Lok Sabha Question No. 3048 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-20
Subject: COP 26
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Rita Bahuguna Joshi, Unmesh Bhaiyyasaheb Patil, Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Sujay Radhakrishna Vikhepatil, Heena Vijaykumar Gavit, Krishna Pal Singh Yadav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3048

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.03.2023

## COP 26

3048. PROF. RITA BAHUGUNA JOSHI:

SHRI UNMESH BHAIYYASAHEB PATIL:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

DR. SUJAY RADHAKRISHNAVIKHE PATIL:

DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT:

DR. KRISHNA PAL SINGH YADAV:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has planned any strategies to make India a carbon neutral region by 2070 and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  this  cut  on  carbon  usage  would  affect  the  growth  of  the  country  from  a developing to developed nation;
- (c) whether the Government can provide the data on the development of carbon cutting fuels and technologies for this target to be achieved in COP 26; and;
- (d) whether new forest areas have been declared for reducing carbon usage in the nation and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) to (c) India has submitted its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) on 26 th August  2022  and  its  long-term  low  carbon  development  strategy  on  14 th November  2022. These documents lay out India's vision and approaches towards reaching net zero by 2070. India's long term strategy rests on seven key transitions to low-carbon development pathways which  are  (i)  Low  carbon  development  of  electricity  systems  consistent  with  enhanced development  benefits;  (ii)  Develop  an  integrated,  efficient,  inclusive  low-carbon  transport system;  (iii)  Promoting  adaptation  in  urban  design,  energy  and  material-efficiency  in buildings,  and  sustainable  urbanisation;  (iv)  Promote  economy-wide  decoupling  of  growth from emissions and development of an efficient, innovative low-emission industrial system; (v) CO2 removal and related engineering solutions; (vi) Enhancement of forest and vegetative cover  consistent  with  socio-economic  and  ecological  considerations;  (vii)  Economic  and financial aspects of low-carbon development.

As  per  the  decisions  of  UNFCCC  and  its  Paris  Agreement,  NDCs  and  Long-Term  Low Emissions Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) are determined by countries. India's NDC and the Long Term Strategy have been prepared in accordance with the principles of equity and

Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC) in the light of different national circumstances. India's strategy has been prepared in the framework of  India's  right  to  an  equitable  and  fair  share  of  the  global  carbon  budget,  which  is  the practical implementation of India's call for 'climate justice.' This is essential to ensure that there are no constraints on realizing India's vision of rapid  growth  and  economic transformation, while protecting the environment.

As per the strategy, India's vision of low carbon development is based on the need to ensure India's high energy needs  for development,  including  poverty eradication, achieving Sustainable Development Goals and economic growth. Further, it is necessary that the plan for the country's energy security is based both on the expansion of non-fossil fuel sources for power  generation  and  rational  utilization  of  fossil  fuel  resources.  Specific  steps  for  such utilization include, inter alia, expanding renewables and strengthening the grid and focusing on  demand  side  management.  The  long-term  strategy  document  also  provides  for  a  nonexhaustive list of technology needs.

(d) Tree plantation, being a multi-departmental, multi-agency activity, has been taken up in cross  sectoral  manner  under  various  programmes/funding  sources  of  Ministries  concerned and  also  through  State  Plans.  India  is  on  track  to  achieve  its  commitment  of  creating additional carbon sink through implementation of various ongoing schemes and programmes from the National to local levels.

The  National  Afforestation  Programme  (NAP)  is  being  implemented  for  afforestation  of degraded  forest  lands.    National  Mission  for  a  Green  India  (GIM)  is  one  of  the  national missions under the National Action Plan for Climate Change that is being implemented to protect,  restore  and  enhance  forest  cover  in  India.  The  Compensatory  Afforestation  Fund Management  and  Planning  Authority  (CAMPA)  is  one  of  the  programmes  to  promote afforestation, forest regeneration and ensure maintenance of ecosystem services. The Nagar Van Yojana (NVY) is being implemented to create 400 'Nagar Vans' and 200 Nagar Vatikas in  the  vicinity  of  urban  areas  under  the  National  Fund  of  CAMPA.    The  Atal  Mission  for Rejuvenation  and  Urban  Transformation  (AMRUT)  aims  at  creating  and  upgrading  green spaces, parks and recreation centres in Mission cities.

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