What are the steps taken by India to counter climate change?

India has always advocated the principle of the common burden, differential responsibility according to the respective capability to counter climate change. India has undertaken ambitious mitigation and adaptation projects to tackle climate change.

Indian efforts to tackle climate change:

India, even though not a part of the problem, has taken a leadership role in the global and domestic action on climate change. Steps taken by India include:

• India has undertaken both adaptation and mitigation actions in the field of clean energy, especially renewable energy, enhancement of energy efficiency, development of less carbon-intensive and resilient urban centers, promotion of waste to wealth, safe, smart and sustainable green transportation network, abatement of pollution and efforts to enhance carbon sink through creation of forest and tree cover.
• India has set an ambitious goal of generating 175 GW of renewable energy by 2022.
• Initiatives like smart cities, electric vehicles, energy efficiency initiatives etc. have now made India one of the global leaders in climate action.
• Under INDC, India had made a voluntary pledge in 2009 to reduce the emission intensity of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 20-25 percent from 2005 levels by 2020 (excluding emissions from agriculture). As per the various reports, India is on the way to achieve this target.
• India enhanced its climate goals in 2015 and had pledged to reduce the emission intensity of its GDP by 33-35 percent from 2005 levels by 2030.
• India has set an ambitious goal of generating 40 percent of its total power from non-fossil fuels by 2030.
• India has pledged to eliminate all single-use plastic by 2022.

India has demonstrated a high spirit of commitment and leadership to tackle climate change. Its actions are a testimony to this fact.