India Steps Forward with Climate Targets on Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday

The Indian government declared its climate targets for Paris at a launch event in New Delhi on Mahatma Gandhi's birthday. NRDC's India team along with media and key stakeholders attended the formal release. Minister Prakash Javadekar emphasized that India's targets are "comprehensive, ambitious and progressive".

India's Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) targets were posted on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) earlier today as discussed here and here.

Minister Javadekar emphasized that the most important component of India's climate commitment is the emissions intensity reduction target of 33 to 35 percent by 2030 from 2005 level. India clarified that India will achieve the energy intensity reductions based on "India's own program".

"We want to walk our own sustainable development path". The Ministry explained that India will generate its own resources to achieve the targets. Yet, India will also mobilize clean energy finance and technology transfer in the context of the 100 billion dollar pledge by developed countries at Copenhagen. He concluded by saying, "we only have one planet" while evoking Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion of the release today.

Summary of INDCs - India Focus

With India's INDC now released, over 80 percent of the countries emission targets have been submitted to the UNFCCC. NRDC is analyzing and summarizing the targets. As global leaders head to Paris this December, India and other countries have laid strong foundation for greater global cooperation on climate action. The targets are a significant move to galvanize greater action by leading businesses as well as governments on the local and state levels.

Co authored by Nehmat Kaur, India Consultant, NRDC
Photo Credits: Nehmat Kaur