General Studies Paper 3

Context

• India will submit its updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) around the commencement of U.N. Climate Change Conference COP 30 in Brazil in November.

About NDCs

• The NDCs are renewable-energy adoption goals set by a country as part of being a signatory to the Paris Agreement.
  • Countries must regulate their fossil fuel consumption to keep the globe from heating 2°C, and as far as possible, 1.5°C above that in pre-industrial times.
• Countries are required to update their NDCs every five years.
• India last updated its NDCs in 2022:
  • It committed to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% of 2005 levels;
  • source half of its electric power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources;
  • and create a carbon sink of at least two billion tonnes — all three by 2030.

Progress India Made

• Emissions intensity of GDP refers to the amount of carbon emitted per unit of GDP and does not mean a reduction in net emissions.
• As of 2023, India reported to the United Nations climate-governing body that the emissions intensity of its GDP had been reduced by 33% between 2005 and 2019.
• By June 2025, India reported installing at least 50% of its power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources.

Targets for 2035

• The updated NDCs, or NDC 3.0 as they are called, is expected to reflect the degree of emissions reductions by 2035.
• So far, only 30 of the 190-odd countries have submitted their NDCs though it is not uncommon for countries to submit their NDCs just ahead of the annual climate talks.

Expected NDCs

• The EU is expected to submit its NDCs ahead of COP30 with an indicative 2035 target in a range from 66.25% and 72.5% reduction, compared to 1990 levels.
• Australia this month updated its NDCs aimed to cut emissions 62%-70% of 2005 levels by 2035.
• The United States has exited the Paris Agreement and it remains to be seen if China will announce ambitious NDCs ahead of COP 30.
• India is also expected to operationalise the India Carbon Market by 2026 — under which 13 major sectors will be given mandatory emission-intensity targets — and can trade their resulting savings via emission reduction certificates.