Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are country-specific climate action plans under the Paris Agreement that outline how nations will reduce emissions and adapt to climate change. Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) serve as roadmaps for sustainable growth, clean energy transition, and resilience against climate impacts like floods, droughts, and rising sea levels. 

Beyond environmental goals, NDCs also support inclusive development, create green jobs, and improve public health by cutting pollution. For India and the world, NDCs reflect a shared responsibility to fight global warming, achieve low-carbon growth, and build a safer future while ensuring fairness and cooperation among countries.

What are Nationally Determined Contributions?

NDCs full form is Nationally Determined Contributions. These are plans made by every country under the Paris Agreement to fight climate change. Each country in its Nationally Determined Contributions explains its measures. They talk about how they will reduce harmful gases to fight back against global warming. 

They also share how they will protect people and nature from problems like rising sea levels, floods, droughts, and heatwaves. Each country must prepare, share, and update its NDCs from time to time. In short, NDCs are promises by countries to work together for a cleaner, safer, and healthier planet for everyone.

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How can NDCs be beneficial beyond mitigating climate change?

It is important to understand that NDC is not only about climate change, but also brings additional benefits. They work like a plan to help a country grow in a clean and green way. Through NDCs, countries can guide industries and workers as they move from using coal and oil to cleaner energy like solar and wind.

They also make sure that more people are included in progress, such as women, young people, and tribal communities. If used well, NDCs can make the economy stronger, create new and better jobs, reduce unfair differences among people, and improve health by reducing pollution.

What do Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) entail within the framework of climate agreements?

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) entail within the framework of climate agreements:

• Paris Agreement: Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, countries must prepare and submit two kinds of climate action plans — one for the short term, and another for the long term.
• The short-term climate action plans: Also called Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), must be submitted every five years, with specific actions being taken over 5- or 10-year periods. The NDCs of all countries currently contain the actions they are taking till 2030.
• The long-term climate action plans: Apart from NDCs, the Paris Agreement also asks countries to submit their long-term strategies to reduce emissions. There is no time frame for which these long-term strategies must be prepared, but it is generally understood that countries will draw out plans till the middle of the century.

What are the recently updated NDCs of India, and what progress has been achieved in their implementation?

In August 2022, India updated its NDCs to UNFCCC, under which India has promised three main targets for 2030:

• 45 percent reduction in emission intensity (emission per unit of GDP) from 2005 levels.
• 50 percent share of renewables in electricity generation.
• Creation of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of additional carbon sink through forests.
• India’s progress on NDCs so far:
  • Renewable Energy Expansion: India has witnessed a remarkable surge in renewable energy capacity, reaching over 175 GW in 2022. The country aims to achieve 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030.  
  • Emission Intensity Reduction: The country’s emissions intensity has already declined by 29% between 2005 and 2020.  
  • Forest Cover Expansion: India has been actively expanding its forest cover, aiming to increase it to 33% of the country’s geographical area. This expansion helps absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.  
  • Energy Efficiency Initiatives: India has implemented various energy efficiency measures across sectors, including industries, buildings, and transportation. 
  • Climate Adaptation Strategies: India has developed and implemented climate adaptation strategies in various sectors, including agriculture, water resources, and coastal areas. These strategies aim to build resilience to climate change impacts.

What is the global progress on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) across various countries?

As of October 2023, 196 countries have communicated their NDCs to the UNFCCC. These NDCs cover 94.9% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

According to the UNFCCC’s NDC Synthesis Report, the total emissions reduction pledged by countries in their NDCs is not enough to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

Here are some of the key findings of the NDC Synthesis Report:

• The total emissions reduction pledged by countries in their NDCs is 24.7-26.4 Gt CO2 eq in 2025 and 22.2-25.0 Gt CO2 eq in 2030.
• Despite, the total emissions reduction pledged by countries is still not enough to limit global warming to 1.5°C. 
• Developing countries are making progress in strengthening their NDCs. 
• Developed countries are also making progress, but their NDCs still fall short of what is needed to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. 

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What criticisms or challenges are associated with the concept of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in addressing climate change?

Here are criticisms or challenges are associated with the concept of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in addressing climate change:

• Lack of ambition and fairness: NDCs collectively fall short of achieving the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, especially from the developed countries, which have historically contributed more to greenhouse gas emissions.
• Lack of transparency: Some countries lack clear methodologies for setting and tracking their NDC targets, making it difficult to assess their progress. There is no formal enforcement mechanism to ensure that countries meet their NDC commitments.
• Limited focus on adaptation: Adaptation measures receive insufficient attention compared to mitigation efforts. 
• Lack of long-term vision: Current NDCs typically have a five-year timeframe, which is considered too short to achieve the necessary transformative changes. 
• Coordination and cooperation gaps: NDCs are primarily national in scope, and there is limited international coordination to ensure that NDCs are aligned and complementary.
• Financial constraints: Implementing NDCs, particularly in developing countries, requires significant financial resources. 

Has India committed to any additional climate goals or objectives beyond its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)?

In November 2021, at the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) of the UNFCCC held in Glasgow, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the country’s ambitious climate action plan, known as the ‘Panchamrit’.

• The five goals outlined in the Panchamrit are:
  • Reaching 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy capacity by 2030.
  • Meeting 50% of energy requirements from renewable sources by 2030.
  • Reducing total projected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes from now to 2030.
  • Reducing carbon intensity of every unit of GDP by 45% by 2030.
  • Achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.

India’s Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) 

In November 2022, India submitted its Long-Term Low-Carbon Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) at the UNFCCC’s COP27 in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh. It is India’s long-term strategy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.

India’s LT-LEDS rests on seven key transitions to low-carbon development pathways.

• Low Carbon Development of Electricity Systems
• Integrated, Efficient, Inclusive, Low-Carbon Transport Systems
• Promoting Adaptation in Urban Design and Sustainable Urbanization
• Low-carbon Industrial Systems
• CO2 Removal and Related Engineering Solutions
• Enhancing Forest and Vegetation Cover.

India’s Role in Contributing to Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions

India’s role in contributing to Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions:

• According to the Global Carbon Project, India’s total GHG emissions in 2021 were 2.99 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO2e), ranking third globally behind China and the United States.
• Historical Responsibility for Emissions:  India’s cumulative emissions from 1850 to 2019 were about 4% of the global total, while the United States and China accounted for 25% and 13%, respectively.
• Per Capita Emissions:  India’s per capita emissions, the average amount of GHGs emitted per person, are also significantly lower than developed countries. In 2021, India’s per capita emissions were 2.3 tonnes of CO2e, while the global average was 4.8 tonnes of CO2e.
• India’s Emission Sources:  India’s GHG emissions are primarily from the energy sector, which accounts for about 75% of total emissions. The main sources of emissions in the energy sector are coal, electricity generation, and transportation.

What are the Challenges to India’s Emission Reduction Efforts?

Here are challenges to India’s emission reduction efforts:

• Balancing Economic Growth and Environmental Protection: India’s reliance on fossil fuels for energy production poses a significant challenge to reducing emissions.
• Access to Affordable Clean Energy Technologies: A large portion of India’s population resides in rural areas with limited access to electricity and clean energy technologies. This lack of access is hindering the transition to a low-carbon economy.
• Addressing Energy Poverty: Ensuring access to reliable and affordable energy sources, while also reducing emissions, is a complex challenge that requires innovative solutions and targeted policies.
• Addressing Methane Emissions: India is a significant emitter of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, primarily from agriculture and livestock production. 
• Promoting Energy Efficiency: Implementing energy-efficient technologies, adopting behavioral changes, and strengthening energy efficiency standards are crucial steps.
• Public Awareness and Engagement: Raising public awareness about climate change and its impacts, as well as promoting sustainable practices among individuals and communities, is essential to drive the transition to a low-carbon society.
• Political Will and Policy Leadership: Strong political will and effective policy frameworks are crucial to prioritize climate change mitigation and ensure that the necessary measures are implemented effectively.

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What other Efforts or Initiatives has India undertaken in Mitigating Climate Change?

Here are the initiatives India has undertaken in mitigating climate change:

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