India's INDCs to tackle climate change won't hit

Government today said that India's Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) for Paris climate summit in December this year, which are likely to be announced this month, will not compromise the country's socio-economic goals.
"India is set to announce its INDCs this month. We are not likely to take sectoral commitments but will give an economy wide achievement and have made provisions and scope for each sector in INDCs," Additonal Secretary in Environment Ministry, Sushil Kumar, said.
Speaking at the 4th annual CII Climate Change Conference, he said that 58 countries have already submitted their INDCs for climate change mitigation and adaptation from 2020-2030. These INDCs will be reviewed and revised exponentially in ten-year cycles and will be guided by progression.

"Our INDC will include country's vision to ensure increased adoption of green energy and processes to improve energy efficiency without compromising the scope and pace of socio-economic development," he said.
He said that developing nations are arguing for a universal agreement which do not impact their economic and social development.
"All countries will be bound by an agreement which will be universal. The essential argument being advanced by developing nations is that this agreement should not impact their own economic and social development," he said.

He urged the industries to come out with a strategy keeping in mind a 50-year time-frame to help the government to strategize for next 10 years.

"All sectors have to come out with a strategy which will guide their actions over the course of the next decade. Plans need to be made keeping in mind time frames of about 50 years. These sectoral strategies can then be consolidated and shared with the government to set the context for the government and enable them to strategize for the next 10 years," he said.
Ajay Mathur, Director General, Bureau of Energy Efficiency, emphasised the role of renewables, reforestation and energy efficiency in mitigating climate change.
"The major barriers to this process in India are the upfront cost of investments in renewables and energy efficiency, especially due to high interest rates, and land acquisition for projects," Mathur said.