Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCS)

• India, as a signatory to the Paris Agreement, is committed to addressing climate change through its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). 
• These contributions outline the country's climate action plans and are updated every five years to reflect evolving goals and strategies.
• India submitted its first NDC in 2015, outlining its climate action plans until 2030. 
• In 2022, the country updated its NDC to enhance its commitments, aiming to align with global climate goals and demonstrate leadership in sustainable development.

Quantitative Targets for 2030

• The updated NDC sets ambitious quantitative targets for 2030:
• Emissions Intensity Reduction: India aims to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% from 2005 levels by 2030. This is a significant increase from the 33–35% reduction target set in the 2015 NDC.
• Non-Fossil Fuel-Based Energy Capacity: The country targets achieving 50% of its cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy sources by 2030.
• Carbon Sink Enhancement: India plans to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent through increased forest and tree cover.
• Progress to Date: As of October 2023, India had already achieved 43.81% of its non-fossil fuel-based energy capacity, indicating substantial progress toward the 2030 target.

Qualitative Targets and Initiatives

• In its updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for 2022, India introduced a new and transformative initiative called LIFE — Lifestyle for Environment. 
• This addition highlights India's commitment to tackling climate change through not only large-scale policies and infrastructure changes but also through fostering individual responsibility and sustainable living.

What is LIFE?

• LIFE is a movement that seeks to promote eco-friendly behaviours and encourages individuals, communities, and businesses to adopt sustainable lifestyles. 
• The core idea behind LIFE is to inspire a mass movement where environmental consciousness becomes a part of daily life. 
• The focus is on encouraging people to make environmentally conscious decisions that lead to less resource consumption, reduced waste, and lower carbon footprints.

Key Elements of LIFE

• Sustainability in Daily Life: The LIFE movement aims to create awareness about the need for sustainable practices in everyday activities, such as consumption, transportation, waste management, and energy use.
• Behavioural Change: It focuses on shifting people's mind-set, motivating them to live more sustainably by adopting greener alternatives, such as using less plastic, conserving water, and promoting plant-based diets, among other actions.
• Community Engagement: LIFE emphasizes collective efforts and community-driven initiatives. It encourages a sense of responsibility where communities come together to create sustainable solutions for environmental challenges.

Why is LIFE Important?

• Complementary to NDC Goals: LIFE complements India’s broader climate action goals, as laid out in its NDCs, especially with respect to reducing emissions intensity and increasing the use of non-fossil fuel energy. By changing individual behaviours, India aims to create a sustainable society that supports the achievement of its 2030 targets and long-term climate goals.
• Empowering Individuals: LIFE empowers individuals to be active participants in the fight against climate change. By encouraging simple yet effective changes in behaviour, such as using energy-efficient appliances or opting for eco-friendly transportation, the movement promotes a more conscious and sustainable lifestyle.
• Global Cooperation: The LIFE initiative is also seen as a way to inspire global action. The movement’s emphasis on lifestyle changes transcends national borders, encouraging other nations to adopt similar frameworks for promoting sustainable living.

Panchamrit: Five Pillars of India's Climate Action

• At the COP26 summit in Glasgow, India presented the 'Panchamrit'—five key commitments to combat climate change:
• 500 GW Non-Fossil Energy Capacity by 2030: India aims to achieve 500 gigawatts of non-fossil fuel-based energy capacity by 2030.
• 50% Renewable Energy Share: The country targets meeting 50% of its total energy requirements from renewable energy sources by 2030.
• Reduction of Carbon Emissions: India plans to reduce total projected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes from now until 2030.
• Carbon Intensity Reduction: The goal is to reduce the carbon intensity of the economy by 45% by 2030, compared to 2005 levels.
• Net Zero Emissions by 2070: India has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070.

Long-Term Low-Carbon Development Strategy (LT-LCDC)

• India's LT-LCDC, submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2022, outlines the country's long-term strategy for low-carbon development. 
• The strategy emphasizes the need for financial resources to install renewable power plants, upgrade the transmission grid, and introduce energy storage systems, among other initiatives.

Challenges and Global Expectations

• While India has made significant strides in its climate commitments, challenges remain:
• Financial and Technological Support: The country emphasizes the need for developed nations to provide financial and technological support to developing countries to achieve their climate goals.
• Updated NDC Submissions: India, along with other nations, faces the challenge of updating its NDCs to align with the latest climate science and global agreements.