India plans to reduce its reliance on all fossil fuels
POWER & RENEWABLE ENERGY

India plans to reduce its reliance on all fossil fuels

India cited the most recent IPCC reports to emphasise that reaching the 1.5 or 2 degree Celsius temperature targets requires the phase-down of all fossil fuels, not just coal, in a proactive effort to counter the pressure on coal that is likely to come its way again.

India's proposal did not specifically mention coal, but it was obviously an effort to deflect criticism from its continued reliance on coal-based energy.

According to reports, India argued that the best available science did not support the selective selection of emission sources for either labelling them more harmful or as "green and sustainable" even though they are all sources of greenhouse gas emissions.

Separately, India intervened to prevent the introduction of a proposal by developed nations to concentrate on a new mitigation work programme on the Top 20 greenhouse gas emitters. India was supported by a number of other nations in this effort. Several developing nations that are Top 20 emitters do not currently have any historical obligations to reduce their emissions. These nations argued that any new mitigation work programme should not force a reopening of the Paris Agreement, which expressly states that national climate commitments should not be imposed from without.

India has consistently come under fire for not doing enough to reduce its reliance on coal-fired electricity. Even after a massive expansion of the renewable energy sector, coal-based power still provides nearly 55% of India's energy needs. Even though new coal-fired power plants are unlikely to be built, India has insisted that in order to meet its rapidly expanding energy needs, it will continue to rely on coal as a major source of power generation for the next three to four decades. India, with the assistance of a few other nations, was successful in getting a reference to a quick "phase-out" of coal changed to a "phase-down" at the Glasgow climate conference last year.

India also suggested that the IPCC report's references to the developed nations' disproportionate use of the world's carbon budget since 1850 be noted in the cover text. It was stated that the cover text should exhort all nations to adopt sustainable production and consumption practises and to foster a worldwide mass movement for sustainable lifestyles. India has been making the case that altering one's lifestyle is necessary to achieve a sustainable future.

India stressed that the fundamental tenets of the global climate change architecture, including equity, shared but distinct responsibilities with respect to capabilities, and the nationally determined nature of climate commitments under the Paris Agreement, needed to be strongly reflected in the cover text and expressed its "deep regret" that we still live in an unequal world with "enormous disparities in energy use, incomes, and emissions".

See also:
Power ministry to mandate renewable power generation obligation
Not easy for India to meet renewables target by 2030: IEA


India cited the most recent IPCC reports to emphasise that reaching the 1.5 or 2 degree Celsius temperature targets requires the phase-down of all fossil fuels, not just coal, in a proactive effort to counter the pressure on coal that is likely to come its way again. India's proposal did not specifically mention coal, but it was obviously an effort to deflect criticism from its continued reliance on coal-based energy. According to reports, India argued that the best available science did not support the selective selection of emission sources for either labelling them more harmful or as green and sustainable even though they are all sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Separately, India intervened to prevent the introduction of a proposal by developed nations to concentrate on a new mitigation work programme on the Top 20 greenhouse gas emitters. India was supported by a number of other nations in this effort. Several developing nations that are Top 20 emitters do not currently have any historical obligations to reduce their emissions. These nations argued that any new mitigation work programme should not force a reopening of the Paris Agreement, which expressly states that national climate commitments should not be imposed from without. India has consistently come under fire for not doing enough to reduce its reliance on coal-fired electricity. Even after a massive expansion of the renewable energy sector, coal-based power still provides nearly 55% of India's energy needs. Even though new coal-fired power plants are unlikely to be built, India has insisted that in order to meet its rapidly expanding energy needs, it will continue to rely on coal as a major source of power generation for the next three to four decades. India, with the assistance of a few other nations, was successful in getting a reference to a quick phase-out of coal changed to a phase-down at the Glasgow climate conference last year. India also suggested that the IPCC report's references to the developed nations' disproportionate use of the world's carbon budget since 1850 be noted in the cover text. It was stated that the cover text should exhort all nations to adopt sustainable production and consumption practises and to foster a worldwide mass movement for sustainable lifestyles. India has been making the case that altering one's lifestyle is necessary to achieve a sustainable future. India stressed that the fundamental tenets of the global climate change architecture, including equity, shared but distinct responsibilities with respect to capabilities, and the nationally determined nature of climate commitments under the Paris Agreement, needed to be strongly reflected in the cover text and expressed its deep regret that we still live in an unequal world with enormous disparities in energy use, incomes, and emissions. See also: Power ministry to mandate renewable power generation obligationNot easy for India to meet renewables target by 2030: IEA

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