Lok Sabha Question No. 2970 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-07
Subject: Global Methane Pledge
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Thalikkottai Rajuthevar Baalu

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2970

TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.08.2023

## Global Methane Pledge

## 2970. SHRI T.R. BAALU:

Will the MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) the  reasons  for  not  signing  the  Global  Methane  Pledge  at  the  Glasgow  Climate Change Conference held recently under the aegis of the United Nations while over 90 countries have endorsed the Pledge; and
- (b) the plans and strategies for curbing methane emissions by trapping it for meeting our energy needs and ensure cooperation and contribution to the global community in the common  shared  responsibility  of  reducing  Green  House  Gas  emissions  and  global warming?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) India has not signed the Global Methane Pledge proposed by the European Union and the United States of America to target 30% reduction in global methane emissions from 2020 levels by 2030. As per the 6 th  Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change,  the  predominant  gas  responsible  for  climate  change  is  CO2  which  has  a lifetime of  100-1000  years.  This  Pledge  shifts  the  CO2  reduction  burden  to  methane reduction,  which  has  a  lifetime  of  just  12  years.  India  is  a  Party  to  the  United  Nations Framework  Convention  on  Climate  Change  (UNFCCC)  and  the  Paris  Agreement.  The Pledge is outside the ambit of  the UNFCCC and its Paris Agreement. In exercise of its right of  sovereign  and  nationally  determined  nature  of  its  climate  actions,  and  as  per  the assessments by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, the Ministry of Petroleum and  Natural  Gas,  and  the  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest and  Climate  Change,  the Government of India decided not to sign the 'Global Methane Pledge'. The salient reasons and related information are as below:

- i. The two predominant sources of methane emissions in India are enteric fermentation  and  paddy  cultivation.  These  emissions  result  from  the  agricultural activities of small, marginal,  and  medium  farmers  across  India,  whose  livelihood stands  threatened  by the  aforesaid  Pledge.  In  contrast,  agriculture  in  developed countries is dominated by industrial agriculture.
- ii. In  the  context  of  food  security,  the  methane  emissions  are  'survival'  emissions and  not luxury emissions. In addition to impacting farmers' income, this can impact
3. agricultural  production,  especially  that  of  paddy.  India  is  one  of  the  largest producers  and  exporters  of  rice.  Therefore,  this  Pledge  also  has  the  potential  to affect India's trade and economic prospects.
- iii. Agriculture was not included in the emission intensity target as per India's pre-2020 voluntary commitments.
- iv. Also,  India  has  the  largest  cattle  population  in  the  world,  which  is  a  source  of livelihood to a large section of the population. The contribution of Indian livestock to  global  pool  of  enteric  methane  is  very  low,  as  Indian  livestock  utilizes  large volumes of agricultural by-products and unconventional feed material.

Under the  Paris  Agreement,  India  has  submitted  its  Nationally  Determined  Contribution (NDC),  which  does  not  include  sector  or  gas  specific  emissions  reduction  targets.  India remains steadfast  in its commitment in framing and implementing its actions to combat  climate change.  The  ongoing  measures  to  reduce  methane  gas  emissions  are  as follows:

- i. The National Mission Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), implemented by Ministry of  Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare,  involves  climate  resilient  practices including methane  reduction  practices  in  rice  cultivation.  These  practices  contribute  to substantial reduction of methane emissions.
- ii. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) under National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project has developed several technologies with mitigation potential for methane from rice viz. System for Rice Intensification - The technique has potential to enhance rice yield from  36-49% with about 2235%  less  water  than  conventional  transplanted  rice;  Direct  Seeded  Rice  -  The system reduces methane emissions as it does not involve raising nurseries, puddling and  transplanting.  Unlike  transplanted  paddy  cultivation,  standing  water  is  not maintained  in  this  system;  and  Crop  Diversification  Programme  -  Methane emissions  is  avoided  due  to  diversion  of  paddy  to  alternate  crops  like  pulses, oilseeds, maize, cotton and agro forestry.
- iii. Capacity  building  programmes  are  conducted  through  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras across the country for creating awareness on climate resilient practices.
- iv. The  Department  of  Animal  Husbandry  and  Dairying  (DAHD)  is  implementing National  Livestock  Mission,  which  inter  alia,  includes  Breed  Improvement  and Balanced  Rationing.  Feeding  livestock  with  superior  quality  balanced ration is helping to reduce methane emissions from the livestock.
- v. Government  of  India  promotes  green  fodder  production,  silage  making,  chaff cutting,  and  total  mixed  ration  under  National  Livestock  Mission  with  a  view  to reduce            methane emission from livestock.
- vi. Through initiatives like 'The Gobar (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources) Dhan' scheme and New National  Biogas  and  Organic  Manure  Programme,  cattle waste utilisation is being incentivised, in addition to production of clean energy in villages. The Gobardhan scheme, inter alia, supports biodegradable waste recovery and conversion of waste into resources and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.