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Context :

• Recently there was news that India is in the final stage of its 1st Biannual Transparency Report (BTR).
• It's primary aim is to meet India's Paris Agreement commitment.

Details

• After completion, Report will be submitted by The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
• This BTR includes the data from :
  • India’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory
  • sources of emissions from many sectors.
  • Steps to improve energy efficiency & transition to renewable energy.

What is Biannual Update Reports (BUR) and how it is different from BTR ?

• Previously, India was submitting Biannual Update Reports (BUR) & National Communications.
• The latest BUR was submitted on December 30, 2024.
• But here, BTRs is different because it covers a wider range related to climate change actions than BUR.
• BTRs apply to all Parties, But BURs were only applied to non-Annex I Parties that are developing nations.
• The BTR is also different because it will be reviewed by UNFCCC accredited experts. And this did not happen with previous reports (BUR).
  • UNFCCC Review Process: This step aims to make India’s climate actions more accountable on the global stage.
• The BTR format was established at COP21 in Paris in 2015.
• While developed countries have already submitted BTRs, India will be the first developing country to submit one.

Data in the BTR Report

• The BTR will report data up to 2022, whereas the BUR reported data only up to 2020.
• India’s emissions in 2020 dropped by 93% compared to 2019.
• It is mainly due to COVID-19 lockdowns.
• However, this time BTR will report a rise in emissions because now countries have started recovering after Covid.

Emissions Breakdown (2020)

• Total emissions (without LULUCF) was 2,959 million tonnes CO2e.
  • LULUCF (Land Use, Land-Use Change, and Forestry)
  • It tells how human activities on land affect the greenhouse gas emissions including both deforestation & reforestation.
• Total emissions (with LULUCF) was 2,437 million tonnes CO2e.
• Energy sector Contributed 66% of emissions.
• Agriculture Contributed 72%.
• Industrial processes Contributed 06%.
• Waste Contributed 56%.

• India’s forest & tree cover absorbed 522 million tonnes of CO2 in 2020. And this reduced 22% of India’s total emissions.
• India’s total GHG emissions hold 4%-5% of global emissions.
• Per capita emissions in India are less than 1/3rd of the global average.
• Despite being one of the largest emitters, India's low per capita emissions highlight its fair and equitable climate responsibility.

What is India’s Climate Action Plan ?

• During COP26, India has committed to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2070..
• India also aims to achieve 500 GW of non fossil fuel energy capacity by 2030.
• India also planned to increase forest cover & promote sustainable land use practices to increase carbon sequestration

Preparing the BTR is complicated & it involves multiple organizations. Some of the challenges are:

• It is difficult to gather reliable and up-to-date information from different sectors.
• The data should conform to global reporting rules set by the UNFCCC.
• Emissions trends have been affected by the pandemic, making it difficult to track accurate changes.

Source: TH