India unveils its strategy for net zero goal by 2070

Background

On 14 November 2022, India announced its  Long Term-Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) at the ongoing COP 27. With submitting this strategy document to UNFCCC, India has now joined the group of 57 countries (out of 195) that were mandated to submit the long-term document by 2022 under the UN climate agreements.

In accordance with Article 4, paragraph 19, of the Paris Agreement, all parties should strive to formulate and communicate long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies. The Glasgow Pact last year also urged parties to submit their long-term strategy.

About the strategy

“Accordingly, in this document India lays out its approach to its low-carbon development pathway, taking note of the development challenges facing it in the context of climate change and cognizant of its historical traditions and culture that seeks harmony and balance between human society and nature,” reads the official document submitted to UNFCCC.

As per the document, India’s India’s approach to low-carbon development is based on four key considerations:

• India has contributed little to global warming
• India has significant energy needs for its development
• India is committed to pursuing low-carbon strategies for development and is actively pursuing
  them, as per national circumstances
• India needs to build climate resilience

India’s Long Term-Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) rests on seven seven key transitions to low-carbon development pathways:

• Low carbon development of electricity systems consistent with development
• Develop an integrated, efficient, inclusive low-carbon transport system
• Promote adaptation in urban design, energy and material-efficiency in buildings, and sustainable
  urbanisation
• Promote economy-wide decoupling of growth from emissions and development of an efficient,
  innovative low-emission industrial system
• CO2 removal and related engineering solutions
• Enhancing Forest and vegetation cover consistent with socio-economic and ecological considerations
• Economic and financial aspects of low-carbon development

Focus on finance

The document stresses the need for adequate finance to enable such large scale transition. “Several estimates regarding India’s financial needs exist. Many of them focus on the energy sector, including industry, buildings, and transport. Estimates vary across studies due to differences in assumptions, coverage, and modelling approaches, but fall in the range of trillions of dollars by 2050. In general, finance needs – and the domestic financing gap – are considerable, indicating a need for greater international support,” the document mentioned.

Official strategy document can be accessed here.

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