate target limited to 225 million tonnes of carbon and enhancing carbon sink in 2030. It is related with the principle of sustainable development  goals that says "leave no one behind"¹⁶ which is enumerated in Article 9 that promotes public participation at all levels. The law also promotes sector specific targets and has aimed to reduce 90% emissions from the transport sector. The 'European Green Deal' in a nutshell aims to promote the following objectives. Firstly, citizens are at the cornerstone in this transformation and their well-being is of prime importance. Secondly, it promotes de-carbonising in the transportation sector and aims for zero emissions by new cars by 2035. Thirdly, transitioning and increasing the share of renewable energy resources. The EU Emission Trading Scheme is one such example for reducing carbon emissions in a budget friendly manner.

UK

The UK government's plan for carbon neutrality is the most ambitious among all developed nations. Prior to announcing carbon neutrality by 2050, the target was seventy eighty per cent reduction in emissions by 2035. The Climate Change Act is a dedicated piece of legislation that lays the framework of achieving de-carbonisation by 2050. The Act was introduced in 2008 and within a decade, the country's emission reduced by forty-four per cent. The Act establishes a committee on climate change whose function is to advise the government on reduction targets and to update the Parliament with the advancement in reduction and adoption strategies for tackling climate change¹⁷. To meet the increasing demand for electricity by 2050, UK has opted a combination of low carbon electricity coupled with renewable and nuclear energy. It is fitted with a new technology that captures carbon emissions and reuses it. To support sustainability in the renewable energy sector, three fiscal incentives have been introduced which include renewable obligation, feed-in tariffs and renewable heat incentive. The country is on its' sixth budget which will  for the very first time also include international aviation and shipping emissions. UK houses contribute to fourteen per cent of carbon emission. To tackle this issue, it has mandated energy efficiency in all new buildings and transition to minimal carbon choices. On the global stage, UK has emphasised the importance of collective actions by all nations especially the developed countries. Keeping this in view, UK has established an International Climate Fund that seeks to support developing countries in meeting their targets.

US

On the other hand US does not have a climate change legislation but has a 'Climate Plan' which aims carbon neutrality by 2050. The plan is primarily based on transition towards green energy, greentech subsidies and investing $2 Trillion  for green infrastructure¹⁸. An intermediate target of fifty per cent reduction in emissions has been set for 2030. Keeping in mind the imminent threat of climate crisis, US has pledged to act now and catch up with all other major economies in the world. Its federal structure lays a strong foundation between all levels of bureaucracy, civil society and indigenous communities thereby deploying tools to achieve its goals. US has emphasised that working class are of great significance in meeting the 2030 targets by providing more job opportunities particularly in the green technology sector.  Sectoral targets include complete carbon neutral electricity by 2035.¹⁹ Steps are being taken to conserve natural resources and enhance carbon sink to further capture emissions from the atmosphere. Scientifically, methane is a much powerful catalyst in warming the planet compared to carbon. Recognising this US has acted as a forefront in launching the Methane Pledge at CoP26. The US 'climate plan' is a promising and ambitious climate action strategy which has garnered attention for its emphasis on participation by all levels of government, businesses and indigenous communities.

China

The last of the major economies, China has committed to decarbonisation before 2060. The country's nationally determined contributions include transition to green energy and minimising emission targets. Emphasis has been laid on transition towards non- fossil fuels by limiting coal generation and is in line with its 2030 targets. Unlike other countries, China is only focusing on carbon reduction and no other greenhouse gases. The International Energy Agency, stated that "China has the capacity to achieve a rapid green energy shift that would improve socio-economic benefits and a step closer in achieving 1.5 degree C. The country's energy sector contributes towards ninety per cent of emissions out of which coal accounts for sixty per cent emission. In this backdrop renewable energy particularly solar and wind is set to increase seven times by 2060. This key shift in achieving decarbonisation is put forward in the "1 + N" policy framework which focuses on areas such as minimal carbon transport, decarbonisation, energy efficiency and green-tech.  

CONCLUSION

Carbon neutrality can be achieved only when all nations are net-zero. Climate change will affect all nations equally. Hence there needs to be a shift towards 'collective actions' and 'accountability' in decarbonisation. As a developing country India, is saddled with the responsibility of achieving economic development while adhering to climate commitments.  This shifts the burden on all developed economies which was reiterated by India in COP26. The developed nations need to partner with developing nations and provide them with the necessary incentive and assistance to reduce their emissions, one amongst them being making  Green Finance available to developing nations. Transitioning to non-fossil sources of energy is a similar climate action goal of all nations therefore, a large portion of transitioning to non-fossil sources of energy requires funding by developed nations. 

As per the United Nations, reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions is still far from where it needs to be to preserve a liveable climate and support for the most vulnerable countries affected by the impacts of climate change is still falling far short. But COP26 did produce new "building blocks" to advance implementation of the Paris Agreement through actions that can get the world on a more sustainable, low-carbon pathway forward. 

Footnotes

1. Carbon Neutral: Oxford Word of the Year | OUPblog. (2006, November 13). OUPblog; https://blog.oup.com/2006/11/carbon_neutral_/

2. Key aspects of the Paris Agreement. (n.d.). United Nations Climate Change. Retrieved January 30, 2022, from https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-agreement/key-aspects-of-the-paris-agreement

3. Summary for policymakers. (n.d.). Ipcc. Retrieved January 30, 2022, from https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/chapter/spm/

4. Which Countries Have the Most Ambitious 2030 Emissions-Reduction Targets? - knoema.com. (2021, November 8). Knoema; Knoema. https://knoema.com/infographics/mynafrd/which-countries-have-the-most-ambitious-2030-emissions-reduction-targets

5. India targets net-zero carbon emissions by 2070, says Modi | Climate Crisis News | Al Jazeera. (2021, November 1)Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/1/modi-india-to-hit-net-zero-climate-target-by 2070#:~:text=India's%20economy%20will%20become%20carbon,to%20avert%20catastrophic%20climate%20impacts

6. Current Status | Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India. (n.d.). Ministry of New & Renewable Energy - Government of India. Retrieved February 3, 2022, from https://mnre.gov.in/solar/current-status/

7. Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra v. State, AIR 1988 SC 2187.

8. Article 51-A(g) Constitution of Inia, 1950.

9. Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

10. Forest Act, 1927.

11. Air(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981.

12. Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974.

13. Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai v. Ankita Sinha, 2021 SCC OnLine SC 897.

14. Nations, U. (n.d.). Net Zero Coalition | United Nations. United Nations. Retrieved January 30, 2022, from https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/net-zero-coalition

15. EUR-Lex - 32021R1119 - EN - EUR-Lex. (n.d.). EUR-Lex — Access to European Union Law — Retrieved January 30, 2022, from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32021R1119

16. UNSDG | Leave No One Behind. (n.d.). United Nations Sustainable Development Group: Home. Retrieved January 30, 2022, from https://unsdg.un.org/2030-agenda/universal-values/leave-no-one-behind

17. About the Climate Change Committee - Climate Change Committee. (n.d.). Climate Change Committee. Retrieved January 31, 2022, from https://www.theccc.org.uk/about/

18. How can the United States meet its climate goals? | World Economic Forum. (n.d.). World Economic Forum. Retrieved January 30, 2022, from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/03/usa-us-american-climate-change-environment/

19. FACT SHEET: President Biden Sets 2030 Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Target Aimed at Creating Good-Paying Union Jobs and Securing U.S. Leadership on Clean Energy Technologies | The White House. (2021, April 22). The White House; https://www.facebook.com/WhiteHouse/. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/04/22/fact-sheet-president-biden-sets-2030-greenhouse-gas-pollution-reduction-target-aimed-at-creating-good-paying-union-jobs-and-securing-u-s-leadership-on-clean-energy-technologies/

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.