India Reports Significant 36% Reduction in GDP Emission Intensity from 2005 to 2020

India's greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 7.93% in 2020 compared to 2019, as per data submitted to the UN climate change office. The emission intensity of India's GDP also dropped by 36% from 2005 to 2020. The fourth Biennial Update Report (BUR-4) submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on December 30 reveals these findings.

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India's total greenhouse gas emissions in 2020, excluding land use, land-use change, and forestry (LULUCF), were 2,959 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e). Including LULUCF, the emissions were 2,437 MtCO2e. The report highlights a 7.93% reduction in total national emissions, including LULUCF, compared to 2019 but notes a 98.34% increase since 1994.

Emission Intensity and Economic Growth

The report indicates that India is successfully decoupling economic growth from greenhouse gas emissions. Between 2005 and 2020, the emission intensity of India's GDP declined by 36%. Biennial Update Reports (BURs) are submitted by developing countries every two years to the UNFCCC, providing updates on emissions and climate action progress.

Emission intensity measures the amount of greenhouse gases emitted per unit of GDP. The report also states that India created an additional carbon sink of 2.29 billion tonnes from 2005 to 2021. As of October 2024, non-fossil fuel-based power generation capacity in India was at 46.52%.

Climate Goals and Commitments

India aims to reduce GDP emission intensity by 45% by 2030 from 2005 levels as part of its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. Additionally, India plans to achieve a cumulative electric power installed capacity of 50% from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030.

The country has committed to creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes through forest and tree cover by the year 2030. According to the report, India's primary sources of greenhouse gas emissions include carbon dioxide from fossil fuel combustion, methane from livestock, and emissions from aluminium and cement production.

Sectoral Contributions to Emissions

In 2020, the LULUCF sector acted as a net carbon sink for India. After accounting for removals, India's net national emissions were recorded at 2,436,656 gigagrams of carbon dioxide equivalent (GgCO2e). The energy sector was responsible for the largest share of total emissions at 75.66%, followed by agriculture at 13.72%, industrial processes and product use (IPPU) at 8.06%, and waste at 2.56%.

Despite accounting for about 18% of the global population, India's annual primary energy consumption per capita in 2022 was only 25.4 gigajoules (GJ), which is one-third of the global average of 78 GJ per person. In contrast, high-income countries averaged at about 119 GJ per person, with the US consuming approximately 277 GJ per person.

To achieve its developmental goals, India needs to significantly increase its energy consumption levels according to the report's findings.