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New Delhi: On the second day of discussion on climate change in Lok Sabha, the opposition questioned the Narendra Modi government’s plans to achieve net-zero emissions.
At the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that India would achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.
“Even a week before COP26, the Indian government showed no inclination to announce a net-zero target. Environment Secretary (Rameshwar Prasad Gupta) dismissed it in the media. What prompted this, and under what pressure did the prime minister turn a sharp face? Saugata Roy of Trinamool Congress asked.
Echoing the DMK’s demands made by Kanimozhi, Roy asked, “Has there been any discussion about the target with the states?”
“If India is to implement coal phasing out, many coal-rich states like West Bengal will be affected more than others. What has the government thought of the possible loss to the states? He asked further.
Apart from the target of net-zero emissions by 2070, PM Modi also announced four other goals to be achieved by 2030: increasing India’s renewable energy capacity to 500 GW, 50% of energy from non-fossil-fuel sources. Pulling the percentage share, reducing carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes, and reducing the economy’s carbon-emissions intensity by 45 percent.
Roy asked Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav to present a roadmap for this transition to renewable energy sources as well as explain how it would raise finances to execute it.
“It is estimated that around Rs 700 lakh crore will be spent to achieve these 2030 targets. India has got 29 lakh crore rupees so far. Of this, Rs 9 lakh crore is from international sources and Rs 20 lakh crore from its own sources. Where will the rest of the money come from?” Roy asked.
the government had Presented In the Rajya Sabha on 2 December that achieving the climate goals announced in Glasgow would require $1 trillion by 2030.
Read also: COP26 is not just about India’s commitment to climate change. This is also a message for America
stubble burning by farmers
Citing data from SAFAR (Systems of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research) and what the environment ministry submitted to the Supreme Court in an affidavit, Shiromani Akali Dal’s Harsimrat Kaur Badal asked when the data showed farmers were always exposed to pollution. Why is it blamed for causing birth? The contribution is negligible.
Badal, a former minister in the Modi cabinet, said that instead of “registering FIRs and cases against farmers”, the government should provide them options so that they are not forced to burn stubble.
Environment Minister Yadav replied that all criminal cases of stubble burning against farmers have been dropped under the Air Quality Commission Act, and a subsidy of Rs 700 crore has been given for machinery to get rid of stubble.
“NTPC had floated a tender… 3,000 tonnes of stubble has been procured and we are reviewing how it can be made into biofuel,” Yadav said.
Concern over forest conservation, oilseeds mission
Members of the opposition also expressed concern over this.thinningThe Forest (Conservation) Act, announced by the government in August, and the National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palms.
“It is understood that the government intends to amend the Forest (Conservation) Act with new provisions promoting deforestation. In the name of infrastructure development, massive deforestation is encouraged,” said Thomas Chazhikadan of Kerala Congress (M).
National People’s Party’s Agatha K. Sangma said India was “struggling” with its target of creating a carbon sink equivalent to 2.5-3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2030 – a promise made under the 2015 Paris Agreement.
A carbon sink is anything that absorbs more carbon from the atmosphere, such as a forest, vegetation, or ocean.
referring to one report good By the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), which stated that palm oil plantations should be avoided in bio-diverse regions, Sangma said the government should consider its decision to implement the Oil Palm Mission in the Northeast and Andaman. Should be “reconsidered with proper consultation”. and Nicobar Islands.
(Edited by Saikat Niyogi)
Read also: What is the ‘Global Methane Pledge’ signed by 103 countries in COP26?
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