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International negotiations: The Paris Agreement of 2015 (among the 196 Parties to the UNFCCC) brings all ambitious efforts to combat climate change and unleash actions and investment towards a low carbon, resilient and sustainable future. It sets the path for the post-2020 actions based on the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of the Parties—coming into force on 4th November 2016.
Meanwhile, the COP 22, in Marrakech, Morocco (November 2016) had its main thrust on developing rules and action framework for operationalizing the Paris Agreement and advance work on pre-2020 Actions. At COP 22, Parties agreed to a deadline of 2018 for the rule book. Detailing exercise will include accounting of the NDCs, adaptation communication, building a transparency framework, global stock take every five years, etc. The key decision adopted at COP 22 were—
(i) The sense of urgency to take action on climate change;
(ii) The need to strengthen and support efforts to eradicate poverty, ensure food security and enhance resilience of agriculture; and
(iii) The pre-2020 action including mobilization of USD 100 billion per year.
India’s green actions: India ratified the Paris Agreement on 2nd October 2016. India’s comprehensive NDC target is to lower the emissions intensity of GDP by 33 to 35 per cent by 2030 from 2005 levels, to increase the share of non-fossil fuels based power generation capacity to 40 per cent of installed electric power capacity by 2030, and to create an additional (cumulative) carbon sink of 2.5–3 GtCO2e through additional forest and tree cover by 2030. Major initiatives by India in the direction are—
• At present, India’s renewable energy sector is undergoing transformation with a target of 175 GW of renewable energy capacity to be reached by 2022. In order to achieve the target, several programmes/schemes are being implemented by the government. As a result of various actions in the right direction, India attained 4th position in global wind power installed capacity after China, USA and Germany. India achieved 46.3 GW grid-interactive power capacity; 7.5 GW of grid-connected power generation capacity in renewable energy; and small hydro power capacity of 4.3 GW by October 2016. In January 2016, Government amended the National Tariff Policy for electricity with a focus on the environmental aspect.
• With India’s initiative, International Solar Alliance (ISA) was launched, which is envisaged as a coalition of solar resource-rich countries to address their special energy needs and will provide a platform to collaborate on addressing the identified gaps through a common, agreed approach. 24 countries have signed the Framework Agreement of ISA after it was opened for signature on November 15, 2016. ISA is expected to become inter-governmental treaty-based organization that will be registered under Article 102 of the UN charter after 15 countries ratify the Agreement. With legal framework in place, ISA will be a major international body headquartered in India.
• Government of India has established the National Adaptation Fund for
Climate Change to assist States and Union Territories to undertake projects and actions for adaptation to climate change.
• India is also one of the few countries in the world to impose a tax on coal. This coal cess which has been renamed as ‘Clean Environment Cess’ in 2016–17 funds the National Clean Environment Fund (NCEF). The Clean Environment Cess has been doubled in the 2016–17 to Rs. 400 per tonne. The proceeds of the NCEF are being used to finance projects under Green Energy Corridor for boosting up the transmission sector, Namami Gange, Green India Mission, Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, installation of SPV lights and small capacity lights, installation of SPV water pumping systems, SPV Power Plants and Grid Connected Rooftop SPV Power Plants.