NATIONALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTIONS

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Context: Just 10 of 46 Least Developed Countries (LDC) mentioned ‘loss and damage’ (L&D) in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), according to a study released by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), an independent policy research institute.

Details:

These countries are the Central African Republic, Laos, Madagascar, Nepal, Niger, Yemen, East Timor, Myanmar, Haiti and Cambodia.
Another 35 countries’ NDCs only made indirect references to L&D, but included all impacts suffered by the countries due to climate change.
Countries had adopted the Glasgow Climate Pact at the 26th Conference of Parties (CoP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that was held in Scotland last year.
The Pact had called on countries to reevaluate and reinforce their NDCs, which are national climate action plans that each party to the Paris Agreement must update every five years.
The LDC is a 46-member negotiating bloc of geographically and economically disadvantaged countries whose main ask is compensation for losses and damages incurred after storms, droughts, and floods at COPs. A key outcome of CoP26 was the establishment of the Glasgow Dialogues, a two-year exchange on ways to figure out how to fund L&D for low-income countries.
Hence, the assessment said looking at how countries present L&D in their NDCs was the need of the hour.
All the 45 NDCs referred to calamities, action plans and communities affected. In terms of areas that could require a boost, 30 NDCs suggested capacity building, 26 NDCs suggested systems technology and 21 mentioned infrastructure resilience.

The Paris Agreement and NDCs:

· Nationally determined contributions (NDCs) are at the heart of the Paris Agreement and the achievement of these long-term goals.

· NDCs embody efforts by each country to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

· The Paris Agreement (Article 4, paragraph 2) requires each Party to prepare, communicate and maintain successive nationally determined contributions (NDCs) that it intends to achieve. Parties shall pursue domestic mitigation measures, with the aim of achieving the objectives of such contributions.

· Together, these climate actions determine whether the world achieves the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement and to reach global peaking of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as soon as possible and to undertake rapid reductions thereafter in accordance with best available science, so as to achieve a balance between anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of GHGs in the second half of this century.

· It is understood that the peaking of emissions will take longer for developing country Parties, and that emission reductions are undertaken on the basis of equity, and in the context of sustainable development and efforts to eradicate poverty, which are critical development priorities for many developing countries.

· Parties are requested to submit the next round of NDCs (new NDCs or updated NDCs) by 2020 and every five years thereafter (e.g. by 2020, 2025, 2030), regardless of their respective implementation time frames.

Indian context:

The updated NDC seeks to enhance India’s contributions towards achievement of the strengthening of global response to the threat of climate change, as agreed under the Paris Agreement.
India at the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Glasgow, United Kingdom, expressed to intensify its climate action by presenting to the world five nectar elements (Panchamrit) of India’s climate action.
This update to India’s existing NDC translates the ‘Panchamrit’ announced at COP 26 into enhanced climate targets.
The update is also a step towards achieving India’s long term goal of reaching net-zero by 2070.
Earlier, India submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to UNFCCC on October 2, 2015. The 2015 NDC comprised eight goals; three of these have quantitative targets upto 2030 namely, cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil sources to reach 40%; reduce the emissions intensity of GDP by 33 to 35 percent compared to 2005 levels and creation of additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through additional forest and tree cover.

New targets:

As per the updated NDC, India now stands committed to reduce Emissions Intensity of its GDP by 45 percent by 2030, from 2005 level and achieve about 50 percent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030.
The approval, also takes forward the Prime Minister’s vision of sustainable lifestyles and climate justice to protect the poor and vulnerable from adverse impacts of climate change.
The updated NDC reads "To put forward and further propagate a healthy and sustainable way of living based on traditions and values of conservation and moderation, including through a mass movement for ‘LIFE’– ‘Lifestyle for Environment’ as a key to combating climate change".
The decision on enhanced NDCs demonstrates India’s commitment at the highest level for decoupling of economic growth from greenhouse gas emissions.
India’s updated NDC has been prepared after carefully considering our national circumstances and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR-RC). India’s updated NDC also reaffirms our commitment to work towards a low carbon emission pathway, while simultaneously endeavoring to achieve sustainable development goals.
Recognizing that lifestyle has a big role in climate change, the Prime Minister of India, at COP 26, proposed a ‘One-Word Movement’, to the global community. This one word is LIFE…L, I, F, E, i.e. Lifestyle For Environment.
The vision of LIFE is to live a lifestyle that is in tune with our planet and does not harm it. India’s updated NDC also captures this citizen centric approach to combat climate change.
The updated NDC also represents the framework for India’s transition to cleaner energy for the period 2021-2030.
The updated framework, together with many other initiatives of the Government, including tax concessions and incentives such as Production Linked Incentive scheme for promotion of manufacturing and adoption of renewable energy, will provide an opportunity for enhancing India’s manufacturing capabilities and enhancing exports.
It will lead to an overall increase in green jobs such as in renewable energy, clean energy industries- in automotives, manufacturing of low emissions products like Electric Vehicles and super-efficient appliances, and innovative technologies such as green hydrogen, etc.
India’s updated NDC will be implemented over the period 2021-2030 through programs and schemes of relevant Ministries /departments and with due support from States and Union Territories.
The Government has launched many schemes and programs to scale up India’s actions on both adaptation and mitigation.
Appropriate measures are being taken under these schemes and programs across many sectors, including water, agriculture, forest, energy and enterprise, sustainable mobility and housing, waste management, circular economy and resource efficiency, etc.
As a result of the aforesaid measures, India has progressively continued decoupling of economic growth from greenhouse gas emissions.
The Net Zero target by 2030 by Indian Railways alone will lead to a reduction of emissions by 60 million tonnes annually.
Similarly, India’s massive LED bulb campaign is reducing emissions by 40 million tonnes annually.
India’s NDC do not bind it to any sector specific mitigation obligation or action.
India’s goal is to reduce overall emission intensity and improve energy efficiency of its economy over time and at the same time protecting the vulnerable sectors of economy and segments of our society.