Is India doing enough to tackle climate change?

Subject : Environment

Section: Climate Change

In the news:

In a historic first, all 198 signatories to the 28th United Nations’ Conference of the Parties (COP28) adopted an agreement to “transition away” from “all fossil fuels” as opposed to only coal, as was agreed upon at COP26, in Glasgow.
Although India is the third largest emitter of GHGs, it has one of the lowest per capita emissions in the world.

COP28 outcomes:

Operationalisation of Loss and Damage Fund
For the first time, it talks about ‘transitioning away from fossil fuels’ in energy systems in a ‘just, orderly and equitable manner’ so as to achieve net zero by 2050.
Accelerating and substantially reducing non-cabon-dioxide emissions globally, including in particular methane emissions by 2030.
Tripling of Renewable Energy:
- The COP28 agreement calls upon countries to contribute to tripling of global installed capacity of renewable energy, and doubling of annual improvements in energy efficiency.
Global Goal on Adaptation:
- The framework for GGA has been adopted but it lacks financial provisions.
- The work programme resulted in the identification of some common adaptation goals, important for the entire world. These included reduction in climate-induced water scarcity, attaining climate-resilience in food and agricultural production, supplies and distribution, and resilience against climate-induced health impacts.

Global Stocktake:

It is a comprehensive assessment of where the world was in its fight against climate change and what more needed to be done to meet the climate objectives.
The GST is mandated by the Paris Agreement to be a periodic exercise, the first one in 2023 and every five years thereafter.