Climate Change — Paris Agreement, India's NDCs, Net Zero & COP Negotiations

Climate Change — The Science

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns, primarily driven by human activities since the Industrial Revolution (1750s onwards).

Prelims Fact: Water vapour is the most abundant greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, but it is NOT directly increased by human activities — it acts as a feedback (warming → more evaporation → more water vapour → more warming). UPSC tests this distinction.

International Climate Architecture

UNFCCC (1992)

CBDR is India's cornerstone argument: India insists that developed countries, having caused ~80% of cumulative historical emissions, must bear greater responsibility. This principle — enshrined in UNFCCC Article 3 — underpins India's stance in every climate negotiation.

Kyoto Protocol (1997)

CDM and India: India was the second-largest host of CDM projects (after China). Indian companies earned carbon credits by reducing emissions below baseline — these credits were sold to Annex I countries. CDM has been replaced by Article 6 mechanisms under the Paris Agreement.

Paris Agreement (2015)

First Global Stocktake (COP28, 2023)

The first GST found that while near-universal climate action has been achieved, the world is not on track to meet Paris goals. Key outcomes:

• Projected warming reduced from 3.7-4.8°C (2010 estimates) to 2.4-2.6°C under current policies — progress, but still far above 1.5°C
• First-ever COP text calling for "transitioning away from fossil fuels" in energy systems — historic language after 30 years of negotiations
• Called for tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency globally by 2030
• Aligned climate action with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework for the first time

Loss and Damage Fund

Prelims Trap: The Paris Agreement is NOT legally binding on emission targets — NDCs are voluntary and self-determined. What IS legally binding is the process: countries MUST submit NDCs, participate in Global Stocktake, and update their targets every 5 years. This "pledge and review" model is fundamentally different from Kyoto's top-down targets.

Key COP Outcomes

For Mains: COP29's $300 billion finance target was criticised by developing countries as grossly inadequate (they demanded $1.3 trillion). COP30 set the $1.3 trillion trajectory but much of it relies on private finance, not public grants. India's position: climate finance must be predominantly public, grant-based, and new — not recycled development aid or private loans. This is a recurring Mains theme.

India's Climate Commitments

NDC Targets

Ahead of schedule: India achieved 52.57% non-fossil fuel electricity capacity by February 2026 — meeting the 2030 target of 50% five years early. This is why the 2035 target was raised to 60%.

India's Climate Actions

NAPCC — The 8 National Missions

India's Renewable Energy Progress

India added a record 44.5 GW of renewable energy capacity in 2025 — nearly double the 24.7 GW added in 2024. At this pace, the 500 GW non-fossil target by 2030 is achievable.

Key Renewable Energy Programmes

Carbon Markets and Article 6

For Mains: India's domestic carbon market (CCTS) coexists with international Article 6 mechanisms. The key policy question: should India sell carbon credits internationally (earning revenue) or retain them to meet its own NDC targets? Selling credits to developed countries could undermine India's own climate ambition.

Climate Change Impact on India

India's vulnerability paradox: India contributes ~7% of global emissions (3rd largest emitter) but has per capita emissions of only 2.0 tonnes CO₂ (global average: 4.7 tonnes; USA: 14.9 tonnes). Yet India is among the most climate-vulnerable countries due to its geography, population density, and dependence on climate-sensitive sectors. This asymmetry is central to India's equity argument in climate negotiations.

Key Concepts for Prelims

UPSC Relevance

Prelims Focus Areas

• UNFCCC — when adopted, CBDR principle, Annex I vs Non-Annex I
• Kyoto Protocol — commitment periods, CDM, who ratified/didn't
• Paris Agreement — temperature goal, NDCs, Global Stocktake, Article 6
• India's NDC targets (2030 and 2035) — emissions intensity, non-fossil share
• International Solar Alliance — founders, HQ, members
• Renewable energy capacity — solar, wind, total non-fossil
• COP outcomes (especially COP28-30)
• Loss and Damage Fund — when agreed, first disbursement

Mains Focus Areas

• Climate justice and equity — India's per capita emissions (~2.0 tonnes) vs global average (~4.7 tonnes) and historical responsibility argument
• Paris Agreement effectiveness — voluntary NDCs sufficient? Global Stocktake findings
• Climate finance gap — $300 billion vs $1.3 trillion debate; Green Climate Fund (GCF-2 raised ~$12.8 billion from 31 countries, but US rescinded $3 billion pledge in 2025)
• Loss and Damage Fund — operationalisation, adequacy of $700 million vs $400 billion estimated annual need
• India's energy transition — balancing development with decarbonisation
• Renewable energy targets — achievements and challenges (grid stability, land acquisition, storage)
• Carbon markets — domestic CCTS and Article 6 linkage; policy dilemma of selling vs retaining credits
• Climate change impact on Indian agriculture and food security
• Green hydrogen as industrial decarbonisation pathway
• NAPCC and National Missions — implementation gaps after 18 years

Vocabulary

Decarbonisation

• Pronunciation: /diːˌkɑːbənaɪˈzeɪʃən/
• Definition: The process of reducing and ultimately eliminating carbon dioxide emissions from a country's economy, energy systems, and industrial processes to mitigate climate change.
• Origin: From English de- ("removal") + carbon (from Latin carbo, "coal, charcoal") + -isation (suffix denoting a process); earliest known use in the 1830s, originally referring to removal of carbon from metals, with the climate-policy sense emerging in the late 20th century.

Carbon Credit

• Pronunciation: /ˈkɑːr.bən ˈkred.ɪt/
• Definition: A tradable permit or certificate representing the right to emit one metric tonne of carbon dioxide or its equivalent, used within market-based mechanisms to incentivise greenhouse gas emission reductions.
• Origin: From Latin carbo ("coal") + Latin creditum ("a loan, thing entrusted"), from credere ("to believe, trust"); the term was first used in 1990 and gained wide currency after the Kyoto Protocol (1997) introduced market-based emission reduction mechanisms.

Greenhouse

• Pronunciation: /ˈɡriːn.haʊs/
• Definition: A structure with glass or translucent walls and roof used to cultivate plants under controlled conditions; in climate science, the term refers to the "greenhouse effect" whereby atmospheric gases trap heat radiated from the Earth's surface, warming the planet.
• Origin: Compound of English green + house; first attested in 1664 in the writings of John Evelyn to describe a glass building for growing plants; the meteorological analogy "greenhouse effect" was coined in the 19th century to describe atmospheric heat-trapping.

Key Terms

UNFCCC

• Pronunciation: /juː.en.ef.siː.siː.siː/
• Definition: The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, an international treaty adopted on 9 May 1992 and opened for signature at the Rio Earth Summit (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro on 4 June 1992, which established the foundational framework for global climate negotiations. Its ultimate objective (Article 2) is to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere "at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system" within a timeframe that allows ecosystems to adapt, food production to continue, and economic development to proceed sustainably. It entered into force on 21 March 1994 and now has 198 Parties — near-universal membership.
• Context: On 12 June 1992, 154 nations signed the UNFCCC at the Rio Earth Summit. The Convention categorises parties into Annex I (developed countries and economies in transition — must take the lead in emission reductions), Annex II (developed countries — must provide financial and technological support to developing countries), and Non-Annex I (developing countries including India — no binding emission targets). The cornerstone principle is Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC, Article 3), which acknowledges that developed countries, having caused approximately 80% of cumulative historical emissions, must bear greater responsibility. The UNFCCC serves as the parent treaty for both the Kyoto Protocol (1997) and the Paris Agreement (2015), and the annual Conference of the Parties (COP) is the supreme decision-making body.
• UPSC Relevance: GS3 Environment. Prelims tests adoption year (1992), entry into force (1994), 198 Parties, the Annex I/Non-Annex I distinction, the CBDR principle (Article 3), and the objective of preventing "dangerous anthropogenic interference." Mains expects understanding of the UNFCCC as the parent framework under which Kyoto and Paris operate. India's cornerstone negotiating argument — that developed countries caused ~80% of cumulative emissions and must lead on climate finance and emission reductions — is rooted in UNFCCC's CBDR-RC principle. Essential for any climate negotiation answer; always cite CBDR as India's foundational position.

Kyoto Protocol

• Pronunciation: /kiˈoʊ.toʊ ˈproʊ.tə.kɒl/
• Definition: An international treaty adopted on 11 December 1997 at COP3 in Kyoto, Japan, which extended the UNFCCC by setting legally binding greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for 36 industrialised (Annex I) countries, averaging 5.2% below 1990 levels during the first commitment period (2008-2012). All 36 participating countries complied with their first-period targets. The second commitment period (2013-2020) was established through the Doha Amendment, though several major emitters (Canada, Japan, Russia) did not participate.
• Context: Named after Kyoto, Japan; entered into force on 16 February 2005 after ratification by 55 Parties covering at least 55% of Annex I emissions. The Protocol introduced three flexible market mechanisms: the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM — allowed developed countries to earn emission credits by funding emission-reducing projects in developing countries; India was the second-largest CDM host after China), Joint Implementation (JI — similar projects between Annex I countries), and Emissions Trading (cap-and-trade between Annex I countries). The Protocol's key weakness was that the USA never ratified it (despite signing), Canada withdrew in 2011, and developing countries including China and India had no emission reduction obligations — undermining its global effectiveness. CDM has been superseded by Article 6 mechanisms under the Paris Agreement.
• UPSC Relevance: GS3 Environment. Prelims tests the three market mechanisms (CDM, JI, Emissions Trading), first commitment period (2008-2012), the entry into force year (2005), and the key distinction that Kyoto imposed binding targets only on Annex I (developed) countries while developing countries like India had no emission reduction obligations. Mains expects comparison between Kyoto (top-down, legally binding, limited participation by developed countries only) and Paris (bottom-up, voluntary NDCs, universal participation by all countries). Two frequently tested facts: the US never ratified Kyoto, and India was the second-largest CDM host.