{"id":20126950,"date":"2024-01-22T21:45:40","date_gmt":"2024-01-22T16:15:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thethirdpole.net\/?p=126950"},"modified":"2024-04-11T15:45:55","modified_gmt":"2024-04-11T15:45:55","slug":"new-coal-mines-add-question-mark-to-indias-climate-commitments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/en\/energy\/new-coal-mines-add-question-mark-to-indias-climate-commitments\/","title":{"rendered":"New coal mines add question mark to India\u2019s climate commitments"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

At COP28, on 9 December, India\u2019s environment and climate change minister Bhupender Yadav affirmed<\/a> the country\u2019s \u201ctrust and confidence\u201d in the Paris Agreement<\/a>, whilst highlighting the country\u2019s achievements in emissions reduction. But this announcement was seemingly at odds with another made just three days earlier, when coal minister Pralhad Joshi confirmed that India intends to increase production for the fossil fuel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two weeks later, Joshi told the consultative committee meeting<\/a> of the coal ministry that seven rounds of coal mine auctions had been completed and another two were ongoing. Within these rounds, 91 mines have been successfully auctioned, representing a maximum annual production capacity of approximately 221 million tonnes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the accompanying document, Joshi states: \u201cOverall, large numbers of mines are under development to meet the domestic coal demand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs<\/a>), updated in 2022, India has made three major promises: a 45% reduction in its carbon emissions intensity (CO2 emissions per unit of electricity) based on 2005 levels, by 2030; 50% of installed electricity coming from non-fossil-fuel sources by 2030; and national carbon neutrality by 2070.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are NDCs?<\/span>
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Under the 2015 Paris Agreement<\/strong>, countries are required to prepare an outline for their efforts to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. These commitments are referred to as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NDCs are submitted every five years, and successive NDCs are supposed to be more ambitious than previous ones (the so-called \u2018ratchet mechanism\u2019). Combined, these national targets should amount to a coordinated global effort to reduce the severity and impact of climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read our guide to climate change terms<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

On the same day at COP28, the Indian government submitted<\/a> its third \u201cNational Communication\u201d to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). In its executive summary, there is a curious formulation: \u201cIndia\u2019s emissions are likely to increase in line with growing energy demand and overall development, eventually reaching the envisioned goal of net-zero emissions in 2070.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, as of 2022, 65%<\/a> of India\u2019s CO2 emissions are from coal, and India\u2019s rapid expansion of coal mines and plants might complicate the road to India achieving its ambitious climate goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enhanced coal production<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Despite the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement, which committed the countries of the world to lower carbon emissions, India has seen no need to reduce coal use. This is despite the fact that emissions for coal \u2013 largely by China and India \u2013 have been the biggest driver of recent carbon emissions, accounting for 40% of the total in 2021<\/a>. As the mainstay of its energy supply – thermal power plants (coal, oil and gas) supply 56% (239 GW) of the country\u2019s total installed electricity<\/a> \u2013 coal remains crucial for Indian energy security. To boost domestic supply rather than be reliant on coal, India has aggressively expanded its coal mines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a written reply to parliament in August 2023, the coal minister stated<\/a> that a \u201cmajor leap in coal production over the years has been witnessed\u201d. From 2013 to 2014, Indian coal production was 565 million tonnes; from 2022 to 2023, that had increased by 58% to 893 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n