India may increase energy efficiency target for COP30
ENVIRONMENT – CLIMATE CHANGE
24 SEPTEMBER 2025
- India will submit its updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) around the commencement of the UN Climate Change Conference COP30 in Brazil on November 10, 2025 likely with an increased target for energy efficiency improvement.
- The NDCs are renewable-energy adoption goals set by a country as part of being a signatory to the Paris Agreement – under which countries must regulate their fossil fuel consumption to keep the globe from heating 2 degrees Celsius , and as far as possible, 1.5 degrees Celsius above that in pre-industrial times.
- As part of this, countries are required to update their NDCs every five years.
- India last updated its NDCs in 2022, when it committed to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% of 2005 levels; source half of its electric power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources; and create a carbon sink of at least two billion tonnes by 2030.
- Emissions intensity of the GDP refers to the amount of carbon emitted per unit of GDP and does not mean a reduction in net emissions.
- In June 2025, India reported installing at least 50% of its power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources.
- India is also expected to operationalise the India Carbon Market by 2026 — under which 13 major sectors will be given mandatory emission-intensity targets — and can trade their resulting savings, if any, via emission reduction certificates.
- Brazil assumes the COP presidency in Belém this year
- All commitments by countries, even if achieved perfectly, cannot stop the globe from heating to an average of 3 degrees Celsius by the century – well short of the Paris Agreement goals.
- The European Union has yet to announce a 2035 target, though it has a long-term goal to be “net zero” by 2050.
- The EU commission this July had proposed an amendment to the EU climate law enabling a 90% cut in emissions compared to 1990 by 2040.
- Though they were to vote on a target for 2035, France and Germany weighed in to postpone a vote on the matter.
- The EU is expected to submit its NDCs ahead of COP30 with an indicative 2035 target in a range from 66.25% to 72.5%, compared with the 1990 levels.
- The United States has exited the Paris Agreement.
