India Submits 4th Biennial Update Report to UNFCCC: Highlights Decisive Progress in Climate Action

India, despite contributing minimally to historical global emissions, continues to act decisively on climate change while addressing sustainable development and economic aspirations.

On December 30, 2024, India submitted its 4th Biennial Update Report (BUR-4) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), showcasing the country’s progress in mitigating climate change. The report updates the Third National Communication (TNC) and includes India’s National Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory for 2020, along with insights on mitigation actions, constraints, and financial, technological, and capacity-building requirements.

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, highlighted that India continues to lead by example, aligning economic growth with meaningful climate action under the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Key Highlights of India’s Climate Achievements:

GHG Emissions Reduction

India’s total GHG emissions in 2020 (excluding Land Use, Land-Use Change, and Forestry or LULUCF) were 2,959 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent.

With LULUCF, net emissions stood at 2,437 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, reflecting a 7.93% reduction compared to 2019.

India’s forest and tree cover sequestered 522 million tonnes of CO2, offsetting 22% of total CO2 emissions in 2020.

Sectoral Contributions

Energy Sector: Largest contributor at 75.66% of total emissions.

Agriculture: 13.72%.

Industrial Processes and Product Use: 8.06%.

Waste Management: 2.56%.

Progress Towards Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

India’s BUR-4 highlights significant progress in achieving its NDC targets under the Paris Agreement:

Emission Intensity Reduction

Between 2005 and 2020, India reduced its emission intensity of GDP by 36%, surpassing its target of a 33–35% reduction by 2030.

Renewable Energy Growth

By October 2024, 46.52% of India’s installed electricity generation capacity came from non-fossil fuel sources.

Renewable power capacity (excluding large hydropower) surged from 35 GW in March 2014 to 156.25 GW in October 2024, marking a 4.5-fold increase.

Total installed renewable capacity, including large hydropower, reached 203.22 GW.

Forest and Tree Cover Expansion

India’s forest and tree cover expanded to 25.17% of its total geographical area.

Between 2005 and 2021, India created an additional carbon sink of 2.29 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent.

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Principles and Global Context

India, despite contributing minimally to historical global emissions, continues to act decisively on climate change while addressing sustainable development and economic aspirations. The BUR-4 reiterates India’s adherence to the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR-RC), as outlined in the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement.

Future Roadmap

India plans to:

Accelerate renewable energy installations, targeting 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.

Enhance its forest cover to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5–3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2030.

Leverage advanced technologies and international collaborations to address challenges in financing, technology transfer, and capacity building.

India’s proactive stance on climate change sets a global benchmark for balancing economic growth and environmental responsibility, underscoring its leadership in sustainable development initiatives.