4.7% spike in greenhouse emissions, reveals report
Despite the Narendra Modi government’s claims of being committed to the Paris climate agreement, India registered one of the largest increases in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2016, in contrast to other major emitters, which either saw decreases or stable emissions.
India’s greenhouse gas emissions rose by an alarming 4.7% in 2016, compared to the previous year, according to a report released by Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency on Thursday.
The US saw a decline of 2% and even China reported a decrease of 0.3%.
The good news is that global emissions of carbon dioxide, which is the primary greenhouse gas, have remained flat in the past two years, registering only a marginal increase.
The report attributed the downward trend to falling coal consumption and a shift towards cleaner fuels.
India, however, bucked this trend too with coal consumption rising by 4% in 2016.
By 2030, India has vowed to reduce its emissions intensity by 35% of the 2005 levels and spectacularly expand its renewable energy capacity. The nation aims to have 100 GW of installed solar capacity by 2022.
The National Electricity Plan released in 2016 said 56.5% of India’s installed power capacity will be from renewables within
NEW DELHI: IN CONTRAST TO THE DOWNWARD GLOBAL TREND IN FALLING COAL CONSUMPTION, INDIA‘S RELIANCE ON THE FUEL ROSE BY 4% IN 2016
the 10 years to 2027, including from hydropower.
Currently, coal and other fossil fuels meet about 70% of India’s power demand.
In recent years, the country has installed some high-visibility solar power projects.
Besides carbon dioxide, greenhouse gases include methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases, which constitute 28% of all GHG emissions.
In India, they contribute to over 30% of the emissions.
Increase in these gases was one of the major causes for GHG rising in India.
The biggest source of methane, the most important non-CO2 greenhouse gas, is cattle whose global contribution is almost a quarter of the emissions.
With 300 million, India has the largest cattle population in the world. Cattle farts and belches contain methane.
Methane is a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, causing more warming over the long term.
The 2016 trends are consistent with what was seen in 2015. The top emitters of GHG remain China (26%), US (13%) and India (7%).