Warming Up to Climate Action – the Transport Sector

The year 2021-22 has been a milestone year in many ways for climate action in India. While a lot more could have been done (as is always the case), the wins cannot be ignored. The highlight was of course India’s ‘net zero by 2070’ announcement at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), along with other announcements on short-term targets for renewable energy and emissions reduction.

Think in Systems To Deliver India’s Long-term Climate Strategy

The 2015 Paris Agreement required countries to submit their long-term climate action strategies by 2020. At COP26, India made a surprise announcement of a target to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2070, which means it will aim to balance the amount of carbon dioxide emitted with the amount absorbed.

Budget 2022: What To Look For

The year 2021 was a year of mixed fortunes. On the one hand, we witnessed India crossing 100 GW of installed renewable energy, while on the other, the pandemic took a toll on communities at large. Many of the efforts that had started at a good clip in early 2021 saw considerable slowing down mid-year due to the pandemic. The past year also had approximately 12GW of solar energy capacity installed, more than 250% compared to 2020.

Power Sector Commitments at COP26 – How To Achieve Them

India’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are 2.5 GtCO2 per year, which is very low compared to the highest emitting countries, such as the United States (10 GtCO2 per year) and China (5 GtCO2 per year). However, it is commendable that at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) held recently in Glasgow, India set ambitious targets to reduce carbon emissions from its energy sector.

Vision: Clean Skies for Punjab

The Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) has been actively involved in finding solutions to air quality issues across India. The Centre for Air Pollution Studies (CAPS) at CSTEP is currently conducting a long-term study in Punjab to identify air pollution challenges and devise sectoral strategies for reducing air pollution in the state. CAPS is carrying out hybrid measurements and policy analysis for providing solutions to air pollution arising from stubble burning, industries, and transportation.