The Indian automobile industry is currently valued at USD 108 billion. The Government of India has undertaken considerable strides (through purchase subsidies and auto production-linked incentive scheme, among others) to facilitate the green transition of the well-established domestic automotive industry and promote EV uptake. As a result of such initiatives, more than 28 lakh EVs are plying on road as of July 2023.

Climate change is a universally urgent issue that impacts all nations, with interlinked consequences for economies, societies, and ecosystems. At the seat of this problem lies the unchecked, irreversible land-use change affecting about 32 per cent of the Earth’s terrestrial area. COP28 provides an opportune moment to shed some light on prioritising nature and biodiversity conservation, alongside carbon-centric strategies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address at COP28, articulated India's steadfast commitment to environmental sustainability while maintaining a delicate balance between economic growth and ecological preservation.

As the global community once again converges at the Conference of the Parties (COP), the pivotal role of carbon markets in achieving the Paris Agreement's ambitious goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius takes center stage.

Decarbonisation of the transportation sector—the world’s second highest contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions—is critical to mitigate climate change. Most European and North American nations and China have settled on vehicle electrification as the best GHG reduction strategy.

The Government of India, too, has provided subsidies for electric cars (e-cars), but whether their adoption is the best way to decarbonise the transport sector requires further exploration.

As the climate crisis intensifies, two terms are in sharp focus: adaptation and ‘loss and damage’ (L&D).

Adaptation is the proactive response to climate change, the art of survival using which communities and countries make deliberate choices to prepare for and cope with climate-related challenges.

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has recently released guideli­nes on medium- and long-term demand forecasting, aiming to address the non-uniformity in forecasting app­roa­ches used by various states and utilities. While these guidelines offer clarity on major aspects, some issues need to be resolved for effective implementation.

In India, emissions from one truck are equivalent to those from 25 cabs. With the expected increase in economic activity and consumerism, the share of trucks in transportation emissions is bound to increase. Thus, freight decarbonisation is crucial to meet India’s net-zero and energy independence targets.