India's current commitment is impressive, aiming to power half its installed capacity through non-fossil sources and reduce greenhouse emissions to 45 per cent of its 2005 levels by 2030
In a daring move, India is championing a cause that could reshape global carbon commitments. The nation urges developed countries to transition from carbon neutrality to carbon-negative by 2050. This ambitious proposal, insiders suggest, is rooted in a desire to grant emerging-market economies the leeway to utilise fossil fuels for longer, thereby aiding their developmental aspirations.
Set against a backdrop of heightened resistance to prescribed deadlines for eliminating coal and other fossil fuel usage, India is poised to make this audacious proposal during the forthcoming COP28 climate summit in Dubai.
To genuinely achieve the global net-zero target by 2050, developed nations must take the lead by aiming for net-negative emissions. Such a strategy can allow developing countries to use their natural resources best.
Developed nations, encompassing the United States, Britain, Canada, and Japan, have set their sights on achieving net zero by 2050. Notably, China has indicated its intent to attain this milestone by 2060, whilst India envisions reaching it by 2070.
It's vital to understand the distinction between net zero and carbon negative. While the former entails balancing carbon emissions with equivalent removals, the latter is an advanced concept. Being carbon-negative demands that a country extracts more CO2 from the atmosphere than it releases.
These pivotal discussions at COP28 unfold at a juncture marred by extreme climate phenomena, marked by searing heatwaves and erratic monsoons. Scientists worldwide are clamouring for swift and decisive action.
Revealing an insider perspective, two high-ranking officials and another government authority stated that India remains opposed to developed economies' incessant pressure to establish a firm timeline for fossil fuel reduction. Instead, the nation's inclination is towards diminishing overall carbon footprints via "abatement and mitigation technologies". Owing to the discreet nature of these negotiations, these officials chose anonymity.
India's current commitment is impressive, aiming to power half its installed capacity through non-fossil sources and reduce greenhouse emissions to 45 per cent of its 2005 levels by 2030.
In September 2023, a significant stride was made in New Delhi, where G20 countries recognised the urgency to diminish unabated coal power. However, they refrained from cementing a specific timeline or setting emission curtailment objectives. This move was particularly remarkable, as coal-reliant economies like China, India, and Indonesia had historically displayed reluctance in these dialogues. Instead, they've consistently urged developed nations to curtail their gas usage.
India has consistently held that a coal cessation timeline for the country is unrealistic. It is, in fact, of the opinion that coal's prominence in India's energy matrix will only grow, irrespective of potential storage and mitigation technology breakthroughs.
Current data underscores coal's pivotal role in India, with thermal power stations supplying 73% of the nation's electricity. Simultaneously, India has augmented its non-fossil capacity to 44% of its overall power generation capability.
The upcoming COP28 summit, scheduled from November 30 to December 12, is poised to be a defining moment for global climate commitments. As nations wrestle with the challenges of sustainable development and environmental stewardship, India's bold proposition amplifies the urgency for a collective global response. The stakes are high, and the world watches with bated breath. This call for a carbon-negative future not only underscores the evolving dynamics of global power and responsibility but could also set the tone for a new era of climate diplomacy. Whether the world heeds India's call or not, one thing is clear: the discourse on global carbon targets has been irrevocably shifted, and with it, the future trajectory of our planet.