India delivered its Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy to the UNFCCC Parties at the COP27 conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
What does a long-term low-emissions development strategy entail?
The LT-LEDs are a requirement resulting from the 2015 Paris Agreement and are qualitative. It is stated in the Paris Agreement that countries should specify their steps to change their thrifts so that significant steps can be taken to curb and eliminate emissions by about 45% by the year 2030. Around 2050 amount of emissions will be destroyed.
The four main factors that support India’s long-term low-carbon development strategy form the foundation of the strategy. India’s historical contribution to cumulative global GreenHouse Gas emissions has been negligible, despite having a population of about 17% of the world’s total.
India’s need for energy is substantial for its development. According to its own national needs, India is dedicated to and actively pursuing low-carbon development initiatives. India must increase its climatic resilience. The mission of Life, Lifestyle for the Environment also informs the design of LT-LEDs. Life calls for a paradigm shift from mindless and harmful consumption to mindful and purposeful utilization.
What characteristics do LT-LEDS have?
The strategy will put a strong emphasis on the prudent use of domestic resources while taking into account energy security. The phase-out of fossil fuels will be done fairly, easily, sustainably, and inclusive. The strategy will encourage greater use of biofuels, particularly ethanol blends in gasoline. The push to increase the adoption of electric vehicles and greater use of green hydrogen fuel is expected to propel the low-carbon development of the transportation sector.
India wants to increase the use of electric vehicles, blend 20% more ethanol by 2025, and shift more people and goods to public transportation. Future urban development that is low-base, sustainable, and climate-resilient will be fueled by smart city initiatives, integrated city planning for mainstreaming adaptation and improving energy and resource efficiency, efficient green building codes, and swift advancements in novel solid and liquid waste management.
The industrial sector will continue to operate under the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ perspectives. India will also concentrate on increasing material efficiency, recycling, and ways to lower emissions. This will be done through the Perform, Achieve, and Trade (PAT) scheme, the National Hydrogen Mission, increased electrification, and other initiatives.
What do you mean by Net Zero Target?
It means carbon neutrality, which does not indicate that a country would reduce its emissions to zero. Rather, it is a situation in which a country’s emissions are balanced by the absorption and removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. More carbon sinks, like forests, can be developed to increase the absorption of the emissions.
Modern methods like carbon capture and storage are needed to remove environmental emissions. By the middle of the century, or by 2050, more than 70 nations have pledged to achieve Net Zero emissions. India committed at the conference of parties-26 (COP) summit to reduce its emissions to zero by 2070.
