Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Net-Zero

Mains level: Roadmap for net-zero targets

India has joined a high-profile group of countries pledging for net-zero target by 2070.

Net-zero, which is also referred to as carbon-neutrality, does not mean that a country would bring down its emissions to zero.
That would be gross-zero, which means reaching a state where there are no emissions at all, a scenario hard to comprehend.
Therefore, net-zero is a state in which a country’s emissions are compensated by absorption and removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

Gross zero would mean stopping all emissions, which isn’t realistically attainable across all sectors of our lives and industry.
Even with best efforts to reduce them, there will still be some emissions.
Net-zero looks at emissions overall, allowing for the removal of any unavoidable emissions, such as those from aviation or manufacturing.
Removing greenhouse gases could be via nature, as trees take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, or through new technology or changing industrial processes.

It is even possible for a country to have negative emissions if the absorption and removal exceed the actual emissions.
*Bhutan has negative emissions because it absorbs more than it emits.

Analysis of India’s growth path points to rising GDP per capita, with a rise in carbon emissions in the short term, primarily from energy.
There is pressure from absolute increase in population and consumption, but population growth is slowing.

In terms of sectoral GHG emissions, data from 2016 show that electricity and heat account for the highest share (1.11 billion tonnes).
It is followed by agriculture (704.16 million tonnes), manufacturing and construction (533.8 million tonnes), transport (265.3 million tonnes), industry (130.61 million tonnes).
Land-use change and forestry (126.43 million tonnes) is also a major source.
Other fuel use (119.04 million tonnes), buildings (109.2 million tonnes), waste (80.98 million tonnes), fugitive emissions (54.95 million tonnes) accounts for major urban sources.
Aviation and shipping (20.4 million tonnes) accounts for the least source of emission.

Legal mechanism: India needs to create a legal mandate for climate impact assessment of all activities.
Investment: This can facilitate investment by dedicated green funds.
Wholistic participation: Public sector institutions promoted by the government, co-operatives and even market mechanisms will participate.
Renewable energy: The 500 GW renewables target needs a major boost, such as channeling more national and international climate funding into decentralized solar power.
Hydrogen economy: Another emerging sector is green hydrogen production because of its potential as a clean fuel. India has a National Hydrogen Mission now in place.
Waste Management: India’s urban solid waste management will need to modernise to curb methane emissions from unscientific landfills.
Stored carbon mitigation: Preventing the release of stored carbon in the environment, such as trees and soil, has to be a net zero priority.

India’s argument is that it has historically been one of the lowest emitters of GHGs.
The impetus has to come from the developed economies that had the benefit of carbon-intensive development since the Industrial Revolution.

These plans need a political consensus and support from State governments.
Net-zero will involve industrial renewal using green innovation, green economy support and supply chains yielding new jobs.
It also needs low carbon technologies, zero-emission vehicles, and renewed cities promoting walking and cycling.
The industry will need to make highly energy-efficient goods that last longer, and consumers should be given a legal right to repair goods they buy.

The long road to Net Zero

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