India's emissions up 4.6% in 2016-19, new climate plans show

India’s total emissions increased by 4.56% in 2019 compared to the 2016 levels, and have nearly doubled since 2000, the third national communication and first adaptation communication cleared by the Union Cabinet for submission to the UNFCCC has indicated.

- Jayashree Nandi

The national communication will be submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change during the ongoing UN Climate Summit (COP28), environment minister Bhupender Yadav said.

According to the national which reports communication, greenhouse gas emissions for 2019, the energy sector contributed the most to the overall anthropogenic emissions (75.81%), followed by the agriculture sector (13.44%), Industrial Process and Product Use (IPPU) sector (8.41%), andwaste (2.34%). But, the emission intensity of its GDP has reduced by 33%between 2005 and 2019, the report said, highlighting that India hasmanaged to decouple economic growth and rate of increase in emissions.

The Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector remained a net sink in 2019, accounting for the removal of 4,85,472 GtCO2e (gigatonnes CO2 equivalent) of emissions. Considering total emissions and removals, India’s net national emissions in 2019were 2.6 billion tons CO2e.

According to its second national communication submitted in 2000, the net emissions in that year were 1301209.39 GtCO2e.

“Submission of India’s Third National Communication (TNC) and Initial Adaptation Communicationwill fulfil the obligation of India to furnish information regarding implementation of the Convention and its Paris Agreement, being a Party,” the statement from the environment ministry said.

The TNC underlines India’s national circumstances, it’s overriding priority of ensuring the development andwell-being of its people, enhancing adaptive capacities to better address the increasing impacts of climate change, while still contributingmore than its fair share to the global climate changemitigation.