India’s Path to Climate-Neutrality: A Government-Driven Success

 Energy is the driver of the global economy. Looking at the severe impacts of fossil fuel on both the environment and human health, global leaders have commitments towards shifting to Renewable energy (RE) based solutions.

India, despite being home to 17% of the world's population, has contributed minimally to global warming. From the pre-industrial era to 2019, India's cumulative CO2 emissions account for less than 4% of the global total. Also, India's per capita emissions are only about 1/3 of the global average. India's long-term low-carbon development strategy is rooted in principles of equity and climate justice, adhering to the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (PIB, August 3, 2023).

The country has consistently demonstrated its commitment to climate action. At the 2015-Paris Climate Agreement (COP21), with its goal of limiting global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels, India pledged to achieve 40% installed renewable energy capacity by 2030. This commitment was further strengthened at the 2021 Glasgow Climate Pact (COP26), where India announced an ambitious target of 50% renewable energy capacity by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2070. Furthermore, the Government of India has set ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), aiming to reduce its emissions intensity by 33-35% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels, placing it at the forefront of global efforts to combat climate change.

Key Takeaways:

1. Exceeded Paris Agreement Target: Achieved 46.3% energy production from renewable sources by November 2024 much ahead of the 2030 target set (50%) by the Paris Agreement.
2. Government Support for Innovation: India’s climate policies have fueled innovation in the electric mobility sector. With strategic support for research and development, schemes like FAME 1 and II, the country has seen the growth of homegrown electric vehicle manufacturers and the introduction of sustainable transport technologies.
3. Massive RE Expansion Program: Implementing the world's largest RE expansion program, targeting a 5-fold increase in overall RE capacity.
4. Diversified Energy Mix: India is a diversified nation, with each region having specific strengths, where local resources can be utilized to provide energy solutions for the region. A large fraction of Indian states get ample sunshine throughout the year, thus solar energy leads the way in India by contributing Solar Power (Cumulative 31 Jan 2025): 100.33 GW of total energy, followed by wind energy (48.36 GW). Hydroelectric energy also shares a significant fraction of the country's total energy mix.
   

   
   

   

   
   

   

   
   
   
5. Green railways: India railway is also committed to net-zero by 2030. As per MNRE, Indian Railways have setup solar power capacity (3.7 MW) alongside rail tracks. shifting to RE along with improving the energy efficiency of existing resources is helping the Indian Railways to be Green railways.
6. Alternative RE Technologies: Actively pursuing emerging technologies such as 2G Ethanol Pilot, Comfort climate box for tropical regions, Hydrogen Valleys, and a Heating and cooling virtual repository. Over the last decade, public sector oil companies' ethanol-blended gasoline program has saved over ₹1,13,007 crore in foreign exchange and replaced about 193 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil. Ethanol blending has increased dramatically, from 38 crore litres in 2013-14 to 707 crore litres in 2023-24, reaching a 14.60% blend. The government has accelerated its 20% blending target to 2025-26, with oil companies aiming for 18% in the current year. Increased ethanol production capacity, long-term agreements for new plants, and the availability of E-100/E-20 fuels and flex-fuel vehicles are all contributing factors, streamlining business and supporting "Self-Reliant India." (https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2097305#)
7. Nuclear Energy Growth: Targeting 9% electricity contribution from nuclear sources by 2047 and 20 GW nuclear power generation capacity by 2030, aiming to become the third-largest producer of atomic energy globally.
8. Nuclear Power Expansion: Approved 10 reactors in fleet mode and allowed nuclear installations under joint ventures with PSUs, resulting in India becoming the 6th largest globally in the number of functional reactors and second-largest in total reactors (including those under construction)
9. Comprehensive Cooling Action Plan: Developed a long-term (20-year) Cooling Action Plan (CAP) addressing cooling needs across various sectors.
10. Collaboration Between Stakeholders: The Government of India has taken steps to develop a synergy between government, academia, and industry to facilitate both innovative breakthroughs and the development of impactful, practical policies. Initiatives such as the Hydrogen Valley Mission exemplify this collaborative approach, uniting stakeholders across the hydrogen ecosystem, from production and transport to storage and application development. The Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology has approved funding for Rs 50 crore each to 4 clusters: Kerala Hydrogen Valley Innovation Cluster (HVIC), Pune-HVIC, Bhubaneshwar- HVIC, and Jodhpur-HVIC for 5 years.

Conclusion:

India's climate control policy framework for mobility is indeed one of the most ambitious and timely in the world. The Prime Minister's vision, "We believe that an ounce of practice is worth more than a ton of preaching," has driven the Government of India to make significant strides in the domain of energy transition by increasing RE capacity in the country.

Thus, for the country to meet its net-zero targets by 2070, continued government support and the collaboration of multiple stakeholders is essential. By addressing infrastructure gaps, promoting innovation, and educating the public, India is firmly positioning itself as a global leader in sustainable mobility.