India Approves New Emissions Targets to Tackle Climate Change

India, the world’s third most polluting country, finally approved new targets to reduce finally approved new targets to reduce planet-warming emissions, more than a year after the United Nations more than a year after the United Nations set a deadline to update commitments. deadline to update the commitments.

India’s federal cabinet Wednesday approved the country’s new national emissions pledges, known as the Determined country’s new national emissions pledges, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced these targets last year at the UN climate talks in Glasgow, but the measures had not yet been formalized.

India’s new NDC India’s new NDC will commit the country to reduce emissions intensity by 45% compared to intensity by 45% from its 2005 level over the next seven years, which is an increase in seven years, a 10% increase from its previous pledge in 2016. previous pledge in 2016.

India will also aim to meet half of its energy demand from renewable sources, such as solar and wind, by 2030. This is also an increase from its previous target of 40%, which the government said it had achieved by December 2021.

Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, parties are required to update their long-term climate targets every five years and are urged to show greater ambition as climate change impacts worsen.

“The decision on the upgraded NDC demonstrates India’s commitment at the highest level to de-link economic growth from greenhouse gas emissions,” said a government statement.

The updated NDC will now be submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The government has also said it will aim for net zero emissions in 2070, 20 years later than climate scientists say is necessary.

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