Q.Describe the major outcomes of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). What are the commitments made by India in this conference?
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View this Question In PYQ RealmIntroduction
The 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), held in Glasgow, UK, in November 2021, was a pivotal summit aimed at finalizing the rules for implementing the Paris Agreement. It brought global leaders together to commit to more ambitious climate actions, accelerate the transition to net-zero emissions, and secure vital climate finance for developing nations.
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Major Outcomes of COP26
- Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS): Launched primarily by India, this initiative aims to support Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in building climate-resilient infrastructure. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) committed to providing critical satellite data on cyclones, coastline changes, and coral reef health.
- One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG): Jointly introduced by India and the UK, this initiative aims to create an interconnected global green grid to harness and share solar energy across international borders.
- Global Methane Pledge: Led by the US and the EU, over 100 countries pledged to reduce global methane emissions by 30% by 2030. Note: India did not sign this pledge due to concerns regarding its potential impact on the agricultural sector and rural livelihoods.
- Glasgow Leaders' Declaration on Forests and Land Use: Over 100 countries committed to halting and reversing forest loss and land degradation by 2030, building on the 2014 New York Declaration on Forests.
- Climate Finance: Developing nations, led by India, strongly advocated for a massive scale-up in climate finance. They emphasized that the historical promise of $100 billion annually was highly inadequate, urging developed nations to mobilize at least $1 trillion in climate finance to meet mitigation and adaptation goals.
- Phasing Down Coal: The Glasgow Climate Pact marked the first time a UN climate agreement explicitly targeted the reduction of fossil fuels, calling for a "phase-down" of unabated coal power.
India's Commitments at COP26 (The 'Panchamrit' Strategy)
India presented a bold, five-point climate action plan, termed Panchamrit, to accelerate its green transition:
- Net-Zero Target: India pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070.
- Non-Fossil Energy Capacity: India committed to increasing its non-fossil fuel energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030.
- Renewable Energy Share: India aims to meet 50% of its energy requirements from renewable energy sources by 2030.
- Carbon Emissions Reduction: India pledged to reduce its projected total carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes between 2021 and 2030.
- Carbon Intensity Reduction: India committed to reducing the carbon intensity of its economy by more than 45% by 2030 (relative to 2005 levels).
- E-Amrit Portal: India also launched the 'E-Amrit' web portal at the summit to promote electric vehicles (EVs) and raise public awareness about clean transport.
Conclusion
COP26 represented a significant step forward in global climate diplomacy, establishing concrete frameworks for carbon trading and coal reduction. For India, the summit was a platform to showcase its climate leadership through the Panchamrit goals. To achieve these ambitious targets, India must now formulate detailed, sector-specific domestic policies, phase down coal dependency, and aggressively scale up investments in clean energy and electric mobility.