Lok Sabha Question No. 1240 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-08
Subject: Reduction in Carbon Dioxide Emissions
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Dhairyasheel Sambhajirao Mane, Shri Sudheer Gupta, Shri Chavan Ravindra Vasantrao

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1240

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025

## Reduction in Carbon Dioxide Emissions

## 1240.   SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE: SHRI CHAVAN RAVINDRA VASANTRAO: SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

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

(a) whether as per a global report published by environment scientists that India has recorded reduction in Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) emissions during recent years;

(b) if so, the major sectors that have contributed to the reduction in CO₂ emissions during the said period;

(c) whether the Government has set any specific targets for further reduction of CO₂ emissions in line with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under international treaties/agreements; (d) whether any steps have been taken by the Government to accelerate the transition towards low-carbon technologies, including renewable energy, electric mobility, and green hydrogen and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the details of further steps/measures taken/being taken by the Government to reduce Carbon Dioxide emissions in the country

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) & (b): The net national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of India in 2020 were 2,437 million  tonnes  CO2  equivalent  according  to  India's  Fourth   Biennial  Update  Report  (BUR-4) submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2024, which  were  7.93  per  cent  lower  than  the  emissions  in  the  year  2019.  The  decrease  is  mainly attributed to sectors of energy, where emissions decreased by 5.7%, and Industrial Process and Product use, where emissions decreased by 9.5% from 2019 to 2020.

(c)  to  (e):  India  submitted  its  Nationally  Determined  Contribution  (NDC)  under  the  Paris Agreement in 2015 and updated it in August 2022, setting enhanced targets i.e, reducing emissions intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030 from 2005 levels, achieving 50% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030, and creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through increased forest and tree cover.

As per BUR-4, between 2005 and 2020, India's emission intensity of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reduced by 36%. India has achieved its NDC goal of the share of non-fossil fuelbased power generation capacity of more than 50% five years ahead of the deadline. India has created an additional carbon sink of 2.29 billion tonnes CO2 equivalent from forest and tree cover.

India's  Long-Term  Low-Carbon  Development  Strategy  (LT-LEDS),  submitted  to  the UNFCCC  in  November  2022,  provides  a  framework  with  seven  key  strategic  transitions  in electricity, transport, urban, industry, carbon dioxide removal technologies, forest and financial resources  for  achieving  net-zero  emissions  by  2070  based  on  the  principles  of  Common  but Differentiated  Responsibilities  and  Respective  Capabilities  (CBDR-RC),  equity,  and  climate justice.

The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India has undertaken several  steps  and  initiatives  to  promote  and  accelerate  renewable  energy  (RE)  capacity  in  the country. Key measures include standard tariff-based competitive bidding guidelines, Renewable Purchase  Obligations  (RPO)  and  Renewable  Consumption  Obligations  (RCO),  100%  Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) under the automatic route, and major national schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM), PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, National Programme on High Efficiency Solar PV Modules, New Solar Power Scheme under  Pradhan  Mantri  Janjati  Adivasi  Nyaya  Maha  Abhiyan  (PM  JANMAN),  Dharti  Aabha Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DA JGUA), National Green Hydrogen Mission, Viability Gap Funding  (VGF)  Scheme  for  Offshore  Wind  Energy  Projects,  and  Solar  park  development. Transmission expansion through Green Energy Corridors, Inter State Transmission System (ISTS) charge waivers, and a long-term transmission plan up to 2030 have been implemented to support large-scale renewable integration. Standard & Labelling (S&L) programs for Solar Photovoltaic modules and Grid-connected Solar Inverters have also been launched. Reforms also include Green Energy Open Access, Green Term Ahead Market (GTAM) to facilitate sale of Renewable Power through exchanges.

The Government of India is implementing the National Green Hydrogen Mission, with an objective to make India a global hub of production, usage and export of green hydrogen and its derivative. Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) is a key component of the Mission which provides financial incentives for production of green hydrogen and electrolyser manufacturing. The Government of India has also sanctioned four Hydrogen Valley Innovation Clusters (HVIC) and Research and Development (R&D) projects are also being supported under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, with 23 projects sanctioned under the R&D scheme of the Mission so far.

The  National  Electric  Mobility  Mission  Plan  (NEMMP)  2020  is  a  National  Mission document providing the vision and the roadmap for the faster adoption of electric vehicles and their  manufacturing  in  the  country.  In  order  to  encourage  electric  vehicles  (EV)  adoption  and manufacturing of EVs in the country Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles in India (FAME), Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Automobile and Auto Component  Industry  and  'National  Programme  on  Advanced  Chemistry  Cells  (ACC)  Battery Storage are implemented in the country. Further, following initiatives have been taken up by the Government of India to increase the use of electric vehicles in the country:

- i. GST  on  electric  vehicles  and  chargers/  charging  stations  for  electric  vehicles  has  been reduced to 5%.
- ii. Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) has announced that battery-operated vehicles will be given green license plates and be exempted from permit requirements.
- iii. MoRTH has also issued notification advising States to waive road tax on EVs, which in turn will help reduce the initial cost of EVs.
- iv. Further, Ministry of Power has taken several initiatives to accelerate deployment of public EV charging infrastructure in the country.

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