Emission targets: Carbon-heavy sectors put on notice

THE Greenhouse Gases Emission Intensity Target Rules, notified by the Centre earlier this week, are a major step towards curbing industrial pollution as well as environmental degradation in India. These rules have fixed the country’s first legally binding emission reduction targets for carbon-intensive industries. Production units that emit less than their assigned target can earn tradable carbon credit certificates, while those exceeding it must purchase equivalent credits from the Indian carbon market or pay a penalty. As many as 282 industrial units in the aluminium, cement, pulp & paper and chlor-alkali sectors are required to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions from the 2023-24 baseline levels. Notably, some big names feature in the first compliance cycle: aluminium smelters operated by Vedanta, Hindalco, Nalco and Balco and large cement plants owned by UltraTech, Dalmia, JK Cement, Shree Cement and ACC. The government has sent a strong message that the high and mighty must lead by example in the pursuit of green goals.

India is the world’s third largest emitter of greenhouse gases, with China on top and the US at the second spot. The new rules, which incentivise industries to reduce emissions, build on the PAT (Perform, Achieve and Trade) energy efficiency scheme, which had set energy-saving targets. The Central Pollution Control Board, which is tasked with imposing penalties and overseeing time-bound recovery, needs to act strictly in accordance with the legal framework. The board must be well prepared for a pushback from industrial giants.

It’s heartening that India produced more solar and wind power than ever before in the first half of this year, even as carbon dioxide emissions from its power sector fell by 1 per cent on a year-on-year basis during this period. Greenhouse gases from human activities are regarded as the most significant driver of climate change. India, which has witnessed a spate of climate impact-related calamities this year itself, must go all out to promote clean energy. Sustainable development should be at the core of the march towards a climate-resilient, carbon-neutral future.

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