At the Rio Earth Summit, three landmark conventions were adopted including United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
UNFCCC officially came into force, initiating global cooperation on climate change and laying the groundwork for future Protocols and Agreements.
Kyoto Protocol introduced binding emission reduction targets for developed countries. It marked the first major implementation agreement under the UNFCCC framework.
This significant accord represents a voluntary agreement among major economies, including the United States, India, China, and others, aimed at limiting and reducing GHG emissions while supporting adaptation efforts for vulnerable countries. The accord marks a crucial step towards establishing a global framework for climate action, although it does not create binding commitments.
The Paris Agreement was adopted under the UNFCCC in 2015. It aims to limit global warming to well below 2°C and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. The Paris Agreement builds upon and enhances the implementation of the UNFCCC by setting more specific and ambitious climate goals. It is a legally binding treaty that requires countries to take action to combat climate change, while the UNFCCC provides the overarching framework for international cooperation on climate change.
India signed the Paris Agreement on April 22, 2016, and ratified it on October 2, 2016.
Goals:
- Promote sustainable lifestyles rooted in tradition and conservation.
- Adopt a cleaner, climate-friendly growth path than historically used at similar development stages.
- Reduce emissions intensity of GDP by 33–35% by 2030 (from 2005 levels).
- Achieve 40% electric power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
- Create a carbon sink of 2.5–3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through forest and tree cover by 2030.
- Enhance adaptation efforts in climate-vulnerable sectors like agriculture, water, coastal areas, and health.
- Mobilize domestic and international funds, especially from developed countries, for mitigation and adaptation.
- Strengthen capacity and technology frameworks for climate innovation and R&D.
- India will bring its non-fossil energy capacity to 500GW by 2030
- India will full fill 50% of its energy requirement through renewable energy, by 2030
- India will cut down its net projected carbon emission by 1 billion tonnes by 2030
- India will bring down the carbon entensity by > 45% by 2030
- India will achieve the target of net zero by 2070
India revised its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), raising its ambition to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels; to achieve 50% of cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based sources by 2030; and to promote a healthy and sustainable way of living through the ‘Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE)’ initiative.
India submitted its Long-Term Low Carbon Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) to the UNFCCC, anchored in equity, climate justice, and CBDR-RC principles. The strategy prioritizes growth while staying within a fair share of the global carbon budget, emphasizing low-emission technologies and sustainable transitions.
Hon'ble PM announced India to be a Viksit Bharat (Developed Nation) by 2047 - celebrating 100 years of independence with economic prosperity, environmental sustainability and inclusive growth.
India has set clear targets for 2030 to achieve its nationally determined contributions (NDCs).
By its 100th year of independence, India aspires to become a developed country with a focus on environmental sustainability, inclusive growth, and global climate leadership as part of the Viksit Bharat vision.
India’s long-term climate milestone aims for net zero emissions by 2070, using renewable energy, material-efficiency, economy-wide decoupling of growth from emissions, CO2 removal, and related engineering solutions.