The shape of a five-year climate agenda for India
- As the new government settles in, some of its choices would be pivotal to how India structures its economic path in a sustainable way, positions itself as the voice of the Global South at the right tables, and fights for climate finance and justice over the next five years.
India’s transformation over Climate Change
- Over the last decade, India has moved on from being a hesitant participant reacting to developments in the global climate discourse to being a bold leader shaping narratives and institutions.
- First, it has laid the foundation for global institutions such as the International Solar Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, and the Global Biofuels Alliance, as well as shaped the Green Development Pact under its G-20 presidency last year.
- Second, for the first time, India has started talking about bolder and more ambitious emission mitigation targets.
- The 2070 net-zero target and ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) are milestones.
- Third, the creation of an Indian emissions carbon trading scheme, an institution that should operate for at least 30-40 years, is a case in point.
Plan for next five years
- The country could, sooner or later, host important international climate summits.
- If it were to host the United Nations Conference of Parties in 2028, it would need to be as successful as the G-20 Presidency.
- Deciding on what could potentially be the big wins in 2028 and socialising these across countries to stitch alliances and allay concerns must start right away.
- Alongside, India should continue doubling down on the narrative of equity in international forums, and create leadership space for itself in global institutions that can deliver climate finance.
- India has to adopt and strongly communicate sectoral emission reduction targets that go beyond the power sector.
- India has achieved significant progress in the power sector and will continue to do so to keep pace with its international non-fossil share-related and domestic renewable energy capacity targets.
- The next step is to broaden the target to other sectors. For instance, it could be related to the private mobility space, giving a clear target for zero-carbon two- and four-wheelers.
Sub-national climate action
- Finally, going deeper implies that sub-national climate action and resilience must come to the fore in this term of the government.
- The government should think about creating a Centre-State coordination group, incentivising State-level climate actions through the Sixteenth Finance Commission.
- Given India’s federal structure, this recommendation does not mean centralising climate actions, but ensuring that State-level actions are better coordinated without compromising their autonomy.
- The new government should aim to take India’s global climate leadership to the next level in its new term.