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India's commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070 presents a significant challenge, with only 45 years remaining to reach this ambitious target. The path to net-zero requires a balancing act between economic development, energy security, and climate adaptation. India’s efforts to meet its climate goals will be shaped by multiple factors, including resource constraints, land use, and financial limitations.

Why Net-Zero at All?

• Scientific Consensus on Climate Change
  • Climate change is a growing concern, with the global temperature rise already reaching 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels.
  • To avoid catastrophic impacts, the world needs to limit the temperature rise to 1.5°C. The remaining global carbon budget for this target is around 400-500 billion tonnes of CO?.
• Necessity of Sharp Emission Reductions
  • Countries must drastically reduce emissions to stay within the carbon budget. Achieving net-zero emissions is essential for maintaining global climate stability.

Equity in Net-Zero Transitions

• Developed vs. Developing Countries
  • Developed nations, historically responsible for a large share of emissions, are expected to lead the transition. However, they have not met the financial and technological support commitments for developing countries.
  • Developing nations like India, with low per capita emissions, are under pressure to balance climate action with economic development.
• Climate Justice
  • India’s per capita emissions are among the lowest globally, but the richest 10% of Indians contribute significantly to national emissions, exacerbating inequality.
  • The impacts of climate change disproportionately affect the economically weaker sections, making the transition to net-zero not only an environmental challenge but a social justice issue as well.

The Challenge of Balancing Development and Sustainability

• Limits of India’s Resources
  • India faces resource constraints, including land, water, and biodiversity, which limit the feasible expansion of renewable energy capacity.
  • Meeting energy demands while ensuring food security, forest cover, and biodiversity preservation becomes increasingly challenging as energy requirements rise.
• Sustainable Consumption vs. Aspirational Lifestyles
  • India’s aspiration to emulate the developed world’s lifestyle is unsustainable due to limited resources, which could lead to severe consequences like groundwater depletion, heat stress, and biodiversity loss.
  • The focus should be on sufficiency consumption corridors, ensuring that consumption meets developmental goals without exceeding sustainable limits.

Projected Power Demand and Renewable Energy Targets

• Rising Power Demand
  • India’s power demand could increase nine to ten-fold by 2070. Meeting this demand entirely via renewable energy requires significant expansion in energy generation capacity:
    1. 5,500 GW of solar energy
    2. 1,500 GW of wind energy
• Land Use Constraints
  • To meet these targets, India must address land-use trade-offs. Expanding beyond 3,500 GW of solar and 900 GW of wind would require significant compromises in land availability for other uses, including agriculture and conservation.

Strategic Pathways to Net-Zero: Demand and Supply Measures

• Demand-Side Measures
  • Energy-efficient construction: Use of better materials and passive designs to reduce cooling energy demand.
  • Urban transport: Shift to public and non-motorized transport to reduce energy consumption in cities.
  • Dietary choices: Promoting sustainable dietary practices to reduce the carbon footprint of food systems.
  • Electrification: Focus on alternative fuels and energy-efficient appliances.
• Supply-Side Measures
  • Decentralization of Energy Production: Expanding rooftop solar panels and solar pumps for agriculture.
  • Nuclear Power Expansion: Increase nuclear energy to provide a low-carbon baseload and complement renewable sources like solar and wind, which are intermittent.

The Role of International Cooperation and Financial Support

• Global Cooperation
  • Global climate action requires alignment between national interests, which may not always coincide, as seen in the context of the U.S. presidential election potentially influencing global climate policy.
  • India’s path to net-zero depends heavily on international climate financing, technology transfer, and collaborative efforts to address climate justice.
• Equitable Financing for Developing Countries
  • Developed countries are expected to provide financial support to developing nations like India to achieve climate goals. However, this support has been insufficient to date.

Conclusion: India’s Balancing Act

India faces a challenging balancing act as it seeks to provide quality of life for its growing population while achieving its climate adaptation and mitigation goals. The path to net-zero will require careful management of economic growth, energy production, and resource conservation. India must focus on demand-side strategies to reduce energy consumption and increase efficiency while expanding renewable energy infrastructure in a sustainable manner. Additionally, international cooperation and financial support will be crucial in ensuring that India’s transition to net-zero is equitable, efficient, and aligned with its developmental priorities.