India to cut emission levels by 33-35% in the next 15 years

Will financial and developmental challenges be beaten?

In its 38-page paper under the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), India declared that it eyes to slash emission levels by a whopping 33-35% over the next 15 years in a "fair and balanced commitment to protect the environment," and alongside its agenda for economic development.

“Through this submission, India intends to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33-35 percent by 2030 from 2005 level. This commitment is further echoed in India’s actions in climate change adaptation with setting up its own ‘National Adaptation Fund’,” said New Delhi’s 38-page document.

It can be remembered that India previously declared a voluntary goal of reducing the emissions intensity of its GDP by 20–25%, over 2005 levels, by 2020. A slew of policy measures were launched to achieve this goal.

"As a result, the emission intensity of our GDP has decreased by 12% between 2005 and 2010. It is a matter of satisfaction that United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in its Emission Gap Report 2014 has recognized India as one of the countries on course to achieving its voluntary goal," India stated.

The paper is based on the 1992 Kyoto convention and was submitted coinciding with Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary.