India’s updated NDCs Flashcards
NEWS
Recently, a study has ranked India’s updated climate pledge to the Paris Agreement fifth in compliance and fourth in ambition.
What are the Key Highlights of the Study?
The study was published in the scientific journal Nature Climate Change.
It included eight countries — India, the US, China, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Australia and Brazil — and the European Union.
Nearly all signatories to the Paris Agreement updated their climate commitments during the 26th session of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP 26).
Outcomes:
European Union (EU) took the lead while the United States was ranked last in compliance and second to last in ambition.
Compliance: In the compliance category, the EU took the lead which was followed by China, Australia, South Africa, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Brazil and the US.
Ambition:
In the Ambition category, the EU was followed by China, South Africa, India, Australia, Brazil, Russia, the United States and Saudi Arabia.
Parameters:
Nations likely to meet their climate pledges or the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) were ranked high in compliance.
The countries with bold commitments were ranked high in ambition.
Statistical Analysis:
Nations with more stable governments are more likely to have bold and highly credible pledges.
Besides, China and other non-democracies are also likely to honour their commitments.
Their administrative and political systems enable them to implement complex national policies.
What is the Paris Agreement?
The Paris Agreement (also known as the Conference of Parties 21 or COP 21) was adopted in 2015.
It replaced the Kyoto Protocol which was an earlier agreement to deal with climate change.
It is a global treaty wherein some 200 countries agreed to cooperate to reduce Green House Gas (GHG) Emissions and rein in climate change.
It seeks to limit global warming to well below 2°C, preferably to 1.5°C, compared to pre-industry levels.
Working:
The Paris Agreement works on a 5- year cycle of increasingly ambitious climate action carried out by countries. In 2020, countries had submitted their plans for climate action known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs).
Long-Term Strategies:
Long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies (LT-LEDS) provide the long-term horizon for the NDCs. Unlike NDCs, they are not mandatory.
Tracking Progress:
With the Paris Agreement, countries established an enhanced transparency framework (ETF). Under ETF, starting in 2024, countries will report transparently on actions taken and progress in climate change mitigation, adaptation measures and support provided or received.
It also provides for international procedures for the review of the submitted reports.
The information gathered through the ETF will feed into the Global stocktake which will assess the collective progress towards the long-term climate goals.
