The year 2021-22 has been a milestone year in many ways for climate action in India. While a lot more could have been done (as is always the case), the wins cannot be ignored. The highlight was of course India’s ‘net zero by 2070’ announcement at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), along with other announcements on short-term targets for renewable energy and emissions reduction. Many States and Union Territories, such as Kerala, Chhattisgarh, etc. have taken the lead on pursuing carbon neutrality and resilience. Several companies too have set net zero targets. Earlier in the year, the Government showed its commitment to use of ethanol and alternative fuels for transport, the ramifications of which are of course debatable. And most recently, the Union Budget 2022-23 referred to the energy transition and climate action upfront as one of the key focus areas, and low-carbon development as an economic opportunity rather than a trade-off, for the very first time.
This series is a joint editorial initiative of ETEnergyworld and CSTEP. It will discuss some of the key sectors in terms of their contribution to India’s total greenhouse gas emissions, policies in place to reduce their footprint, and actions required in the coming years to meet India's climate targets. The first article in the series focuses on the transport sector with a special emphasis on the electric vehicle industry.
